Petra Vlhova, the tall skier

From her first appearance on the World Cup, I had noticed how tall (5’11) Petra Vlhova was and wondered how she could manage to do so well in technical ski events, and particularly in slalom. 

These “turny” races had heretofore been more favorable to shorter, stockier racers. Mikaela Shiffrin is just 5’7 and weighs 141 lbs vs. 160 for her Slovak competitor. 

So, what does that all means? Taller slalom skiers have to work hard to stay in the middle of their skis like shorter ones, but it’s a lot more difficult because the main, most powerful and faster hinge point is in the ankle. 

Staying neutral is desirable as a taller individual will have to travel more to stay in balance, with always the underlying fear of “going over the handlebar”. Yet, a quiet fore-aft balance seems to be what Vlhova successfully achieved as she has reached the level of her American rival. 

That said, she gets another bonus that also makes a big difference. She’s 15% heavier than Shiffrin and on flat sections this can play a decisive role as long as she can stay well balanced on her skis. 

Now, you know everything there’s is to know about that tall skier and can appreciate how being well balanced on a pair of skis can earn a skier some tremendous dividends...