Welcome back to my Blog here on my website so here today I go over Carving. Carving up a freshly groomed piste on a powder day is one of the most exhilarating experiences a skier can have. To truly master the art of carving, it's important to understand the proper stance and techniques.
First and foremost, your stance is crucial in order to effectively carve your turns.
You want to keep your feet shoulder width apart and your shoulders pointing in the same direction as your knees. This allows you to roll your skis onto the edge more easily, which is the key to carving.
When starting a turn, you want to get your skis onto the edge as early as possible. This means shifting your weight from ski to ski early on, and then inclining your body to put your skis on edge.
Once you are balanced on your outside ski, extend your legs out from under your body so that your body is inclined down the hill. It's important to keep your body straight, not bent at the waist.
To finish the turn, you want to work to keep your skis on edge throughout. Keep your feet shoulder width apart, and roll your ankles, knees, and waist in an uphill direction.
This movement should be fluid, gradually flexing your ankles, knees, and waist down as you go through the second half of the turn, driving your legs back under your body, ready to push them out to start the next turn.
One useful exercise to help master this technique is to take a cruise down a gentle, wide run (that isn't busy!) in a tuck, rolling your ankles to put the skis on edge.
Feel the sensation of your skis turning by simply putting them on edge using your ankles. Then do the same again, but get your knees involved as well.
Make long, gradual turns, rolling your ankles and then your knees to put your skis on edge as soon as you go into a uphill direction. Keep this fluid - gradually flex your ankles, knees and waist down as you go through the second half of the turn, driving your legs back under your body, ready to push them out to start the next turn.
Upper Body - Your upper body plays a crucial role in carving. Keeping your shoulders parallel to the slope ensures that your skis stay on edge throughout the turn. It also helps to keep your upper body facing forward, as turning your shoulders will cause your skis to lose their edge.
Useful Exercise - Take a cruise down a gentle, wide run and focus on keeping your shoulders parallel to the slope. As you turn, make sure your upper body is facing forward, and that your shoulders stay parallel to the slope. This will help you to keep your skis on edge and carve smoothly.
Pole Plant - Your pole plant also plays a crucial role in carving. As you initiate a turn, plant your pole on the uphill side of your body, and use it to push off and start the turn. This will help you to transfer your weight and get your skis on edge early.
Useful Exercise - Take a cruise down a gentle, wide run and focus on your pole plant. As you initiate each turn, plant your pole on the uphill side of your body, and use it to push off and start the turn. This will help you to transfer your weight and get your skis on edge early, resulting in smooth, clean carves.
Carving is a technique that takes time to master, but with these tips and exercises, you can improve your skills and take your skiing to the next level.
Remember to take it slow and focus on proper technique, and you'll be carving like a pro in no time!
Comments