Visual orientation refers to consciously guide our gaze towards specific points in the mountain environment, that is, towards targets. It is a process that acts as a visual selection for actions, inferring attention and defining our intentions. It has a direct relation with attention because we can be seeing but not paying attention to what we see. Our brain predicts and simulates actions by orienting and projecting gaze, and this is done not only towards the stimuli of the environment but depending on our goals (Berthoz, 2009).
Visual orientation is a method in which we learn to guide our vision toward specific points to determine where we want to slide to by adopting a proper descent line. In daily activities, we generally use the strategy of going where we look. In skiing, visual orientation is the most effective mechanism applied to guide our trajectories.
Looking ahead seems simple but, where is “ahead”? Ahead means observing the place planned to start the next turn, it means setting a point in the visual field, something that many skiers do not know because they look just a few meters/yards in front of their skis when they should extend their gaze to a distant area. As an example, when overtaking someone at high speed while focusing gaze at a proximal zone, we perceive insufficient control of the visual field. If we could focus a more distant zone, we then define a point at which our visual orientation is more effective, allowing greater control of the situation which transforms into more stable skiing. Sometimes we orient our gaze to an object or person dangerously close when we should focus the way out or escape path to avoid the possible collision: this is known as target fixation.
To determine the trajectory and keeping a better balance in his very first straight runs, the beginner skier should orient his gaze towards a fixed point as babies do when learning to walk. Their heads, and especially their gaze, are oriented directly towards an imaginary line between the baby and the place where he wants to move, setting gaze to a single target. Conflict arises when our gaze orientation is unstable just as it is directed towards distracting points.
We mentioned that in motion, our gaze orientation should not be random but towards a defined goal. In this regard, it is observed that the beginner tends to fixate his gaze to objects (his skis), while the expert skier orients it towards a place in the distant space (his future path) that becomes his target.
Orienting our gaze it is not looking where we ski but to ski where we look. There is a slight time difference between both actions (looking and skiing). First, we look at and immediately after we ski to where we have previously looked. Initially, the beginner’s concern is focused on controlling his skis. Integrating them into his body schema and improving his skiing motor skills will allow him to ski where he looks.
Inhibition of return
Inhibition of return is an interesting mechanism that goes on when we return our visual orientation to places previously explored, our visual reaction time to detect new stimuli is longer. This function, proposed by Posner & Cohen (1984), as well as cooperating in distraction suppression, prevents our gaze to be immediately oriented toward goals that have been recently examined, forcing us to orient it towards new targets.
Ventral stream and dorsal stream
Our brain detects images through two paths or streams: the ventral stream and the dorsal stream (Milner & Goodale, 1998). The ventral stream identifies objects and it is employed for motion and trajectories control (vision for perception). It refers to the visual perception of objects (what we look) as, for example, the slope characteristics.
The dorsal stream is intended for action control (vision for action). It takes part in action planning and object targeting. It refers to our visual perception of space (where we look), for visual control of actions in relation to objects, as for example, slope location, size, and shape. As a general rule, the beginner tends to look at what to do with his skis, while the expert skier looks where he should be skiing.
Peripheral and central vision
Our visual field is constituted by the combination of two vision types: central or foveal (visual acuity) and peripheral (visual amplitude). The most important visual function is detecting with our central vision everything that is found in our peripheral visual field because it is there where the essential skiing information is processed by our brain.
Peripheral vision has a wide visual field but low acuity, whereas our central vision has a restricted visual field but high acuity. In our visual process, we perceive an object with peripheral vision to determine where it is, then, with a saccade, we focus it with our foveal vision to determine what it is. It is also possible that we look at a point with our central vision and simultaneously pick up information with our peripheral vision.
Peripheral vision allows us locating objects to process where they are in space. It is our ability to know what happens around us without turning our head. It is essential for maintaining balance, orienting, and knowing where the other objects or people are in relation to us. As it is developed by training, the beginner skier does not have this skill yet, tending to constantly focus with the fovea to get environmental information.
As the visual field of skiing surroundings is generally wide, our peripheral vision becomes essential. This type of vision processes fast motion detection, so our central vision can be oriented towards different points of the visual scene through saccades. Several studies suggest that peripheral vision is essential to motion perception since it influences our speed perception. It is necessary that the beginner skier learns the effective use of peripheral vision, leaving the central vision for specific ocular fixations. Although at first he employs central vision for all referred to environment detection, as he learns to ski faster in more demanding slopes, will need to develop peripheral vision as well to a better control of his actions.
An example of an incorrect visual strategy is to recourse to a foveal vision for skis control when we should use peripheral vision for such a task. This type of vision is more important than central vision because not only contributes to relevant information detecting immediately fixed or in motion objects (external information); it also operates as a warning function collaborating in our body posture in motion (internal information). Not utilizing appropriate peripheral vision is one of skiing collision causes.
The central or foveal vision indicates what we are looking for. The expert, while using central vision to fixate objects, makes efficient use of his peripheral vision. The beginner skier, on the other hand, uses central vision to look at his skis or just a few meters/yards in the nearby area. The expert, who already developed his peripheral vision skills, can set a central vision to observe further ahead, e.g., two or three bumps or trees further down, leaving peripheral vision to check the one very next to him. It is the same for the racer, using central vision to determine the course trajectory, orienting his gaze two or three gates forward and peripheral vision to monitor the temporal component of when he will contact the next gate, so he can assume an appropriate body posture.
The problem occurs when transferring visual fixation to the next gate, mogul or tree is slow, then our visual anticipation coordination is altered and delays action performance. This is a negative aspect of our skiing performance since visual fixation is set too long at an immediate point when it should be monitored with peripheral vision, and leave central vision to the farthest points.
Central vision has an exteroceptive function because allows identifying and locating objects, while peripheral vision has a proprioceptive function since it allows detecting our own movements in the visual scene. The difference in sharpness of the central vision is due to high resolution, because of the concentration of photoreceptors, whereas these are not so many in peripheral vision so its resolution is low.
According to these considerations, you can apply the following recommendations in your own skiing:
- Remember that your visual orientation is a process that acts as a visual selection for actions, implying your attention and defining your intentions.
- Practice looking ahead byobserving the place you plan to start your next turn.
- If your gaze orientation is unstable, it may because it is directed towards distracting points.
- When skiing through gates, moguls or around trees, make sure that you transfer your visual fixation to the next gate, mogul or tree as quick as you can.
- Ski where you look instead of looking where you ski.
