Parallel, Lifted Phantom Move

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Above: Overview of parallel, lifted Phantom Move

Above: Free foot actions in parallel, lifted Phantom Move

Your lesson, the "parallel, lifted Phantom Move" will help you to balance on and engage the stance ski. Your feet will come closer together, the stance ski will carve and grip more, and you’ll be able to ski on steeper terrain or firmer snow without sliding sideways or picking up speed. Starting in a shallow to medium traverse allows you to practice the key movements of a strong turn finish, which you’ll then incorporate into linked turns.

The lightening and tipping of the free foot, called the Phantom Move, will make the stance ski turn. The Phantom Move, when performed properly, is smooth, progressive, and barely detectable, hence its name. All the activity starts with the free foot (for this lesson, the uphill foot). The tipping of the free foot activates the kinetic chain, up through the pelvis and over to the stance leg, producing the turning action of the stance ski. Efficiency and balance are diminished if the actions start higher in the body. Sensations from the feet tell us how the skis are behaving and how to adjust the feet. Consequently, focusing on the feet yields precise control.

Preliminary
If you have trouble with this lesson, start with exercise 5.1 in our book, Anyone can be an Expert Skier.

In Brief
On an easy slope that’s well within your comfort range, stand with the skis pointed across the hill. Aim both skis slightly downhill, parallel, with the feet at or less than hip width apart, then start to slide across the hill in a traverse or forward sideslip (look uphill before sliding to avoid oncoming skiers). From this traverse, pick up the tail of the uphill foot (it becomes the free foot), tip it strongly toward its little-toe edge, and keep it drawn in close to the stance foot. Lift the free ski tail just an inch or so off of the snow; lifting it higher can be awkward. Both skis will arc uphill to a stop. Be passive with the stance ski.
Practice the parallel, lifted Phantom Move in both directions. Once you can perform it both ways, perform it again from a steeper initial traverse. When you’re comfortable with the new movements, link turns on easy terrain and use a parallel, lifted Phantom Move to finish each turn.

Details
Start Slide forward in a shallow or medium-steep traverse.
Fig. a. Raise the tail of the uphill, free foot (here, skier’s left) an inch or so from the snow.
Fig. b. Tip the free foot toward the little-toe edge, tipping the entire ski; keep the ski tail raised (Phantom Move).
Fig. c. Keep the free ski tip on the snow while tipping and drawing the free foot closer to the stance foot.
Fig. d. Press the heel of the free foot against the stance foot while tipping it.
Fig. e. Reduce the amount of tipping as the skis slowly come to a stop.

Summary
Note the lack of activity in the stance leg. There is no effort of the stance leg to engage the stance ski, tip it on edge, or twist it. Emphasize the movements of the free foot and ankle. Balance is easy to maintain because the stance side of the body is stable and the stance ski is connected to and engaged in the snow while moving. Now you are carving.

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"PMTS", "Primary Movements", and "Primary Movements Teaching System" are trademarks of Harb Ski Systems, Inc.
"Direct Parallel" is a Registered Trademark of Harb Ski Systems, Inc.