SLS/PE1>iM development bonus!

So skiers have been getting easier and easier over the past few weeks. But suddenly, in the past week, I have found front-back balance in the bottom of the ski pretty difficult. It feels like my whole body alignment is really different and my hips/torso alignment is adjusting to it.

 

This morning I realised what it was. In the bottom of a ski I looked down at my feet: More of my feet are on the ground! My ACL Achilles tendon (the band that runs up behind the ankle) has gained a lot of flexibility! When I first started skiers, I really had to raise up onto my toes/balls of feet as I sunk down into a full squat. Now, the heel is halfway to the ground without effort.

 

This is awesome! Two months ago I saw this and thought I would need to do mobility work just for my ACL. But this increase of flexibility came without even expecting it! At this rate, it won't be long until I can get into a full squat with feet flat on the ground!

 

Anyone else find this?

well, i felt the load more on my pelvis, due to the way is angled. i've felt less of this load as time goes on and once....I even got a nice deep "pop" in my right leg (my tightest leg) so i'm relieved it hasn't happened again! hahahaha

 

 

as far as depth goes, i do notice that my feet want to lift less from the ground as long as i do my work of  planting my feet, distributing the weight as much as possible between big toe, little toe and heel but i dont get that down always. 

 

more work to be done!

Great stuff wheezer!

I've been doing this IM by concentrating on keeping my heels on the ground despite the fact that I don't have the flexibility to hit full depth. Should I be lifting my heels off of the ground to get the required depth (glutes to knee level if I remember correctly)?

I did it the 'other' way, working with flat feet on a less than full ROM until my ankles loosened up. So I guess you can work on it from either direction.

I did the same as Charm, feet flat all the time and work on increasing depth with each session. I hate them though, they are far more taxing than the squats.

Is having enough achilles tendon flexibility to have feet flat on floor when glutes are knee-level necessary for SLS/PE1>iM mastery?

Yes, you need sufficient ankle mobility; the Achilles "flexibility" is part of that.

Oh... so it's not so much a "bonus", rather what is expected.