John's interview with her coach, Chris Knight

Wait before viewing the video below, look at the photo of Lindsey in action. Notice a few things:

1)   Snow is spraying over Lindsey’s bottom/outside foot. This snow is generated from her other ski, more precisely the uphill edge of her inside ski. This means she’s “getting on her new ski early – at the apex of her turn.”

2)   Her hips, hands, and shoulders are square to her skis and the direction of her momentum (where she’s headed). With everything moving in the direction of her momentum, she can easily and naturally find balance on her new inside ski. She is not twisting (countering) her body to exert wasteful pressure on her downhill ski.

3)   Her feet are under her core where she can control them with small efficient movements. Her feet are not staggered with one foot in front of the other, making it difficult to find balance and forcing large awkward movements to control the skis.

4)   She has drifted below the gate in the picture in perfect balance. She is centered, relaxed and supple with her feet underneath her cor. Her muscles function on an optimum level with her bones stacked. She’s not trying to do something she can’t. Like great racecar drivers she’s controlling the shape of her turn by allowing her skis to drift (“stivet”). Drifting with intention is way better than skidding without control.

Chris Knight, Speed Coach for the U.S. National Women’s Alpine Team, describes current technical objectives for the women’s team in the video below. Listen for Chris to address the points above and you’ll hear how they relate to CSM. To understand more about what Chris is coaching and how it relates to CSM, check out John’s book: Four Words for Great Skiing.

Watch how Chris uses his hands as he talks about technique. Do you know anyone else who does that?? Click on the video below and enjoy!

How Coach John met Coach Chris

Watching the US Women’s speed team train was a highlight of our trip to Portillo. Every morning we would traverse under Roca Jack, the steepest lift-served face in Portillo, and gather at the bottom to watch. We were in awe as the women blew by at speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour. The stealth sound of their speed is like nothing else. It gave me goose bumps.
Their technique was pure, particularly Lindsey’s and Julia’s. There was no excessive movement in their bodies. They were solid and balanced on their skis. I was amazed how little their skis chattered in the ruts. I pointed out how they were square over their skis and how skillfully they used their inside ski especially in the bottom of the turn.

These movements and techniques are lynch-pins of CSM. This is exactly what we were working on in Portillo.

Later in the week, Chino our favorite South American coach, came to me and said, “John, have you heard what Chris Knight is saying to these girls?” I had never heard of Chris Knight. Chino explained that Chris is the US Women’s speed coach and that he is coaching the same techniques we are. Chino said “We GOT to interview this guy”.

I was thinking, “Fat chance.” Why would this guy talk to us? I thought his coaching would be proprietary information, secret stuff. I mean there is a slight difference between our Camp and the US Women’s Team.

I was wrong. Chris showed interest in me and CSM and what our Camp was doing. He was actually willing to share some of the new technical material he was working on with the US women’s speed team.

We arranged to meet in Aspen last November when the women were racing on Aspen Mountain.

With the professional help of Burnie Arndt, Aspen’s foremost videographer, we set up an interview with Chris. I was delighted that the techniques Chris is working on with the US women, including the current overall champion, are similar to the CSM techniques that have been developed and published in our book and DVD.

Enjoy and Cheers, Johnny C.