How to keep CARVING on steeper terrain

Hi, carving is very addictive so you tend to go faster and faster, and so when the slope all of a sudden changes in pitch and becomes steeper, your speed increases quickly beyond your skill level and you become a danger to yourself and others.

To help you out, in this video I will explain and show with demos how to tackle this problem and keep your speed under control.

Tom

[janecull]

The timing of this is just so perfect!! I always go into defensive when getting into steeper runs and start doing slide turns which is not carving obviously. Then I lose my rhythm and find it hard to get back into carving again which frustrates the hell out of me. So thank you so much for how to maintain carving with getting into steeper runs! I will practice this tomorrow!

[davidmccarter]

I call it skiing with your down hill fist. I find that if you steer with your hands, or fists, it helps to stabilise the turn. For some extraordinary reason, call it magic, the initiation of the turn starts with the uphill fist “talking to “ the uphill ski and directing the turn, and in no time the uphill fist has become the downhill fist. The final session of video shows this very well. He is a very “fisty” skier.
It is lovely to watch. Thank you.

[pandvsims]

Over 50 years of skiing and still passionately anticipating many more years!

[danielt]

When you increase your turn size in high speed, you will also keep slowing by hitting all the people who don't expect you to pull such a wide turn :)

[jakubs]

There are many tips for beginners online but very few useful tips for advanced skiers who want to polish their skills. You do a great job by filling this gap. Keep up the good work!

[peterf]

Very clear exposition. I too end up skidding turns once the slope gets steep. I love the simplicity of the "fast line slow" vs the "slow line fast" and I'm looking forward to trying the latter (safely) on my next ski trip.

[federicomartinez]

I been skiing for 16 years, 4 years of racing, and since then been a combination from skiing in resort to backcountry, randonnee, etc. And you´ve accomplished explaining what most instructors (who love the snow same way as I do) can´t. Thank you for such a useful video!

[MickeyGSinger]

Thanks for your comment on pivoting: I'm always disagreeing with coaches saying you have to maintain contact with the snow all the time, while my experience and watching FIS slalom says otherwise, especially on steep slopes. Skiing is dynamic and never say never. Also all bodies are different and styles differ

[DragNetJoe]

The hard part of method 2 is on an even moderately crowded day you take up a lot more of the mountain. It becomes difficult on narrow pitches and on wide runs it dramatically increase risk of collision. I've had a couple close calls and am very careful before using technique 2. It's fun but I've been working on using more of technique 3 to stay closer to the fall line.

[jeffgriffith]

I watched this video before going skiing in Colorado. It had been almost 35 years since I skied really steep runs. Once there, I practiced the techniques on a few steeper blue runs first then took them to the groomed black runs. I am so glad I watched this video before I went. I found that my confidence built as the day went on and I was able to handle the steeps with improving skills. I found that I progressed to being able to ski the slow line fast. I also found, as another comment mentioned, that at times I could actually maintain the arc and go slightly up the slope to slow even further If I desired. I will continue to practice these techniques. Thanks for the great video!!

[amylord]

As a beginner skier learning how to carve and be able to carve down steeper slopes, I found this video very helpful!! Thank you!!!

[c_kennmusic]

A revelation!! I can carve a decent turn on medium flat terrain, then look like I've never skiied before in my life when it gets steep! Fantastic information!

[vikasreddy]

Thank you for this unique explanation. Skiing the slow line fast concept has improved my skill significantly and I can do slopes with more confidence now. You’re a great teacher 🙏

[ianishweb]

I have been skiing a long time, but trying to ski fast, I often go into the defensive mode when I hit a steeper pitch. It is so good to hear you articulate that problem, showing how you can keep good turn shape and control speed at the same time. It is such a mental thing, and it is so good to hear is said so I can keep it in mind and hold my confidence when things get too fast. Thanks.

[weevilsnitz]

another year, another major advancement in Triggerboy62's video technology. Cheers, mate, looking forward to more!

[rogerskugrud]

Great great great video. As a skier who was greatly influenced by Harold harbes ski the fast line slow. I find this is still so true today. By loved laying down railroad tracks in the snow with the old Tech skis. But of course that meant picking up a lot of speed and making long long long radius turns. I mostly ski small hills in the Midwest. I remember once, me and my buddies said( three turns to the bottom). The new technology has certainly made carving and believing railroad track slices in the snow easier and made carving more versatile. I have loved laying down the " railroad tracks" in the snow, ever since Harold harbes book came out. And have been doing it ever since with the new versatility and fun and he's that the new side cuts allow. Midwest snow is can be hard and ice., sometimes point a loose powdery covering on top. Carving allows me to ski that surfaced silently! If it gets crowded and I need to control my path and speed, I will skip my turns at times and I just hate the sound of the sea scraping on ice. One last thought!! Being able to carve turns down the slope has

[kenfischer]

Some of these things instinctively happen but it's sloppy and I have no confidence. These videos help me confirm what I'm doing and really add polish to my skiing. It's a win-win

[Halerno]

I ski 47 years and have no problems with all this. My turns are very short, flat or steep, with or without bumps. As soon as bumps are arriving you can quit carving because it is not possible. I do like carving now and then but, I am down the hill in a minute. But, steep with big bumps is the most fun, also because almost nobody can ski them nowadays. In an elegant way with super fast turns.
By the way, nice video, very good explanation 👏

[pawpass]

Hi Tom, your videos is best prep for upcoming season, better then squads, running, planks and all that boring sweaty stuff. They're really good. Thanks

[Landwy]

I'm an old skier (on Medicare) that can carve on any icy slope that is very steep without accelerating (keeping my speed constant). How do I do that? In the old days we used to call them "S" turns. You start the weight transfer to the uphill ski early (like Shiffrin does) and continue to have moderate angulation and ski pressure. I'm not asking for a "J" turn where you pressure the skis at the end of the turn which BTW due to physics is where the skis are most likely to come out of a carve and start skidding. This is where is carve/steer part of the turn is appropriate. Racers are taught to press and angulate harshly, and then get into a floating edge lock between turns. This is fine for racing and is appropriate for slalom, but if you just continue with moderate pressure and edging the skis, will do the work and they will ARC to finish a "S" turn where you will end up fully across the hill. This takes PATIENCE to let the skis finish the turn.

Most skiers don't understand that the ski flex (stiffness on the tip, middle, and tail) and length will determine the radius of the turn. The FIS knows this as they classify skis by radius. For instance, GS skis on the WC are now 30m radius skis. Ten years ago when the FIS had 35m radius skis mandated, only guys like Ted Liggety figured out to use a stivot to make the turn. Basically it entailed carving the first part of the turn, skidding to make the gate, and then edge lock to the next gate. This is an ugly way to turn a pair of skis. BTW watch a GS race and you will see in many turns the slightly longer distance with a more carved "S" radius turn is faster than a GS "J" turn or stivot. However, in racing you are limited by the real estate between turns. When a coach puts up a fast course with maximum distance between turns and a very difficult shorter gate sequence comes up, even skiers like Shiffrin will have to use a stivot, otherwise they fail to make the gate and are disqualified.

Also your upper body also determines the radius of the turn. If you upper body follows the skis direction you will be making a turn that is decided by the sidecut, flex, and length of the skis. If your upper body (i.e. center of mass) is always facing downhill your legs will wind up and then be released to make a shorter turn. After your legs are released, don't immediately start a new turn, but rather let them finish the turn.