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Friday, December 31, 2010

Technical vs. Tactical errors

One of the most difficult things to analyze is the difference between technical and tactical errors.  Most of the time the focus is on technical errors and tactical errors are overlooked.  Observe this master's racer and try to distinguish the difference between their tactical errors and their technical errors.  What do you find?

For example, two technical errors that stand out with this skier, and are stance related are limited fore aft movement and skiing with a flat back.  Although these are major technical flaws, they are not the factors which are limiting this skier's speed.  This skier's coach could work on improving these stance related issues outside the gates.  However inside the gates, the major issue with this skier is line.  Unfortunately the set of this course doesn't fit well wtih this skier's turning style.  The gates are too close together and do not have enough horizontal offset.  This forces the skier to jam on the brakes in order to make it around each gate in time for the next turn.  This will result in a time similar to a skier of less technical ability, holding back the potential of this skier in this race.  To correct this problem, the coach must work with this skier to improve their tactics.  The speed of the turn should be consistent from start to finish. In other words there should be no "jamming on of the brakes."  If that means turning between the gates or skiing around the gates instead of cross blocking then that is what the skier should focus on.  A series of timed runs with a change in tactics should be the focus.  This will result in faster times for this skier.

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