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FUNDAMENTALS of GIANT SLALOM
The U.S. Ski Team focuses on the technical and tactical (T/T) elements of giant slalom (GS) as the
basis for the teaching of alpine ski fundamentals. Mastering the fundamental elements of GS will
enable racers to be successful in downhill and super G, as well as slalom. As the saying goes, if
you can ski GS well you will eventually be able to ski all events well. With this in mind, let’s see
what we can learn from the following Ron LeMaster montages taken at the World Cup GS finals
last March in Aare, Sweden, and at the Beaver Creek 2005 World Cup GS, which Bode Miller
won. The skier in presentation A is Canadian, Francois Bourque, presentation B is Italian,
Massimilliano Blardone, and in the final presentation, C, the racer is Bode Miller.
( Author’s note – When studying montages, the exact point of demarcation for each T/T concept
or for the crossover point, or initiation, turning and completion phases, may not always be
exactly at the numbered images – it may be between two numbers.)
Montage analysis goals: In comparing these three different World Cup athletes, lets list the
common fundamental GS T/T concepts that would be relevant and useful for all competitors.
The fundamentals of the best are the fundamentals that all skiers should try to emulate,
regardless of one’s age and skill level. Even though most of us do not free ski or compete at
these speeds and in the same difficult conditions, what is important is that we understand how
they ski and what we can take from that to apply to our own training.
For our discussions, we will examine the athletes at 4 different points: the transition (crossover)
and the three phases of the turn. For a complete and more in depth discussion of these four
views as well as all technical and tactical alpine fundamentals, please review the USSA alpine
educational CD-ROMs, located at the USSA Coaches Resource Center – athletics.ussa.org or
educationshop.ussa.org
Transition (crossover point): Beginning with the transition, all 3 skiers (Blardone #6 & #14, Miller
between #7-#8, and Bourque #3 & between #8-#9) are in well-balanced athletic stances (one of
two stances on skis that USSA utilizes in the teaching of skiing): ankles are flexed to maintain
snow contact and fore/aft balance (hips over their boots), skis hip width apart (Bode’s are a little
wider as he makes up line for a low line from the red gate), arms forward, femurs higher than
their knees (except Blardone #3 where he is absorbing a small piece of terrain). Racer’s note: A
well-balancedathletic stance begins at boot fitting! Be sure you have a smooth fore/aft flex in
your boots versus being too stiff. Europeans describe their flexed ankles as “active” rather than
static. When in doubt, and in consideration of how cold the weather can get, err on the side of
being able to maintain a flexed ankle at all times. Linking turns at the crossover requires a
balanced athletic stance.
Initiation Phase: (Blardone #7-#8 & between #14- #15, Bourque #4-5 & between #9- #10, and
Miller between #7-#8) All three are in relatively extended positions – in fact the tallest positions
in the turn, not too low or hunched. All three demonstrate proper body alignment over the new
downhill ski, facilitating the movement of the center-of-mass (C of M) forward and inside the ski
line. The new downhill leg is described by some coaches as a “long leg,” meaning in an ideal
position for maximum muscular and skeletal strength to begin to apply and resist the building
forces. The skis are rolled on edge with the ankle and knees first (and some body inclination) for
early edge angulation and pressure at the beginning of the turn. Racer’s note: All three
competitor’s hips have some counter (the beginning of the 2nd. USSA stance on skis – the
parallel position), but not too much. This point is critical: Too much counter too early in the turn
can lead to the “park & ride” syndrome - where the hips become static as the C of M moves too
far inside and back, often onto the uphill or inside ski. Too much counter may also lead to
excessive ski separation, eventually to diverging skis, and loss of downhill ski pressure.
Turning Phase: (Blardone #9-#12 & #15-#17, Bourque #5-#8 & #11-#13, and Miller #2-#6 & #9-
#10) All three racers achieve maximum edge angulation and pressure for the apex of the turn,
which in general is at the GS panel, with slight variations due either to the set of the course,
snow surface, or the athlete running a lower line (Miller’s red gate turn for example), this may
be intentional or unintentional, as the case may be. In all three montages, angulation builds
gradually, with the athlete maintaining proper lateral and fore/aft body alignment over the
downhill ski for a well-balanced and executed turning phase. Racer’s note: Level shoulders at the
apex of the turn, arms/hands driving forward and at waist height (in most cases), versus an
inside arm on the snow or at the boot top level., and C of M in a parallel position.
Completion Phase: (Blardone #4-5, Bourque #12-813 and Miller part of #5 all of #6 leading to
part of #7) Common themes are level shoulders, arms either driving forward, or forward and out
to the side for balance and a possible pole plant as needed (Miller #6-7). Carving skis are
maintained through a balanced stance for proper angulation and edge pressure, versus a ski
that skids or chatters because the body may have moved too far inside too early (and for other
reasons). Racer’s note: Because all three athletes are maintaining their balance fore/aft and
laterally, the C of M has begun to transfer from the old downhill ski to the uphill ski (which will
become the new downhill ski in the next turn) - Blardone starting with #9 through #10, Bourque
#7-8, and Miller starting with #5 – 6). This early weight transfer is necessary to stay in tactical
rhythm with the course, and to have proper body alignment over the new downhill ski for early
turn initiation in the new fall-line. This also helps the athletes move their C of M forward and
inside for early inclination and edge angulation. A balanced completion phase means an athlete
is ready for the transition.
Tactics: Review each montage for turn placement in relation to the fall-line (distance above or
below the panel for example), illustrating the objective of the athletes to make one continuous
turn shape in the fall-line while linking the turns.
The U.S. Ski Team focuses on the technical and tactical (T/T) elements of giant slalom (GS) as the
basis for the teaching of alpine ski fundamentals. Mastering the fundamental elements of GS will
enable racers to be successful in downhill and super G, as well as slalom. As the saying goes, if
you can ski GS well you will eventually be able to ski all events well. With this in mind, let’s see
what we can learn from the following Ron LeMaster montages taken at the World Cup GS finals
last March in Aare, Sweden, and at the Beaver Creek 2005 World Cup GS, which Bode Miller
won. The skier in presentation A is Canadian, Francois Bourque, presentation B is Italian,
Massimilliano Blardone, and in the final presentation, C, the racer is Bode Miller.
( Author’s note – When studying montages, the exact point of demarcation for each T/T concept
or for the crossover point, or initiation, turning and completion phases, may not always be
exactly at the numbered images – it may be between two numbers.)
Montage analysis goals: In comparing these three different World Cup athletes, lets list the
common fundamental GS T/T concepts that would be relevant and useful for all competitors.
The fundamentals of the best are the fundamentals that all skiers should try to emulate,
regardless of one’s age and skill level. Even though most of us do not free ski or compete at
these speeds and in the same difficult conditions, what is important is that we understand how
they ski and what we can take from that to apply to our own training.
For our discussions, we will examine the athletes at 4 different points: the transition (crossover)
and the three phases of the turn. For a complete and more in depth discussion of these four
views as well as all technical and tactical alpine fundamentals, please review the USSA alpine
educational CD-ROMs, located at the USSA Coaches Resource Center – athletics.ussa.org or
educationshop.ussa.org
Transition (crossover point): Beginning with the transition, all 3 skiers (Blardone #6 & #14, Miller
between #7-#8, and Bourque #3 & between #8-#9) are in well-balanced athletic stances (one of
two stances on skis that USSA utilizes in the teaching of skiing): ankles are flexed to maintain
snow contact and fore/aft balance (hips over their boots), skis hip width apart (Bode’s are a little
wider as he makes up line for a low line from the red gate), arms forward, femurs higher than
their knees (except Blardone #3 where he is absorbing a small piece of terrain). Racer’s note: A
well-balancedathletic stance begins at boot fitting! Be sure you have a smooth fore/aft flex in
your boots versus being too stiff. Europeans describe their flexed ankles as “active” rather than
static. When in doubt, and in consideration of how cold the weather can get, err on the side of
being able to maintain a flexed ankle at all times. Linking turns at the crossover requires a
balanced athletic stance.
Initiation Phase: (Blardone #7-#8 & between #14- #15, Bourque #4-5 & between #9- #10, and
Miller between #7-#8) All three are in relatively extended positions – in fact the tallest positions
in the turn, not too low or hunched. All three demonstrate proper body alignment over the new
downhill ski, facilitating the movement of the center-of-mass (C of M) forward and inside the ski
line. The new downhill leg is described by some coaches as a “long leg,” meaning in an ideal
position for maximum muscular and skeletal strength to begin to apply and resist the building
forces. The skis are rolled on edge with the ankle and knees first (and some body inclination) for
early edge angulation and pressure at the beginning of the turn. Racer’s note: All three
competitor’s hips have some counter (the beginning of the 2nd. USSA stance on skis – the
parallel position), but not too much. This point is critical: Too much counter too early in the turn
can lead to the “park & ride” syndrome - where the hips become static as the C of M moves too
far inside and back, often onto the uphill or inside ski. Too much counter may also lead to
excessive ski separation, eventually to diverging skis, and loss of downhill ski pressure.
Turning Phase: (Blardone #9-#12 & #15-#17, Bourque #5-#8 & #11-#13, and Miller #2-#6 & #9-
#10) All three racers achieve maximum edge angulation and pressure for the apex of the turn,
which in general is at the GS panel, with slight variations due either to the set of the course,
snow surface, or the athlete running a lower line (Miller’s red gate turn for example), this may
be intentional or unintentional, as the case may be. In all three montages, angulation builds
gradually, with the athlete maintaining proper lateral and fore/aft body alignment over the
downhill ski for a well-balanced and executed turning phase. Racer’s note: Level shoulders at the
apex of the turn, arms/hands driving forward and at waist height (in most cases), versus an
inside arm on the snow or at the boot top level., and C of M in a parallel position.
Completion Phase: (Blardone #4-5, Bourque #12-813 and Miller part of #5 all of #6 leading to
part of #7) Common themes are level shoulders, arms either driving forward, or forward and out
to the side for balance and a possible pole plant as needed (Miller #6-7). Carving skis are
maintained through a balanced stance for proper angulation and edge pressure, versus a ski
that skids or chatters because the body may have moved too far inside too early (and for other
reasons). Racer’s note: Because all three athletes are maintaining their balance fore/aft and
laterally, the C of M has begun to transfer from the old downhill ski to the uphill ski (which will
become the new downhill ski in the next turn) - Blardone starting with #9 through #10, Bourque
#7-8, and Miller starting with #5 – 6). This early weight transfer is necessary to stay in tactical
rhythm with the course, and to have proper body alignment over the new downhill ski for early
turn initiation in the new fall-line. This also helps the athletes move their C of M forward and
inside for early inclination and edge angulation. A balanced completion phase means an athlete
is ready for the transition.
Tactics: Review each montage for turn placement in relation to the fall-line (distance above or
below the panel for example), illustrating the objective of the athletes to make one continuous
turn shape in the fall-line while linking the turns.
