Training CircularNo 90-11-1

TC 90-11-1HEADQUARTERS

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYWashington, DC, 30 December 1981

MILITARY SKIINGPREFACE

Combat operations in cold regions char-acteristically produce vulnerable flanks,rear areas, and lines of communication.Attacks against these kinds of objectivesrequire fast, silent, oversnow mobility.Units on skis are best suited for deeppenetrations followed by surprise attacksagainst these targets.

Military skiing is a means of oversnowmobility which allows the soldier to tra-verse most types of terrain using stan-dard equipment while carrying or haulinghis basic fighting and subsistence load. In

this manner, he can arrive at his destina-tion prepared to accomplish any assignedmission.

Most military skiing. is done on flat or rol-ling terrain requiring the use of cross-country (Nordic) skills. Tactical considera-tions sometimes dictate skiing down steepslopes requiring skill at downhill (Alpine)skiing techniques. Gaining and maintain-ing a downhill skiing capability withinmilitary units present a major trainingchallenge.

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Skills associated with downhill skiing aremuch more difficult to attain than thosefor cross-country movement. Alpine train-ing time can be reduced drastically, how-ever, by using the most modern equip-ment and training techniques.

As soon as troops have attained satisfac-tory skill levels at both Alpine and Nordicskiing, exercises are conducted as oftenas possible. These exercises test newlyacquired military skiing skills under com-bat training conditions.

This circular outlines a ski training pro-gram of 26 hours divided into three (3)phases. Lesson content makes use of themost up-to-date instructional techniquesavailable.

Phase II develops balance, confidence andmotivation within the student soldier andpromotes early mastering of Phase IIIskills.

Attempting to place Phase III ahead ofPhase II for a more traditional militaryapproach to training will lengthen therequired training time and may actuallyinhibit learning Phase II skills.

ContentsPage

PHASE ONE - Basic Movement . . . . . . . 3

PHASE TWO - Downhill Movement . . . . 13

PHASE THREE - Tactical Skiing . . . . .35

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P H A S E O N E – B a s i c M o v e m e n t

TRAINING ADMINISTRATIVEOBJECTIVE INSTRUCTIONS

Task: To teach the soldier to walk onskis and to perform proper sidestep, con-trolled fall and recovery, herringbone, andkickturn.

Conditions: Given flat, snow-covered ter-rain and proper equipment, the soldier istaught basic movement techniques andpractices movement during supervised ex-ercise.

Training Standard: Each soldier demon-strates reasonable proficiency in all basicmovement skills.

This two hour class is the soldier’s intro-duction to military skiing. It is a hands-onclass. Each skill is described, demonstrat-ed, and then practiced. No classroom workis required. A parade ground or other flat,open terrain is used for practical work.Classes and demonstrations can be con-ducted at platoon level, but all practicalwork is done at squad level with oneinstructor or assistant per squad. Instruc-tors and assistants are qualified skiers.Troops are dressed appropriately for weath-er. Either standard military mountain/ski

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boots or vapor barrier boots are worn. Skibindings are fitted prior to the class, andpoles are checked for proper length. Whentroops show proficiency in all skills, a shorttest course may be set up to conduct apractical examination.

L E S S O N C O N T E N T

WalkingThis is the simplest movement in skiingand is the basic step in forward motion.On level ground, sliding actions of vari-able degrees can be experienced.

Learning to feel the dimensions of the skiis most easily accomplished while stand-ing in place on the flat. After only a fewexercises, such as lifting one ski then theother, or pivoting one ski around its mid-dle, the student gains a general feel forthe skis. The first steps on skis can thenbe tried. Walking first in a straight lineand then in circles will induce some glid-ing. Double pole pushes transmit thefeeling of tensing up the stomach mus-cles while crouching to maintain balance.Walking both with and without the use ofpoles establishes natural rhythm. Armmovement instruction should not be givenduring this class as it is likely to confusethe student.

Technique

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(NOTE: Initial exercises are used to famil-iarize the student with the feel of theskis, but can be used as warm-up exercisesthroughout ski training.)•

•

•

•

•

While standing still, lift first one footand then the other, while stressing thefeel of having all weight on one ski.Standing on one ski, lift the other androtate it laterally about the vertical axisof the body (use poles for support).Rock back and forth, then zero in soweight is distributed over entire foot.Sidestep left and right in a straightline, then rotate first around toe of skiand then around heel.Walk straight and in circles, left andright.

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❑ Push off with both poles, skis paralleland hip width apart, coasting to a fullstop each time.

Common Errors■

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Looking down. (Instructor should cor-rect on occurrence.) Looking down atskis is a major problem throughout skitraining. It prevents the skier fromseeing visual terrain cues that helphim maintain balance and coordination.Lifting ski off snow. Maintain contactbetween ski and snow at all times.(Instructor should stress gliding.)Placing one ski on top of another. Oneof the consequences of the first twocommon errors. Experience corrects.

Uncoordinated pole plant. (Instructor

should stress the use of natural armswing as in normal walking.) Properpole plant should begin to occur spon-taneously with experience unless in-hibited by overcoaching.

Falling and RecoveryFalling. The instructor deals with the en-tire class at the first incident of a soldierfalling. Whenever possible the skier “con-trols” his fall by relaxing into a sittingposition whenever he feels that a fall isimminent. Recovery from such a fall ismuch easier and injury is less likely tooccur.Recovery. Whatever the student’s posi-tion after a fall, have him position his skisdownhill from his body across the fallline.

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(NOTE: During training on flat ground, verbally designatedirection of fall line if no slope is present.)

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Herringbone

This movement is used for rapid climbingof slopes for short distances. (NOTE: Initialinstruction is given on flat terrain.) Sometechniques follow:

❐

❐

❐

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Face uphill with ski tips spread to forma “V.” Rotate knees inward to producestrong pressure on inside edges of skis.

Placing all weight on one ski, lift theother ski and move it forward a com-fortable distance.

Transfer weight to the forward ski andedge it inward. The other ski is thenbrought forward as before. The body iskept well forward and down. Ski polesare used for balance as in walking.

Kick Turn

Use the kick turn to reverse direction whilestanding still. This is a good way to conceala change of direction in a ski track. Sometechniques follow:

❐ Standing with skis level, place both skipoles on uphill side with downhill poleto rear of body and hands close tohips, so that poles and uphill leg forma stable tripod.

❐ Move downhill ski slightly to the rearto gain momentum and swing leg for-ward until ski is straight up and heelof ski is touching the snow.

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❑

❑

❑

Rotate downhill leg outward so that tipof ski swings rearward and downwardto rest parallel with uphill ski, butpointed opposite.Shift weight to downhill ski, rotate up-per body to face downhill.Lift uphill ski and ski pole simulta-neously and rotate through the fall lineuntil both skis are again parallel andfacing in the same direction.

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PHASE TWO–Downhill Movement

TRAININGOBJECTIVE

Task: To teach the soldier reasonableskill in downhill movement of skis undervarying snow conditions, with and with-out ski poles.

Conditions: Given a snow covered slopeof varying degree and given proper equip-ment, each soldier is taught downhillmovement on skis progressing in se-quence from straight running throughstep turn, wedge, wedge turn, sideslip,basic christy, and stem turn to parallelturns.

Training Standard: Each soldier demon-strates reasonable proficiency in downhill

movement on skis over varying terrainand varying snow conditions.

ADMINISTRATIVEINSTRUCTIONS

No classroom work is required. Classesconsist of demonstrations and practicalwork. Classes and supervised practice areconducted at squad level with one quali-fied ski instructor per squad. A recrea-tional Alpine ski area is used, if available.If a ski lift is used, additional instructionon how to use the lift is necessary. Someuphill movement without a lift is recom-mended. Course of instruction consists ofa total of sixteen hours of classes and

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supervised practice in two-hour incre-ments. One hour minimum of supervisedpractice is required for every hour ofclasswork. Ideally, two hours of class-work, followed by two hours of super-vised practice is conducted each day. Twotwo-hour classes, each immediately fol-lowed by two hours of supervised prac-tice, is the maximum daily workload fortroops in excellent physical condition.

Class content is divided as follows.First 4 hours: Straight running,

step turn, wedge.Second 4 hours: Wedge turn, side

slip, basic christy.Third 4 hours: Stem turns.Fourth 4 hours: Parallel turns.

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LESSONCONTENT

Straight Running

In straight running, skis are held paralleland a comfortable (natural) distance apart.Ankle and knee joints are flexed with theupper body erect and slightly forward asin a boxer’s alert position. Elbows areflexed at 90° and relaxed at the side.Hands are kept within the field of visionas the skier looks forward. Muscles arerelaxed.

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Exercises❐ Straight run with natural runout.

❐ Lift alternate skis.

❐ Bounce.

Common Errors■

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Looking down.Sitting back. Watch for stiffness. Fearmay be caused by using terrain whichis too steep or has no runout, allowingthe skier to coast to a natural stop.Bending at waist. Reinforce boxerstance.Unequal weighting.

Hips are not centered.

Step TurnOnce the soldier hasmastered the abilityto shift his weightfrom one ski to an-other while moving,introducing the stepturn allows him tochange direction andcontrol his rate andamount of descent.The primary purposeof teaching the stepturn at this time is toallow the skier topractice straightrunning at increas-ing speeds with con-fidence in his abilityto terminate the de-scent when he de-sires.

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Technique

❐ While straight running, place allweight on ski opposite desired direc-tion of turn.❐ Lift the other ski, opening tip slight-ly toward desired direction of turn.❐ Step down onto lifted ski and liftother ski to parallel wide track posi-tion.❐ Repeat process until moving indesired direction, or until skis havemoved away from the fall line to-ward an uphill direction enough tostop forward movement.

Common Errors■ Looking down.

n Incomplete weight shift from ski-to-ski. This is often an indicator ofmoving too fast or tensing up. Thismaneuver must be practiced start-ing at very slow speeds, increasingspeed with skill.

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Wedge

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Technique

❐ A gliding wedge position is formed withthe upper body in a straight running posi-tion. The tails of the skis are pushedoutward to form an inverted V. Theknees are placed in a straight line be-tween hip and boot to keep the ski flaton the snow. Weight is distributed even-ly on both skis. Speed is regulatedby increasing or decreasing the angleof the V.

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❑

❑

From a gliding wedge, a braking wedgeis formed by rolling (angulating) theknees inward to engage the insideedges of the skis.

Maximum braking occurs when V ofskis is wide, knees are angulated in-ward, and the skier sits back slightly toincrease pressure on ski edges.

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Exercises (stationary)❑ From wide track parallel, push tails

apart into wedge.

❑ From a position of strong flexing atankle and knee joints, straighten legsto produce a hopping (up-unweighting)effect. While unweighed, open tails towedge. Return to flexed position andrepeat up-unweighting, returning towide track.

Exercises (moving)❑ Gliding wedge to coasting stop.❑ Alternate straight running and wedg-

ing.❑ Gliding to breaking wedge and stop.❑ Alternate gliding and braking wedge.

NOTE: Encourage up-unweighting during

these exercises to develop rhythm.

Common Errors■ Hips not centered. Causes unequal

weighting and edging of skis.

■ Sitting back.■ Knees together. Causes uncontrolled

edge engagement and disengagement.■ Not in wedge. (Instructor should dem-

onstrate proper technique.) Toes shouldbe in, and heels should be out whilestanding. Try shallower terrain to cor-rect this fault while moving.

Wedge TurnThis is an efficient turn for use at slowspeeds. The wedge turn provides a stableplatform when the skier is carrying packand rifle and allows him to retain control

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under most conditions. Fundamentals ofthis turn are an important part of all ad-vanced skiing. Many military skiers will notachieve excellence at downhill skills be-yond this point because of time con-straints during initial training. Strong skill at wedge turning will allow efficient exe-cution of most military missions.

Technique❑ While moving in a gliding wedge, steer

in small deviations left and right byconsciously turning the opposite foottoward the desired direction.

❑ While steering, place additional weightand pressure on the steered (outside)ski by bending the outside knee.

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❑

❑

❑

❑

❑

Vary width of gliding wedge.

Foot-steer alternate skis.Foot-steer with increased downwardpressure. Increase steering to vary radiiof turns.Ski linked turns.

Slalom through ski poles.

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■

NOTE: During these exercises, skiersshould practice alternately with and with-out ski poles.

Common Errors■ Rotating upper body. Reinforce foot and

knee steering and pressure move-ments.

Transferring weight with hips. Watchfor visible “hip swing” and correct bystressing feet and knees.Leaning to inside of turn. Inside skishould be unweighed.Bending at waist.Ankle and knee joints not flexed.

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Sideslip

Development of a christy from a wedgeturn requires introduction of sideslip orskidding at this point. Some students willhave inadvertently performed a basicchristy during wedge-turning practice.When this happens, it should be encour-aged and reinforced. It means the skierhas spontaneously begun to feel the ef-fects of skidding as a natural progressionfrom wedge to christy. At this stage oflearning, the skier will have difficulty co-ordinating separate and simultaneous legmovements normally associated with side-slip exercises; however, a brief lesson intraversing and sideslip is necessary tohelp the student get the feel of skiddingneeded to perform basic christies.

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Technique

From an edged position, i.e., traversingthe side of a hill with knees angulateduphill to engage uphill ski edges so as toprevent slipping downhill, roll knees outand downhill until ski edges no longerprevent skis from sliding toward the fallline.

Exercises

❑Standing still on slope with skis per-pendicular to fall line and poles spreadwide, roll knees toward fall line untilsideslip occurs. Practice left and right.

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❐ While moving on a side hill traverse, ■ Uncoordinated simultaneous edgingroll knees outward until sideslip oc- with one ski while skidding with thecurs. Roll knees uphill until edges other ski. Keep upright body position.again prevent sideslip. Practice left and- .right.

❑ While wedging across hill, move uphillski to wide track position, simulta-neously rolling knees downhill to createsideslip. If the skier persists in having problems

Common Errors in foot coordination, try unweightinguphill ski with concentration on skid-

■ Leaning into the hill. Keep upper body ding with downhill ski only. When thisover skis, controlling edging and side- occurs, the unweighed ski should fol-slip with knees. low the other naturally.

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Basic Christy

Progressing from wedge turns, the basicchristy introduces the skidding used as afoundation from which more advancedturns are learned.

TechniqueStart a wedge turn. As the turn crossesthe fall line, steer the unweighed uphill(inside) ski into a wide track position.

Exercises❑ From a traversing wedge, steer uphill

ski parallel and sideslip. Practice leftand right.

❑ Practice basic christies starting closingof skis to parallel earlier and earlier

❑

until skis can be closed before reach-ing fall line.Link turns closely so that finish of oneturn initiates start of another.

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Stem ChristyThe act of “stemming” is nothing morethan moving the skis into a wedge posi-tion. The purpose of the stem is to pro-vide a platform or timing device fromwhich to launch a parallel turn. As skillgrows at making turns using the basicchristy, the skis are brought parallel ear-lier and earlier. Less and less time isspent in the wedge. When the wedgebecomes the turn-initiating movement, itis referred to as a stem. In military skitraining, the stem turn provides a teach-ing link between the basic christy and theparallel christy.This publication describes two types ofstem christy:

• UP-STEM CHRISTY• DOWN-STEM CHRISTY

Up-stem christy uses a gliding uphill stemwith a gradual shifting of weight andedge engagement to the outside (uphill)ski.

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Down-stem christy uses a positive edgeengagement or “checking” of the down-hill ski with more dramatic shifting ofweight to the outside ski. This turn is anexcellent vehicle for introducing the poleplant. Down-stemming is effective onsteep terrain since speed is checked atthe start of each turn.

Technique

UP-STEM CHRISTY

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❑

❑

From a previous turn or a traverse,push uphill ski into a wedge positionwith weight on downhill ski.Shift weight to uphill (outside) ski whilesteering it into the turn.Steer inside ski to parallel position.Follow through to new direction ofmovement.

ExercisesPractice up-stem christies, decreasing an-gle of traverse and increasing slope.

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Common Errors

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■

■

■

■

Pushing entire ski out rather than justtail, which usually results in a fall oraborted turn.

Stepping ski out rather than pushing.To progress smoothly, the ski tailshould be pushed uphill.

Losing traverse with downhill ski. Rolldownhill knee uphill more.

Rotation of upper body.

Stemming ski forward or backward.Instructor should demonstrate properposition while standing still.

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Technique

DOWN-STEM CHRISTY

❑

❑

❑

❑

From a previous turn or traverse, pushtail of downhill ski outward.

Flex downhill knee and ankle and rolldownhill knee inward to engage insideedge of downhill ski.

Anticipate turn by rotating upper bodyto face in direction of turn.

Plant downhill (inside) ski pole andwith a pronounced push off from down-hill ski, transfer weight to uphill (out-side) ski.

Common Errors❑

❑

❑

Simultaneously push outside knee for-ward, down, and inward to changeedge engagement and begin steering.Rotate inside ski parallel to outside ski.Follow through to new direction ofmovement.

Exercises❑ During traverse, down-stem to edge

set and recover. Integrate pole plant.❑ Down-stem turns with varying rigor

during push off. Vary speed and radiusof turns until a series of closely linkeddown-stem christies can be performedon steep terrain.

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Leaning into hill. Keep an upright bodyposition during weight transfer and arelatively quiet upper body during theturning sequence.

Improper pole plant. Use natural rhythmof arms and leg movement.

No edge set. Roll downhill knee morepositively uphill during stemming.

Hips over stemmed ski.(Instructor willdemonstrate position showing centeredhip position.)

No anticipation. (Instructor will dem-onstrate and have student practicewhile standing still.)

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Parallel Christy

Several variations of turns with skis keptparallel represent the most advancedform of skiing. In military skiing, the needfor skill in parallel turns is limited torelatively long downhill traverses in un-packed powder where other turns may bedifficult and very tiring. Units with limitedavailable time for ski training may consid-er this instruction optional depending onstudent progress.

Technique❑ From a previous turn or traverse, antici-

pate the turn by facing the upper bodytoward the fall line.

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❑

❑

❑

Move both knees forward and down,placing most weight on downhill ski.Plant the downhill ski pole.

Extend knees to produce up-weightingand roll knees toward the inside of theturn to change edge set from outsideto inside (uphill to downhill) edges ofskis.Flex both knees forward, shiftingweight to outside ski and steer towardnew direction of travel.

Tips for Deep Snow❑ Keep skis fairly close together.❑ Maintain equal weight on both skis as

much as possible.

❑ Maintain center of gravity close to cen-ter of ski by keeping body more erectthan normal.

❑ Maintain speed to prevent sinking toodeeply into the snow.

❑ Avoid sharp turns of more than 45°.

Exercises❑

❑

❑

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Up-unweighting exercises, static andmoving. Show pole plant on down mo-tion, then up motion.Uphill christies both from traverse andfrom fall line to stop.Linked turns on varying speeds.Run slalom course.

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Common Errors■

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Rotation. (Instructor will demonstrateand emphasize the importance of anti-cipating and maintaining a quiet upperbody.) This is very important for militaryskiers who normally carry a heavy pack.Sitting back. Be especially watchful forthis in powder skiing where the weightis more centered on the ski.

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PHASE THREE–Tactical Skiing

TRAININGOBJECTIVE

Task: To teach the soldier tactical pro-ficiency at moving and fighting on skis onall varieties of terrain and in varyingsnow conditions with combat loads.

Conditions: Given snow covered terrainof the varying conditions expected duringthe battle or during movement to contact,the soldier is taught to move and fight onskis while carrying combat loads.

Training Standard: Each soldier demon-strates the capability to move swiftly andsilently across a snow-covered battlefieldto gain and maintain enemy contact whilecarrying a combat load.

ADMINISTRATIVEINSTRUCTIONS

No classroom work is required. Classesand demonstrations may be held at pla-toon level. There should be one instructoror assistant per squad. (NOTE: The skiinstructor here is not necessarily quali-fied in the same sense as necessary forPhase II. Any capable military skier isqualified to teach Phase III.) Any normaltraining area with a variety of flat, rolling,wooded, and open terrain is suitable.Course of instruction is eight hours asfollows.First 2 hours: Waxing, diagonal step,

two-step diagonal, move-ment on flat terrain.

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LESSON CONTENT

Second 2 hours:

Third 2 hours:

Fourth 2 hours:

Supervised practice onbroken, hilly terrain, ski-joring, use of climbers,ski pole riding.Battle drill, firing posi-tions, ahkio handling.Practical examination totest the soldier in all ac-quired skills during allprevious ski training.This practical exam maybe administered as partof a field training exer-cise.

WaxingWax is used on the bottom of the skis tomake them glide forward while prevent-ing back slip. Variation in temperatureand snow conditions requires waxes ofvarying properties. The US Army usescommercial ski wax. Temperature rangeand snow condition for each type wax areusually marked on the container. As theweather warms and the snow becomeswetter, apply softer wax. Conversely, thecolder the weather becomes, the harderthe wax should be.

Wax skis in a heated shelter, if possible,because wax sticks better to a warm sur-face. During movement, carry wax in aninside pocket to keep it warm. Make sure

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the ski bottom is dry and free of old wax,particularly wax different from that to beapplied. If necessary, wax can be applieddirectly over a different wax, if the newwax is softer than the one already on theski. Wax can be removed using any hard-edged tool, such as a paint scraper orpocket knife. Be careful not to cut into thebase of the ski.

Apply wax over the entire bottom of theski. Smooth the wax by rubbing it withthe heel of the hand or a cork. If a fire orYukon stove is available, heat the wax tomake it easier to smooth out. Do not putthe skis on the snow until the wax hascooled to air temperature. Test skis forproper waxing before starting on a longmarch.

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Diagonal Step

The basic movement of the diagonal is awalking step. Forward motion and glideare increased when the skier appliesmore effort to his step. This added effortis obtained by a lunge coordinated withan increased push from the poles.The diagonal is the most widely used ofall skiing steps. It is applied under alltypes of snow conditions on level ground.

Technique

❑ Lean forward with well-bent knees and

❑

❑

❑

ankles. Keep feet flat and shift bodyweight to right ski.Slide left, pushing unweighed skistraight forward by a springing motionfrom ankle, knee, and hip, straighten-ing the body and transferring theweight to the left sliding ski.Complete the springing motion (lunge)above by straightening the right kneeand pushing off from the right foot,thus completing the weight transfer.Keep body weight on the sliding (left)ski and, as the glide nears completion,bend left knee and ankle in preparationfor the next lunge. Meanwhile, theright leg is relaxed and moves the ski

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forward in preparation for the nextstep. As this leg reaches a positionapproximately alongside the left leg,the next step is made with the right skiby lunging from the left leg.

❑ When using ski poles, execute thelunge as above, except that as the leftfoot is slid forward, swing the right skipole straight to the front and place ittowards the tip of the right ski; or,when the right ski is slid forward, bringthe left ski pole forward.

❑ Glide is increased by a push with theski pole. The ski pole is leaned slightlyto the front while the arms are keptclose to the body.

❑ The pushing action of the ski pole is

increased progressively by the musclesof the arms and shoulders. The push isfinished off by a sharp straightening ofthe arm for added power. When thepush has been completed, the arm isrelaxed and brought forward close tothe body in preparation for the nextpoling action.

❑ During the coordinated movement ofpole and lunge, emphasize correcttiming and a long glide. The mainpower glide is obtained from the lungeexecuted by each leg; the poling actionprovides only a secondary source ofmomentum. All motions are rhythmicand fluid. Use poles in a relaxed man-ner and allow the pressure of pushingto focus on the wrist strap.

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Two-Step Diagonal

This step is used to attain a longer and ❑ Lunge from the left leg, in a continu -faster glide on the level. It is also used asan aid through dips and over bumps.

Technique ❑

The two-step diagonal is a combination ofa fast walking step and a diagonal. Pushis obtained by double poling.❑ From a standing position with the

knees slightly bent, take a walking stepwith the left ski to start moving initial-ly. ❑

ous motion, to produce a long glide onthe right ski.

While gliding on the right ski, bringthe left ski slowly forward and evenwith the other ski to complete the firsttwo-step and prepare for the next two-step. This action should be started be-fore the momentum of the glide hasbeen lost.

As the first step is made, bring both

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❑

ski poles forward a comfortable dis-tance and set them into the snow along-side the skis in coordination with thelunge of the second step.Pushing action with the poles is ap-plied the same way as described abovefor one pole. As the poles leave thesnow, bring them straight forward inpreparation for the next step. It is mostimportant to time this motion properlyto coordinate with the next lunge.

Variations andApplications of Ski StepsIn long, cross-country movement, particu-

larly when skiing with pack and rifle, vary-ing techniques are used according to theterrain to conserve energy. Soldiers at-tempt to obtain as much glide as possiblefrom the skis during each step. Duringthe glide, the skier’s muscles rest momen-tarily. Constant use of the same step ismonotonous and tiring. To avoid this,rhythm and steps are varied often. Thesame effect occurs in poling. To rest armand shoulder muscles, several steps are of-ten taken without poling. In the diagonalstep for instance, the first two steps canbe made without using poles. Additionalcombinations of steps and poling aremade at the skier’s discretion, placingmore emphasis on leg rather than armwork, or vice versa.

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In bumpy terrain, ski steps and poling areused individually or in various combina-tions to give a strong pushoff, which pro-vides the skier sufficient glide for a con-tinuous motion through a dip and over abump. When a series of bumps and dipsis encountered, the poling action is gen-erally applied on the crest of the first

bump to obtain sufficient momentum toreach the top of the next bump in a con-tinuous glide. A step supported by doublepoling may be applied when skiingthrough the dip. There are other situa-tions where double poling is applied togain or increase forward motion of the skiwithout taking a step.

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Forward lean of the body is increased asslope steepens since skis will slide faster.The opposite is true as the slope lessens.Generally, the body is nearly perpendicu-lar to the slope regardless of pitch toinsure proper balance. Skiing over bumpyterrain threatens the stability of the skier.To minimize this, keep the knees suppleto act as shock absorbers, allowing theupper body to remain as quiet as possi-ble. To further increase stability on largebumps, the skier increases knee bendand extends the legs to normal positionas soon as the top is passed; i. e., allow-

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ing the skis to drop away. This action willlessen the chance of being thrown intothe air. When moving through a hollow,normal ski and body position is main-tained, with knees absorbing the suddenchange of pressure. In deep snow, lead-ing with one ski improves balance.

When skiing from soft snow onto hardsnow, forward lean is increased becausethe skis will gain speed and have a ten-dency to run from under the skier. Theopposite is true when running from hardsnow onto soft snow. In this case, leanslightly to the rear and advance the lead-ing ski farther ahead just before the softsnow is entered. On icy crust, stability isimproved by keeping the skis farther

apart, or by running in a wedge. To con-trol speed when the slope is rutted, side-slipping may be necessary. On icy snow,the skis may chatter in a turn. To correctthis, keep body weight well forward andcarefully control edging of the skis as theturn is made. Crusty snow, which will notsupport the skier’s weight (breakablecrust), is the most difficult to cope with.Speed is kept slower while making allturns. Sometimes it’s necessary to usethe step turn or a kick turn to changedirection. Ski pole riding can be used tocontrol speed over difficult, steep terrain;particularly when carrying or haulingheavy loads. The straps of both poles areremoved. Grasping both handles in onehand, the tips pressed against the snow,

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between the legs, by pushing downwardat the center of the poles with the otherhand. The skier must avoid catching thepole tips or baskets on brush which maybe sticking up out of the snow. An alter-nate method used for traversing is to holdthe poles on the uphill side of the body.

Moving downhill through the woods re-quires shorter radius turns and quick re-action. The skier must always be alert tosudden obstacles when skiing in thewoods. This is the most challenging kindof skiing, requiring skill at all methods ofcontrolling skis. During unit movement inwooded terrain, one man falling can blockthe progress of all personnel behind him.If an individual fails, he should move off

the track as quickly as possible, even ifthis results in losing his original positionin the column.

Crossing obstacles like ditches or fencescan be very time-consuming for a unit.Whenever possible, disperse the men tocross on a broad front. Sometimes it isbest to remove skis altogether.

Low fences and windfalls 30 to 60 centi-meters high (1 to 2 feet) are crossed byturning sideways to the obstacle so thatthe skis or snowshoes are parallel andalongside it, then stepping over first withone foot then the other. A kick turn overthe obstacle is an alternate method.

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In the case of rail fences or large diame-ter windfalls, it is often easier to sit on

46

the obstacle and swing both feet simul-taneously to the other side.

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Ditches or small streams are crossed bystepping over them sideways, using theski poles for support.

If the ditches are too deep and wide, it isbetter to descend to the bottom, either bysideslipping or sidestepping, and then toclimb the other side by sidestepping.

When it is necessary for troops to de-scend or ascend slopes which are toosteep for their ability, or traversing is notpractical, the sidestep is used. Otherwise,the skis are removed and the slope negoti-ated on foot, if the snow depth willpermit. Mohair ski climbers are used forlong uphill climbs when the slope is toosteep for wax to hold it properly.

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Skiing with Pack andWeapon

Skiing with a pack and weapon changesthe center of gravity and affects thetechniques of movement. Some tech-niques follow:❑ Lunges are shorter and pushes with

poles less powerful.❑ To aid in maintaining balance when

skiing downhill over rough terrain, theleading ski is advanced farther and theknees are kept more flexible than whenskiing without a load.

❑ Speed of descent is reduced and tech-niques are applied more cautiously.

❑ Slopes are climbed with a more gradu-al traverse.

❑ When skiing through woods or inbrushy terrain, care is taken to prevent

any protruding parts of the weaponfrom catching on branches, causingloss of balance.

❑ In the event of a fall, it is sometimesmore efficient to remove the pack andweapon before attempting to regainfooting.

Sled Pulling.

Pulling a sled (ahkio) is hard work, requir-ing both teamwork and technique. Gener-ally, the methods of hauling sleds applyto both skiers and snowshoes. Normally,the number of personnel pulling the sledis three, with one brakeman. However,

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the number of pullers may change, de-pending on:

❑ Terrain, ❑ Weight of load, ❑ Type of movement, and ❑ Mission.

.

Preparation for Sled Pulling r

Techniques for sled pulling (ahkio) follow:❑

❑

❑

The tow ropes are laid out and fas-tened by snap buckles in tandemsystem. The sled harnesses are adjust-ed to fit loosely on the pullers.Always consider using ski climbers forbest traction. If climbers are not used,waxed skis provide best traction. Don’tworry about glide; however, slidingcapacity should not be entirely for-feited.

Before moving out, check sled for prop-er loading and lashing to insure thelowest possible center of gravity.

Pulling Sled on Varied Terrain

When pulling a sled over comparatively flat50

Uphill Climbing

terrain, skiers normally use the one-stepski technique. When crossing smallditches, stop the sled in the ditch whilethe pullers go as far as the tow ropesallow. Then all together pull the sled upout of the ditch. To change direction inthe woods, continue to move straightforward until the sled comes to the de-sired turning point. Then move in thenew direction with the turn being con-trolled by the puller nearest the sled–assisted if necessary by the man behind.When the forest is dense and space doesnot allow the men to move far enoughahead before the turn is made, start theturn by gradually making as gentle acurve as possible, while the two mennearest the sled (in front and behind)guide, lift, and otherwise assist in turningthe sled.

To accomplish an uphill maneuver, use thefollowing techniques:❑ On short, gentle slopes the herring-

bone can be used.❑ On a steep, short slope the pullers can

use the sidestep. In this case, the rearman moves to the front and side of thesled, and while sidestepping, assists inpulling the sled by using the rope fas-tened to the front end.

❑ On very gentle slopes, an uphill trav-erse may be used. Ski climbers areused if the length of the slope justifiesthe time required to put them on.

❑ In difficult terrain, use a relay tech-nique when the necessary equipmentis available. A climbing rope, 36.5 me-ters (120 ft) long, or similar item, isfastened to the sled. The pullers then

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climb uphill as far as the rope allows.While they stand in place, the sled ispulled up to their position. This proce-dure is repeated as many times as isnecessary to reach the top. Care istaken to insure that the sled is wellanchored each time the pullers moveup, thus avoiding a runaway sled.Where steep slopes must be ascendedfor considerable distances, less energywill be expended if the sleds are leftbehind and the sled load backpacked tothe top.

Downhill Movement

Techniques for downhill movement follow:❑ On very gentle slopes and in poor snow

conditions where the sled will not

descend on its own accord, use a double-poling technique or a one-step diagonal.It is necessary to control the speed toprevent the sled from overrunning thepullers. The rear man can assist in thisby braking the sled, although in mostcases very little braking will be needed.

❑ A short, steep slope can be descendedby sideslipping or sidestepping. If nec-essary, the rear man is assisted in thebraking action by one or more mem-bers of the team. During short descentsin wooded areas, the braker may posi-tion himself behind a tree for addedstability in lowering the sled. If neces-sary, a succession of position movesare made.

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❑ On long moderate slopes, use the brak-

❑

❑

ing wedge to control speed. If morebraking is necessary than can be ap-plied by the rear man, he is assisted bythe puller closest to the sled, whomoves to one side or removes his ropeand refastens it to the rear of the sled.

The whole team is needed to brake thesled when going down a long, steepslope. Fasten all tow ropes to the rearof the sled. All men brake from therear and/or one skier controls the sledby straddling its front. The brakingwedge or sideslipping is used whenlong, steep downhill slopes are tra-versed. The puller nearest the sled andthe rear man remain above the sledand as far from it as the ropes allow.

From this position, they can prevent thesled from sideslipping.In very steep terrain, a long rope canbe used to lower the sled straight downthe slope. This procedure is the reverseof the uphill-relay method describedearlier and is good for evacuatingwounded.

SkijoringSkijoring is moving men on skis behindvehicles. The best routes for skijoring aresnow-covered roads and trails, frozenlakes, rivers, or paths made by trackedvehicles. Speeds up to 24 kmph (15 mph)can be maintained on level ground bytrained troops, depending on weather and

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trail conditions. The number of men thatcan be hauled behind each vehicle variesdepending on the type and mechanicalcondition of the vehicle. Towing morethan two squads behind one vehicle isimpractical, due to the increased lengthof the column and difficulty in makingturns.

Use of Tow RopesTwo ropes, 36.5 meters (120 ft) long,are used for towing a rifle squad. Theskiers, in columns of twos, are spacedat equal intervals behind the vehicleand outside the ropes. A gap of approxi-mately 4 meters (12 ft) is left betweenindividuals.

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Several methods of towing are used depend- bight of rope. The skier leans againsting on terrain and distance of move- the loop after placing it around thement: buttocks. He does not place the body

• Each skier grasps a bight of rope through the loop.

and makes a 25 cm (lO-inch) loop by • The ski-pole method is the leasttying a butterfly knot (see TC 90- tiring way to skijor. Another advan-6-1, Military Mountaineering). The tage to this method is that a skierloop is held with one hand and poles can exercise his hands to preventare held in the other, or a long loop frostbite during movement incan be formed by tying a butterfly extreme cold. The rope is loopedknot in a 1.5 to 2 meter (5 to 7 ft) around the poles to lock them in

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position. The poles are held underthe outside arm. The skier can restagainst the ski pole baskets.

• When being towed through densewooded areas, or when contact withthe enemy is imminent, simply graspthe rope without tying the knot orusing the ski poles as a rest. Maneu-vering through narrow trails is thuseasier and the troops are more pre-pared for immediate combat.

No matter what method of towing isused, troops are never allowed to fas-ten themselves to the tow rope. In caseof a fall, they must be able to releasetheir hold immediately to avoid seriousinjury to themselves or to other skiers.The ski poles are usually held in one

hand and are available for instant use.During training, and in combat situa-tions when contact with the enemy isnot probable, the ski poles may beloaded on the vehicles to avoid acci-dents.

Skijoring TechniqueThe track is made as simple as theterrain permits. Steep slopes, obsta-cles, and sharp turns are avoided.When these cannot be bypassed, speedmust be reduced so the skiers can ma-neuver. One man, usually the assistantdriver, is responsible for stopping orslowing the vehicle to prevent casual-ties due to speed or obstacles. He

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constantly observes the skiers andother vehicles, gives the driver orders,and signals the skiers when the vehi-cle will slow down, speed up, or stop.

When the vehicle begins its forwardmovement, each man on the ropemoves forward under his own powerfor a few steps, gradually placing ten-sion on the rope to prevent being sud-denly jerked into motion and caused tofall. When under way the skier’s bodyis leaned slightly backward, the kneesare bent slightly, and the upper body isnearly straight. Skis may be fartherapart than in normal skiing. One ski iskept slightly ahead of the other. Theposition should be one which allowsthe skier to relax while alert to on-

coming obstacles. If a skier falls, heshould release the tow rope immediate-ly and roll to the side to avoid beingrun over by the skier following.

During sharp turns, the vehicle isslowed to walking speed, and skierswalk around the curve being carefulnot to drop or step on the tow rope.Normal speed is resumed after the lastman has made the turn. Vehicle stopsand starts are done gradually.

While descending hills, skiers maintaina taut rope using the braking wedge orby moving to the side where deepersnow will slow them down. If the ter-rain will not allow controlled braking,and collision with the vehicle is immi-

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nent, the skiers release the rope anddisperse to the sides of the track. Onshort, downhill slopes, the vehicle in-creases speed temporarily so that theskiers need not brake. On long, steepslopes, skiers descend independentlyof the vehicle and reattach themselvesat the bottom.

Use of Ski Poles in Firing❑

❑

Firing in snow requires a firm support.On packed snow, the weapons mayslide. Branches, skis, snowshoes, orsleds are used to provide a solid base.Skis and ski poles can be used in avariety of ways to form hasty weaponsrests while firing on the move.

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❑ Ski poles can be used as an elbow restor as a weapons support from thekneeling position in shallow crustedsnow. In deep, soft snow, the positionof the poles can be reversed for addedstability.

❑ In the prone position, the skis or skipoles can be used as elbow rests oras supports for the weapon.

❑ Automatic weapons can be fired fromthe prone position using a snowshoeor ski pole basket as a rest for thebipod. Some machine gunners attach awide strip of canvas to the bipod legs.When the bipod is opened, the canvasstretches out between the legs overthe snow and stops the legs from sink-ing.

Skis are used as far forward as possible,

and are left behind only when the objec-tive can be reached more quickly andeasily on foot. It is up to the small unitleader to decide when to do this. As a ruleof thumb, skis are left at the last coveredand concealed position, short of theobjective (see FM 31–70 and FM 31–71).Deep snow may force units to assault theobjective on skis.

As friendly forces approach the effectiverange of enemy weapons, they move byfire and maneuver. Troops proceed byshort rushes on foot or on skis, which-ever is more feasible. Troops rushing onfoot drag their skis by holding them to-gether by the tips (poles through the bind-ings) in one hand, with the weapon readi-ly available for action in the other. Skis

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may also be tied to the belt with a thongslipped through the holes at the ski tips.

When contact with the enemy is not ex-pected, the weapon is carried across theback with the sling over either shoulder,and with the butt at the side or attachedto the rucksack. When contact with theenemy is imminent, the weapon is slungaround the neck and in front of the body,thus releasing both arms for rapid skiing.When contact with the enemy has beenestablished, the weapon is carried in onehand and the ski poles in the other.

When the depth of the snow is less than50 cm (20 inches), consider leaving skisin the last covered and concealed posi-tion short of the objective.

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As soon as the objective has been seized,the skis, ski poles, or snowshoes are recov-ered and brought forward. A two-manteam can quickly make a ski bundle anddrag the skis of the entire squad at onetime.

Additional techniques

❑

❑

In deep, loose snow, under hostile fire,it may be more advantageous to ad-vance in a high-crawl position, holdingthe skis with hands through the bind-ings.

Sliding forward in a low crawl on skisis another method of advancing, espe-cially over firm snow.

* GPO : 1991 0 - 281-486 (43486)