Ski technique pioneer Georges Joubert dies.

Frenchman Georges Joubert turned the ski racing world on edge when he published revolutionary thoughts on ski technique as, perhaps, the most influential ski writer in Europe for decades. He died this morning (Nov. 1) at his home in Grenoble. He was 87 and had been ill.

He pioneered multiple skiing concepts including Avalement or “swallowing” of terrain with the legs and “Surf Technique”, the forerunner to what World Cup racers currently refer to at “Stivot.” He also pioneered the “tuck” position helping lead Jean Vaurnet to an Olympic gold medal in 1960.

Her served as the president and technical director of the Grenoble University Ski Club and was a professor of the Scientific and Medical University of Grenoble. He authored several books on ski technique including “How to Ski the New French Way,” and “Teach Yourself to Ski.“

He served the French National Ski Team as director in its heyday of the early 1970’s, retiring in 1974 to return to his research and wrote extensively for the French magazine Skiing.

He teamed with Vaurnet to develop the high speed filming of ski racers to allow more precise analysis.

Olle Larsson, the recently retired head of the Rowmark Race program was a student of Joubert at Grenoble and wrote: “Because of his creative mind combined with a solid background in science he was the most inspiring mind to many that desired to gain an edge in the sport.”