Early angulation

Many people have different opinions as to whether you should use early angulation in a GS turn.  If you define angulation as "angle" of the upper body with respect to the lower body then early angulation will probably help you maintain edge pressure during the early stages of a GS turn.  Me personally, I like to use early angulation because I find that I can hold a tighter and faster line than I can without it.  I also find that I benefit from greater stability in a course with early angulation.  Early angulation isn't as critical in free skiing, and I don't tend to focus on it as much if I am just out skiing and not running gates.  Recently a coach from the U.S told me that angulation is created with the spine, so when I think of applying early angulation in a course I think about keeping the upper body as upright as possible with respect to the lower body.  Here are some resources that help foster the understanding of early angulation and how to apply it in a GS turn. 

Frame by frame shots of Carlo Janka in a GS turn (taken from video from:  www.youcanski.com)

I used a basic drawing program to superimpose the lines onto his different body positions, and they aren't perfectly accurate, however the idea is to show the angles of his upper body with respect to his lower body.  This early angulation will allow him to hold a tighter and faster line.  This extreme example of early angulation is not as critical in free skiing, as shown in the next photo below.  In free skiing the angulation can be less dramatic and still create a dynamic GS turn.  The photo below also comes from video on www.youcanski.com

One thing to note about angulation is that it is difficult to create angulation if you do not have a rounded spine.  Note Carlo Janka's body position in the above photo.  His spine is very rounded and this position helps to keep the upper body upright, with respect to the lower body.

If you would like to try applying early angulation, I would consider trying a few free runs where you focus on keeping the upper body as upright as possible throughout all phases of the turn.  In order to do this you will probably have to keep your upper body in a relaxed "piked" position to allow for changes in the spine.  In phase three of the turn it will probably feel like you are bringing the hip "down" instead of  "inside" the turn.  This feeling is ok, you will know whether you are angulating properly if you can maintain edge pressure and create a tight "arc."  You will find the real benefit of early angulation when you step inside a course.  The early angulation will help you maintain a fast and tight line through the course.