Many people wonder what stance is best for improving their own skiing technique. In order to figure this out, you should first know exactly what a “good stance” really is. The generally excepted meaning of a good stance is simply any type of position for your body which allows you to move and stretch in whatever ways that you need to comfortably perform the task that you want to perform. Usually, people think of a stance as a sort of perfect set position that must always be used. However, in skiing there is no actual perfect stance which does not need to be changed constantly. This is simply because you often change your direction and speed while you are skiing. In other words, stances in skiing are really just variables which change depending on a variety of different factors. Heli-ski

Basically, all of the different factors which are affecting your skis at the moment create the need for a certain type of stance. Although you may now feel as if you understand this part of skiing stances, there are still a few things which need to be accurately explained in order for you to fully understand the concept.

Below we have listed the key elements to a stance, with some of the reasons for them and things they imply. If you really want to know how to determine whether or not your stance is good, you should read them.

A good stance must:

    * Be able to absorb bumps through the legs and allow the body to flex. This means that the knees must be bent, as well as all other joints. There should be no joints that are straight as they must all be able to move in both directions.

    * Have the skis in the correct position. The correct position for the skis comes from the direction of travel and maneuver being performed, as will be explained further down.

    * Match the position of the body to the skis. The bodies position must be matched to the skis to allow the flexibility and absorption as explained before.

    * Give you a good view of where you are going to go. This means that you must be able to look in the direction you are going and down the slope, although this comes naturally with how the body is matched to the skis.

    * Put the body’s weight in the right position. This comes mainly from the waist leaning the body forwards or sideways.

    * Be comfortable. Although this is very important you will find that generally the most comfortable positions are the positions that allow the body to match the skis and flex the most, it actually comes through the other criteria.

    * Allow the body to change easily into the next stance as you change direction/speed. Again since all stances follow the same rules this happens naturally.

    * Conserve energy. A good stance will be energy efficient, as it makes maneuvers more effective and enables the skier to ski for longer. heliskiing