Ask Dan Question & Answer

(An index of subjects covered on the Q & A page of the web site,

 the Newsletters, and Dan and Jay's books  can be found on the

 Index of Subjects page)

Question #139:
There has been no topic that has generated more questions (except how do I get a college scholarship) than the proper way to lean when executing a turn. We've addressed it on Q&A 64, 74, 87, and again in the October,'02 Newsletter. The newsletter article brought this response from one of our readers - Bob Shipley and it's reproduced below. It may shed still more light on this topic.

Dan Replies:
Bob writes: "On this question of skating circles (turns), we can visualize the great skiers, who push very hard with their knees and ankles into the turn (biting in the edge), but the upper body is centered over the skis for power and balance. The weight of the body over the skis (not inside the turning radius) adds drive to the edging (and also keeps the balance - and also makes for a much faster transition to a turn the other way). You do this by bending the knees and pushing the knees forward into the turn, while the upper thighs and trunk have to lean the opposite way - out of the turn.

Think of the lower leg well bent into the turn (leaning into the circle) and the upper leg angling back the other way, with the upper body well balanced over the midpoint which are the skates or skis for maximum leverage. The knees are the furthest point into the radius and ideally the skates are the furthest outside or away with the majority of the body over the skates (and thus the upper body is sort of leaning away from the turn, but certainly not outside the skates)."

Thanks Bob.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK DAN OR JAY, EMAIL IT TO questions@danbylsma.com.   IF YOU PREFER THE ANSWER NOT GET POSTED ON THE SITE, JUST SAY SO AND WE WILL JUST ANSWER TO YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.