Harald Harb, president of Harb Ski Systems, pioneered the idea that optimal alignment is achieved through an integrated program of equipment selection, foot beds, and canting. Rare are the instances where a canting strip alone will revolutionize your skiing. Harald is the inventor and originator of the combined on-snow and indoor assessment procedure that is the most rewarding and effective way to optimize your alignment. Harald now brings this procedure to the Downieville, Colorado location of his own "Skier Alignment Center". Harald has introduced his system to well known ski areas in Colorado but few have been able to continue the success of his program on their own.

Harb Ski Systems brings you this brief overview of some of the common topics or ideas within the realm of skier alignment. Chapter 12 of the "Anyone can be an Expert Skier 1" book provides accurate detailed descriptions and references about alignment.

What is optimal alignment?
The body is a set of bones stacked on top of each other. A virtual "house of cards", one misoriented component, especially near the bottom, can cause the house to crumble. Alignment that's off even slightly leaves you teetering on the brink of imbalance. Optimal alignment minimizes the effort you need to ski, helps you maintain balance, reduces stress on joints, and eliminates differences between your two sides or turns.

The overworked foot bed!
The bottom, most influential support pillar of the skeletal system is the foot. Filling in the voids beneath the foot with a moldable material may not result in proper support or alignment of the foot for skiing or balancing of the body in skiing. A foot can be just as crooked as a leg. Proper accommodation requires analysis, understanding and a consistent measuring program. Machines that produce instant insoles rarely put the foot in a balanced configuration. All custom foot beds cost over $100.00. Search out the right system and you'll get your money's worth in performance as well as comfort.

What about boot design?
Boots can make or break your skiing progress. Performance boots cost over $450.00. Rarely, though, does a skier need to spend more than $700.00 to obtain good boot performance. Boots can be classified in two categories: lateral and rotary. Lateral boots transmit your edging efforts directly to the skis; rotary boots generally transmit twisting to the skis at the same time as you try to edge. Lateral boots provide good performance for most skiers; rotary boots provide performance to few skiers.

What is "Tracking" in boots?
Knowledge about flexing and tracking can save you from skidding and immediately improve your carving ability. Tracking is the direction your knees travel when you flex in your boots. When you flex forward in your boots, your knee should track in a straight line along the center of the boot sole. Knees that track inward, coming closer together, result in leg twist and skidding of the skis. Inward tracking of the knees results in much difficulty in edging and carving. Your boot fitter should test for this possibility before a boot is recommended. Tracking to the outside is less detrimental but should be rectified for best performance. We're talking about your on-snow sliding experience here! Do some research and demand the best service and product combination. Your efforts to ski well shouldn't be dissipated in a boot that won't let you hold an edge.

Fore/aft boot adjustment!
No longer should a boot be chosen on fit alone. Performance should be provided with good fit just as balance adjustments should be integrated with comfort. Fore/aft balance is as important as, and in some cases more important than, lateral alignment. We hope the days are past when the only understanding of fore/aft adjustments was that everyone got a heel lift, whether they needed one or not. Fore/aft boot adjustments are required to meet the balance needs of the diverse body types of skiers. Boots that offer effective heel height and forward lean adjustments are more common now than a few years ago. You can fine-tune your skiing balance. Knowing where to position the adjustments is critical. We have studied these results for years.

How do Skis Affect your Alignment?

Wide-waisted skis
Any ski 68mm or wider under the foot is considered a wide-waisted ski. These skis can fall into two categories: 1. All-mountain, versatile carving skis with adequate sidecut are the latest incarnation of shaped skis; 2. Off-piste powder and crud skis, which have been around for a few years in one form or another, are now the rage.

The new generation skis are trying to provide more versatility in one pair of skis. Many skiers will enjoy this kind of ski. Built with the sidecut of modern "skier-cross" skis, they make a 15 to 24 meter radius turn for carving enjoyment, yet they are still wide enough to make skiing in powder and crud fun and easy. Although they have no pretense of being hyper or ultra-carvers, they are fun and easy to tip into a turn and they hold well. The skier who tends to be knock-kneed will enjoy these wider skis.

Narrow-waisted skis
Skis that are 60mm to 65mm are considered narrow and are used as slalom racing skis or ice carving skis by modern skiers. Considering that boots are 70mm wide, these skis have a tendency to tip and bend into a deep sidecut arc. They can be skied in shorter lengths with the right technique. Bowlegged skiers can benefit from this narrower design. The narrow-waisted ski helps the bowlegged skier to tip the ski over and bring the stance leg over the ski to turn. Bowlegged skiers should use these narrower-waisted skis if they ski primarily on packed and groomed surfaces. Wide skis are okay for the bowlegged skier if used on a softer surface, but be careful with wide skis on hard pack: the knees start working harder and may ache by the end of the day.

What does Movement have to do with Alignment?
Readers of Anyone can be an Expert Skier will remember these guidelines:
1. Good movements can help overcome poor alignment.
2. Good alignment doesn’t make good skiing.
3. Good movements and alignment make all skiing easy and enjoyable.

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