Difficulty: Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
- Ski Lift Tickets
- Ski Boots
- Ski Clothing
- Ski Gloves
- Ski Goggles
- Ski Poles
- Skis
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Step 1
Start down a fairly steep slope.
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Step 2
Bend from the ankles and sink into a slightly crouched position. Keep your weight on the uphill edge of your downhill ski.
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Step 3
Plant your downhill pole.
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Step 4
Immediately spring lightly forward and up, taking your weight off your skis. The leverage on your tips will take you down the fall line.
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Step 5
Transfer your weight to the outside ski and weight its inside edge. Let your inside (uphill) ski get a little ahead through the turn.
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Step 6
Carve the turn by pressing your knees forward and sideways into the slope. Keep your body facing downhill to maintain balance and keep your weight on the downhill ski.
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Step 7
Increase the bite of the uphill edges until you've completed the turn.
Comments
ihavenoidea said
on 12/22/2006 I am a ski instructor, and the new way of teaching skiing varies a little from this guide. you should not let your inside (uphill) ski move ahead of the ourtside(downhill) as it is described in step 5. This was necessary in the old days with straight skis, to initiate your turn. Now with modern equipment you should keep them totally equal(imagine a piece of string tied around your bindings, making a permanent box) all through your turns, and keep equal weight distrbution on both skis. I would like to encourage professional ski instruction for all skiers, even if you can go down all runs comfortably, because it really will make you a better skier at any level.
Anonymous said
on 9/24/2006 I find the best way to learn carving techniques is to get some kind of block to place between your knees. I use a 2 foot by 2 foot block of dense foam for teaching. Hold the block between your legs with your knees as you carve down the hill. This will force you to keep your feet at a constant distance from one another, which will greatly help you with weight distribution. Also, I highly recommend trying ski boards for a day, as their stiffness and tight turning radius is a learning experience for even the most experienced skier.
Anonymous said
on 3/28/2006 As a Professional Ski Instructor of America, I can't stress enough the value of taking a private lesson. Even in an hour of instruction, many improvements can be made to your skiing. If you are going to take a lesson in the states, demand a PSIA instructor.
Anonymous said
on 2/1/2006 According to my ski instructor, if you are using carve skis, you should not transfer your weight to the outside foot while turning; rather, you should keep your feet parallel at all times and lean your knees in the direction you are turning, keeping the pressure even on both feet.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 When I turn RIGHT, after I initiated my turn with my RIGHT pole, instead of transferring the weight ON my left ski, I take the weight OFF my RIGHT ski. It is a lot easier to assimilate because everything I do to turn RIGHT is done on or from the RIGHT side.
The BIG advantage is in what that weighting off action brings out as a reaction. I actually can use more or less of that corresponding knee action to dose the radius of each and everyone of my turns. That action is coming from the inside of the turn to come. It is a lot simpler to reach full control this way as long as I can maintain a good body position on my skis.
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