This article is reprinted from The Professional Skier.
All copyrights apply.
Please see our copyright and disclaimer notice page. Over the past three winters, I have experimented with and expanded upon the use of the leash and now use it often in my telemark lessons. Over the years, I've tried a variety of exercises and drills to introduce and refine stance and balance, using both stationary applications and those with movement. Unfortunately, most exercises simply did not enable the students to feel the forces that develop during a turn, nor did they elicit the adjustments students must constantly make to stay on their feet. Although stationary exercises are great for building an awareness of stance and balance, they fail to expose students to the sensations of movement and the forces that develop while turning.