WheatKing raises the idea of pressure underfoot which might be off topic for “boot flex” (though related), but definitely on topic for the “skier development” portion of the question. Most of the time the interaction with the boot is expressed as using it as a lever to impart force to the ski. Learning how to manage the pressure under foot independently of cuff pressure is a skill I do not hear expressed very often; though, very much a part of the learned movements that Bob has described.
Can you move pressure fore & aft under foot while remaining cuff neutral?
Do you apply pressure to the front of the ski by applying pressure to the cuff, under foot, both, neither, sometimes, depends? If the answer is “Always ____”, is there maybe a bias??
I have come to think of binding fore/aft position adjustment to relate to the ski. Where is the sweet spot of the ski? Is the ski balanced or unbalanced? Most times I do not monkey with mount point, but I generally prefer a more traditional type ski with something close to a ball of foot over center of running surface and if close I can adjust pressure under foot to get the ski to respond as desired. I think last year or the year before I skied @FairToMiddlin Head Rally and did move the binding back 2cm, but that is the only ski I can recall not skiing at the mount point in a long time.
I know many that always start with their bindings a cm or two forward. If one has to move the bindings on every ski by default I might wonder if that is a skier or boot bias/deficiency. Does it matter? I wonder what @bud heishman thoughts are on binding mount position related to boot balancing?
Either way, still seems we would be best served to learn how to manage pressure under foot independent of cuff pressure.
Research the “Campbell Balancer” (critically) for ‘a theory’ on determining your optimal mount point. I believe John Howe had some thoughts on ski & skier interaction in Skiing Mechanics.
Can you move pressure fore & aft under foot while remaining cuff neutral?
Do you apply pressure to the front of the ski by applying pressure to the cuff, under foot, both, neither, sometimes, depends? If the answer is “Always ____”, is there maybe a bias??
I have come to think of binding fore/aft position adjustment to relate to the ski. Where is the sweet spot of the ski? Is the ski balanced or unbalanced? Most times I do not monkey with mount point, but I generally prefer a more traditional type ski with something close to a ball of foot over center of running surface and if close I can adjust pressure under foot to get the ski to respond as desired. I think last year or the year before I skied @FairToMiddlin Head Rally and did move the binding back 2cm, but that is the only ski I can recall not skiing at the mount point in a long time.
I know many that always start with their bindings a cm or two forward. If one has to move the bindings on every ski by default I might wonder if that is a skier or boot bias/deficiency. Does it matter? I wonder what @bud heishman thoughts are on binding mount position related to boot balancing?
Either way, still seems we would be best served to learn how to manage pressure under foot independent of cuff pressure.
Research the “Campbell Balancer” (critically) for ‘a theory’ on determining your optimal mount point. I believe John Howe had some thoughts on ski & skier interaction in Skiing Mechanics.