Measuring results - Stenmark, pressure plates and Carv digital sensors

Dec 1

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A recent development - the CARV digital sensor

BASS is delighted to be working with CARV to bring outstanding coaching to you, reinforced by actual information from your CARV device and app. If you ski with the CARV sensors, they will record real measurements from your performance.

This device measures some specific results such as balance, edging, rotation, early pressure on the arc, etc.

CARV has approached me to see if BASS would become a principle technical partner in Europe.

It looks like a fantastic process for both augmented coaching sessions and private feedback.

There’s more information about the details here on our discount page

How useful could this be?

Here’s a story that puts this in context for me:

In the 70’s, the great champion Ingemar Stenmark was training on the Van Senales glacier one Summer, running rutted slalom courses.
His ski manufacturer - Elan - had fitted pressure plates under his bindings,
so they could get more information about how this great athlete actually performed,
so they could optimise their ski design for him.
They found that he was in the middle of the middle, even on rutted courses.

In its day that was a breakthrough, because the whole 'lean forward' thing was still prevalent. Coaches looked at Stenmark and convinced themselves that they could see him leaning forward, even though he was actually:

resolving the complex forces of skiing,
so that they passed through the middle of his feet (the pressure plates recorded this part)
and then through his body in a bio-mechanically advantageous way
so that he could maximise both his agility and the performance of his skis in the snow.

Actual measurements overcame opinion and allowed Stenmark to refine his centred balancing even more. I like verifiable information, where possible. It’s true that I used to be a research scientist but, after decades in the mountains, I feel ok now…

Carv has 36 pressure sensors under each foot, plus other sensors that interpret other movements, so now we have access to performance information that Stenmark and Elan could only dream of.

In the video on the Carv website, some of the American language does jar with me. They talk about forward balance, for example.

Elsewhere on the CARV website, though, I see this:

BALANCE - Are you leaning too far back? Balance is the foundation of great skiing. Carv shows you if you are centered over your skis and gives you balance exercises to help you improve.

That’s much more appropriate.

On Performance Breakthrough clinics, I discuss the 2 pillars of centred balance - the forefoot and the heel - and how we need them both if we are to be balanced on skis.

I do take a nuanced approached to that -

each plays its part in a dynamic interplay - the active process of balancing.

And we need good biomechanics to liberate our agility.

And good pressure distribution along the ski to enhance its performance in the snow.

Simple things first, then sophisticated applications later.

I sometimes discuss using the forefoot and the heel as part of applying a sophisticated pressure pulse through the ski, from front to back - though not many recreational skiers can actually do that reliably. Perhaps the Carv unit and app will help?

I’m looking forward to working with my clients and using a couple of demo units to help them identify their successes.

In the meantime, if you want to take advantage of the special offer,

Carv is offering a 10% discount to BASS clients - see more on our special discount page

The offer has been increased to a £40 discount through February 2022!