Quick Tip: It's Not Always Hip to Be Square

When we look at the most dynamic and proficient skiers and paddle boarders they all move well. I have mentioned this many times in our weekly wisdom. What I want to share is that stance and balance is key for skis and sups to respond effectively and efficiently.

Knowing when to apply the pressure to take charge on the water or slopes has a lot to do with how you move your hips. Too much movement causes imbalances and loss of speed and too little loses power and causes rigidity. Knowing when to rotate the hips, but in a subtle range will give the athlete remarkable results.

Here are some points to ponder:

1. Less is more when it comes to creating linkage with the hips.

2. Over rotating is for naught and creates a cascade of problems for the skier and stand up paddler.

3. Keeping the hips for the most part over your feet will gain you more success in all conditions.

4. A subtle hip hinge with a slight rotation applies to both sports.

5. Anybody can move the hips, but to know when (timing) is the big difference that the pros have hard wired.

6. We move side to side, forward and back, and rotationally, but blending them is an art and science.

7. Loading the paddle and loading the skis have similar parallels that can be studied.

I hope you get out there and experiment with moving more but at the right time, the right place, and the right amount for better technique.