To understand our skiing motor behavior, it is suitable to differentiate between movements and actions.
By movements we mean a position change, a certain motion between points in space or a specific body segment movement. Movements are the tools we utilize to achieve actions, they lead to actions and are essential components of them.
Actions instead produce something and have a purpose. They are movements’ continuous flow, coordinated in a specific way, a programmed sequence of movements with a specific goal. The action is what we do and the movement is how we do it. Actions are behaviors leading to a result while movements do not necessarily lead to a result. A series of coordinated and sequentially synchronized movements produce one action and one or more actions constitute a technical gesture.
As movements are part of actions, then there is no action without movement. Actions are not a set of simple movements; they are sequences of determined movements that resolve a motor goal. In skiing we do not move just because; we move to create actions that produce effects. The beginner tends to concentrate on movements; the intermediate skier is prone to pay attention to actions while the expert performs movements and actions without considering them (automatism) since his mind is directed to the attraction points of the terrain layout.
In the action, we materialize body movements. These are oriented at generating actions such as, e.g., maintaining skis-snow contact (pressure control action) through legs flexion and extension movements, and in edge controlling actions, we employ feet, hips or body inclination movements.
As examples, the action of changing the edges is composed of the movements of feet rolling and pelvis translation. The action of shifting our weight is constituted by releasing the pressure on one foot and the movement of loading the other foot. The action of carving the skis is set out by the movement of inclining our legs to the inside of the turn we wish to do.
In general, when concentrating on technical improvement, we tend to pay more attention to movements when in fact, the pretended actions should determine the necessary executing movements.
Language and Action
The theory of Embodied semantics argues that, after referring to actions’ linguistic stimuli, sensorimotor brain areas are activated generating a language-action relationship. Several scientific studies show a strong connection between language processing and motor processes.
A feature of language is to describe actions and this word processing collaborates in our motor system activation. According to Hauk et al. (2008), when using specific words for action execution, pre-motor and motor areas are activated, known as motor resonance. In this way, there would be a correspondence between the semantic content of the action and the activation of these motor areas. In addition, language guides our attention to the sensation of the action to be executed, constructing an indispensable reference with biomechanical analogies, visualization or by mnemonic learning.
Motor resonance based on language is modulated by skiing linguistic input allowing an immediate and localized experience, i.e., oriented to a specific action. This phenomenon would consent the activation of the specific motor program because we understand the verbal description of an action simulating it mentally.
The verbalization related to the description of an action activates the motor cortex (Hauk et al., 2004); Pulvermuller et al., 2001; Tettamanti et al., 2005). In addition, language facilitates the implementation of the ideo-motor perception participating in determining the execution possibilities of a certain action.
We conclude that we achieve a precise perception of our skiing actions when we verbalize them because this procedure triggers our own internal knowledge of the action by mental simulation mechanism as well as the activation of motor cerebral areas.
Learning New Motor Actions
Certain motor actions are already incorporated into our neuronal wiring as, for example, in walking or running, the flexion and extension of our legs (crossed extensor reflex) or the weight change from one foot to another (stepping reflex) are executed automatically. While skiing, edge change through feet lateral rolling, legs, and hips tilting to assume the centripetal posture, or the rotation of our feet and legs for skis guiding are not common actions. These must be adapted to the novel activity and in so doing will create specific neuronal wiring.
The repetition of these actions will cause a new neural network and its strengthening will make information between neurons more and more fluid. Then, we will need not to concentrate whenever performing edge changing or steering actions because these will become automatic as the neural network used for this purpose has been consolidated.
Framework Matrix of Skiing Movements and Actions
| Skiing Concept / Technique | Neuro-Linguistic Input & Activation | Biomechanical Mechanism & Execution | Functional Skiing Goal & Action Output | Motor Learning Stage & Neural Consolidation |
| Movement as Position Change | Verbalizing spatial displacement terms | Spatial shifting of isolated body segments between points | Provision of the execution tool for broader tactical actions | Conscious, low-level coordination of bodily segments |
| Action Purposefulness | Processing goal-directed linguistic commands | Sequential synchronization of continuous movement flows | Production of a distinct, measurable result on snow | Programmed sequencing transitioning away from raw mechanics |
| Technical Gesture Composition | Compounding multi-action verbal schemas | Integration of multiple sequentially synchronized actions | Execution of complex, multi-phase technical maneuvers | Advanced habituation of tactical skiing patterns |
| Action-Movement Hierarchy | Distinguishing “what” to do from “how” to do it | Embedding discrete joint movements into larger motor tasks | Realization of specific intended environmental effects | Systematic progression from mechanistic focus to goal focus |
| Beginner Movement Focus | High internal verbalization of basic mechanics | Rigid, non-synchronized micro-movements of specific joints | High focus on the “how” rather than the tactical outcome | Novice stage characterized by heavy cognitive overload |
| Intermediate Action Focus | Cognitive processing of targeted action outcomes | Structured flow of movements directed at a single goal | Conscious achievement of discrete results like edge engagement | Conscious competence stage requiring focused mental effort |
| Expert Automatism | Subconscious language processing / No inner monologue | Automated neuromuscular execution of movements and actions | Instantaneous adaptation to external terrain attraction points | Full automation via consolidated subcortical neural pathways |
| Pressure Control Action | Internalizing “maintain ski-snow contact” cues | Active, dynamic leg flexion and extension | Continuous regulation of force distribution under the skis | Subconscious tracking of terrain-induced pressure shifts |
| Edge Controlling Actions | Priming “edge control” semantic schemas | Lateral movements of feet, hips, or body inclination | Precision engagement of the ski steel edges in the snow | Progressive refinement from rigid stance to fluid tilt |
| Edge Changing Action | Activating “edge change” motor imagery | Lateral feet rolling paired with lateral pelvis translation | Transitioning the skis from one set of edges to the other | Adaptation of uncommon lateral movements into smooth habits |
| Weight Shifting Action | Evoking “weight shift” linguistic descriptions | Pressure release on one foot with immediate loading of opposite foot | Active transfer of body mass across the center of mass | Refinement of innate stepping reflexes into skiing skills |
| Carving Action | Simulating “carving” semantic definitions | Deep lateral inclination of the legs toward turn inside | Continuous clean tracking without skidding or slipping | Advanced neural network coordination of centripetal forces |
| Action-Driven Movement Select | Conceptualizing the overarching action goal | Subordinating minor joint movements to the intended action | Elimination of redundant or parasitic body motions | Strategic shifting of attention to top-down motor control |
| Embodied Semantics Activation | Processing action-oriented linguistic stimuli | Immediate activation of corresponding sensorimotor brain areas | Neural priming of muscles before physical movement begins | Exploitation of language-action brain connections |
| Motor Resonance | Utilizing specific action words | Activation of pre-motor and motor brain areas | Direct semantic-to-motor cross-activation in the cortex | Acceleration of motor learning via verbal description |
| Attentional Sensory Guidance | Focusing on words describing action sensations | Selective sensory filtering guided by linguistic references | Construction of an indispensable internal reference framework | Heightened awareness of physical sensations during execution |
| Localized Mental Simulation | Receiving targeted skiing linguistic input | Immediate activation of highly specific motor programs | Mental rehearsal of a localized action through description | Rapid cognitive preparation prior to physical descent |
| Ideo-motor Perception Facil. | Verbalizing descriptions of complex actions | Activation of the motor cortex via verbalization channels | Mapping out the exact execution possibilities of an action | Cognitive enhancement of physical capabilities |
| Innate Neuronal Wiring Ref. | Triggering “walking” or “running” memory | Execution of the crossed extensor and stepping reflexes | Automated leg flexion, extension, and weight transfer | Baseline exploitation of pre-existing human reflexes |
| Centripetal Posture Adaptation | Processing “centripetal posture” technical cues | Feet/hip tilting and foot/leg rotation for guiding | Deliberate counter-action against lateral skiing forces | Creation and strengthening of brand-new neural networks |
| Neural Network Consolidation | Complete cessation of explicit verbal prompts | High-frequency repetition of adapted movements | Automatic execution of edge changes and steering actions | High-fluidity neural transmission requiring zero conscious focus |
