At this point my discussion of the mechanics and biomechanics of platform angle is at what I can appropriately call the moment of truth. Moment in the context of the mechanics and biomechanics of platform angle means moment of force or torque; platform angle involves the ability of the CNS of a skier to control torques across the inside edge of the outside ski so the skier can stand and balance on the platform.
What is Balance?
That balance is the single most important factor in human movement, especially movement associated with athletic performance, is undisputed. In complex activities like skiing that involve movement in 3 dimensional space in a dynamic physical environment, optimal balance is critical. But what constitutes balance? In order to know if a skier is has optimal balance or is even in balance one has to know what balance is and what factors enable or compromise balance (i.e. postural) responses and especially the factors that enable optimal balance.
The Balance Zone
A skier is in balance when the CNS is able to maintain the position of a skiers’ COG within the limits of a narrow band close to the inside edge of the outside ski during the load phase of a turn. The load phase of a turn occurs in the bottom of a turn when the force exerted on the platform by the COM of a skier must be balanced against the external resultant force of gravity and centrifugal force. In the load phase, the CNS must maintain COG within the forward limit of the Balance Zone within close proximity to the ball of the foot. When balance is challenged COG must not exceed the rearmost limit of the Balance Zone that lies just in front of the ankle joint. The Balance Zone and its limits are shown in the graphic below. If COG exceeds the limits of the Balance Zone shown in pink, the skier will lose their state of balance and with it dynamic control of the platform underfoot. They will also suffer a lose of dynamic stability in the joint system of the lower limb.
The Balance Plane
In the ski system platform the plantar plane under the plantar aspect (sole) of the foot is the interface of CNS mediated balance activity. When the coordinated, concurrent forces are applied at the main force transfer point of the foot that I call the Center of Control, shown in the preceding graphic, the applied forces will manifest in more than one plane as shown in the graphic below.Force Fa applied under the head of the first metatarsal will be distributed over an area around its center. When the force applied in the plantar plane is transferred through the structure of the platform to the base plane the center of force will maintain its position. But when the force area of distribution will increase as shown in the pink zones under the head of the first metataral and the base plane. In free rotation of the ski, resistance from the force of friction Ff will be minimal as will any force applied in the torque arm plane by the eccentric torque arm. Rotational force will be largely confined to the base plane.
The Missing Force Factor: Sidecut
In the free rotation, the effect of the sidecut of a ski is not a significant factor in terms of a source of resistance. But as the transverse aspect of the base plane of the ski acquires an angular relation with surface of the snow the resistance created by GRF acting at the limit of sidecut at the shovel sets up an interaction between the rotational force applied to the inner wall of the boot shell adjacent the medial aspect of the head of the first metatarsal with the resistance created by GRF at the limit of sidecut at the shovel. In the graphic below I have connected the 2 dots of the platform ground effect problem with a line drawn between the two points.The graphic below shows a schematic of the mechanical aspects of the opposing moment or torque arms between the two dots that I connected in the preceding graphic. The inside edge below the head of the first metatarsal acts as a pivot in conjunction with the Center of Force applied 90 degrees to the transverse aspect of the base plane for the plaform to rotate about as the ski goes on edge.
As the base plane of a ski acquires an angular relationship with the snow the torque arm rotating the ski goes into what cane best be described as turbo torque boost. Whole leg rotational force continues to rotate the whole ski but the eccentric torque arm engages and applies a high torsional load that winds the body of the platform about the shovel. This mechanism has to be considered in the perspective of the of the inertia from the movement of the skier driving the cutting action of the shovel. The graphic below shows the opposing how opposing torsional forces at the limit of sidecut and applied by the application of for by eccentic torque arm to the vertical shell wall by the medial aspect of the head of the first metarasal act to apply a upward force that extends to the outboard end of the plantar plane of the platform. This is the mechanism that enables elite skiers to balance on their outside ski and initiate precise movement from from a dynamically stable platform.
I first solved basic mechanics and biomechanics of the outside ski balance problem 30 years ago. The degree of difficulty was not great. Solving the problem took diligence and persistence in researching all the relevant aspects and identifying all significant forces and associated planes.
I’ll let the readers ponder the informaton in this for a while after which I will be happy to respond to questions and comments.