Activity: Linked Turns with Flexion at Transition

What you practice: Flexing the legs at release

• Gentle hill; mark a straight line to indicate the transition
• Skate to a comfortable speed; glide straight downhill on both feet
• Tip inside foot to make each turn (left foot to turn left, right foot to turn right)
• Make the transition between turns on the line
• As you approach the line, start to bend (shorten) the legs
• Keep bending the legs through the bottom of the turn, so the legs are shortest as your feet cross the line
• After crossing the line and starting to tip with the new inside foot, slowly and gently lengthen the legs
• The legs should be fully extended when your feet are in the fall line (the middle of the new turn)
• With weight on both feet, this practices powder turns
• With the inside foot very light or lifted, this practices short turns in bumps or on ice
• Keep the torso fairly upright; make sure you bend the legs