I started skiing in my 50's and have spent the last 17 years trying to learn how to do what you are describing in your video. I am not sure how it happened but this season is the first time that I have learned how to adopted this technique in my skiing and it feels like a radioactive spider had bit me and I now can ski down steep terrain like some kind of Marvel superhero. It is the most amazing feeling that I have experienced since I was 5 years old when my Dad took off the training wheels from my bicycle.
Great respect for you sir, I'm 20 and sometimes I worry it will be getting more difficult progressing as a skiier. Maybe I won't become a professional racer but I still have time to become extremely good. Right now I only have money for 5 days a year, it isn't much but I think I already carve well. Videos like these help me improve.
It’s exactly my story. Word for word. My 50’s, this season, excitement of the newly gained feeling when steeps and longer steep while bending in transition
Iim 69 and been skiing since the late 70’s. I watched this last year and played with this retract legs between turns. I realized that I learned to do this many years ago but had never heard anyone talking about it. This is the best ski technique video I have come across in my almost 50 years of skiing.
I had been stuck with my carving technique for several seasons. Not getting high enough edge angles, not getting fast transitions between the turns etc.. and losing the control totally on steeper parts of the slopes. Then I watched this video and really paid attention to not extend fully up (like I have been taught, lol) and boy it changed my skiing. First time this season I was able to touch the slope with my knuckles while doing carved turn on my 23m radius all-mountain skis! So, big thanks for this video, I think most of the guides on youtube do not explain this, even they are doing it also in their videos.
Hi, so glad to have you on my channel and great to hear such good feedback and foremost, that you actually took your carving to the next level. The problem with sports in general is that so called correct technique is not something grabbed out of nowhere. It is based on environment resources and limitations and how you interact accordingly. Many therefore ski correctly but they dont know what they are doing. Just like a monkey climbing a three or a tiger chasing a zebra. Many times not even instructors or coaches. My approach has always been analyzing great skiers and then applying their movement patterns to whom I coach. Combining ski instruction and race coaching has also been working great for me as there are so many miss conceptions regarding both spectrums. Cheers, Tom
Es ist eine Freude, diesem Video zuzuschauen. Hier wird gezeigt, wie man seine Carvingtechnik noch weiter verbessern und verfeinern kann. Ich werde in der kommenden Saison daran arbeiten. Ich bin 78 Jahre alt und blicke auf eine 74 jährige aktive Skilaufgeschichte zurück. Es macht immer noch großen Spaß.
At last, an instructor who is able to describe ACCURATELY the movements needed to produce the desired output. Too many instructors (including RUclipsrs) use vague language to describe skiing, but here is someone who is technically and mechanically correct.
Almost 30 years ago I was actually called out NOT to do this during my Level 3 PSIA exam by one of the examiners! I protested that it was the most efficient carved turn but then shrugged and gave them plenty of tall cross over. And, yes, I passed the exam. I also went away knowing I could out ski almost every one of the examiners. 😂
Hahahaaa.... I know that feeling. I remember that we had to ski a racing track when I took my cert and the examiner said it was all wrong.... that it looked like Alberto Tomba.... but that was WRONG! Cheers, T
Wow, this seems to be the the first video about carving where someone is pointing out this particular move (at least as far as I know). It makes absolutely perfect sense! Thanks, well done my friend.
You know you are in the good place when most of the coments are from ski instructors. Thanks for helpful explanation. Every season I try to improve my skiing
Thank you very much for both watching and speaking so nicely about our content and viewers. Great to have all you instructors here, see as many as possible of you at INTERSKI :) Cheers, Tom
I'm 52... being skiing since I was 9. I was instructor in the late 80's into the 90's. So I learned (and taught), the gliding turn/extension into the turn technique. As such, my carving is very inconsistent. Going to try this next time I go out!
Thanks for sharing your story. Quite similar to mine. And many others so lots of people can identify themselves with your comment. This drill is EXACTLY what guys and gals like you and me should work on. And as you can see for me at least it worked out very well. Thats why I hope that by sharing this technique here on RUclips as many as possible can gain access to high edge angles and killer turns. Cheers, Tom
Thanks very much for your series on carving. I was taught old skool given I’m 58 yrs old now. But I’ve never really ‘got’ carving until I watched these videos.
Hey Tom. I want to say thank you for your videos. They help me so often. I am a life long skier and still avid about it. I am 68 years old, skiing over 100 days per year in Sun Valley Idaho. I raced for Aspen Ski Club in the 70's with 46 FIS points as my best. Then went on to be a fully certified ski instructor on Aspen Mtn for 16 years. I still work on my skiing and make an effort to stay current. I can leave rail road tracks and rip it. I do coach myself and find your videos super helpful. Making the transition from how we skied in the 70's to the current ability if the skis has been exciting and some work. Letting go of an A frame, using the inside ski have been new patterns. But often you remind me of something that needs attention in my skiing. Staying low in transition. Bringing my knees up in a half circle at transition. Trying not to over edge my new outside ski like we did. Retracting my inside knee, Weight change, And as Sasha Rarick said, 'kind of like riding a bike'. Anyway so many of the drills i use came from you and so often when i review your videos i am often reminded of something i have forgotten. Thank you so much. Jeffry Mann
Thank you Jeff for sharing. Im so glad for you, having been able to ski all your life and gone through different phases. I know that so well as my story is much the same. Never was a good ski racer back in the days but did race as a jr, then off-piste and back country for 10y before taking my ski instructor cert. Then ski instruction and coaching and masters racing until present. Still working on my own skiing and battling aging and injuries. Thanks for watching my videos and lets share turns some day :) Cheers,T
Harald Harb will be very proud of you, I swear that's all he talks about in his books (esp the "Essentials of Skiing"). Most people think I'm crazy for learning how to ski from books, but his books talk about tipping, flexing, fore/aft, counterbalancing, and counteracting in amazing details that I think all skiers MUST read. I'm a true believer, learned how to properly ski at age 42. His third book, Essentials of Skiing, is by far the best one. I am continuing to expand to learn from other sources, since everyone has something to offer. Thanks for sharing your videos and experience, the ski world needs more people like you.
Outstanding, including your explanation of why racers appear to be extending when in fact they are retracting--very subtle and well observed. Your level of insight is rare. Thanks for sharing!
This is your best explanation video. I was a cert 3, USA instructor, and I was having trouble understanding how the World Cup skier achieved such great angles. A flexed transition is definitely what they are doing! I have used a flexed transition for mogul skiing and even for powder, but I had not tried it for race carving. Thx!
Thanks for watching. Yes, I was also first using this method in the bumps but after seeing Jens Byggmark brake all the rules of proper skiing and winning all the races he participated in at first before everybody else caught the bandwagon my understanding for high end carving emerged. ruclips.net/video/I8ipm2jpWZs/видео.html Happy Holidays, the Triggerboy Team
You are correct in noting that the greatest extension is in the middle of the turn, the Center of Mass moving towards the inside of the turn. In order to pass from extension to extension, the retraction is necessary. Note that this also relaxes the muscles in the transition. It’s important to understand that the skier is NOT turning in the center of the transition; when the skis are 100% flat there is no turning. Thus you should be flexed/relaxed here, before entering the new turn.
Exactly the same here for me as lvl 3 german instructor…kinda knew it was a thing but never consequently used it in carving turns. I also don’t have a racing background, so it never came to me naturally. Feel kinda embarrassed but totally stoked to figure it out on the pist this season at the same time :)
I’ve actually been doing this to a number of years but didn’t understand what I was doing. It’s fun. Even at Canada’s most southern ski area that is small it’s fun. This is the best video with clear demonstration. I’m going to get at it tomorrow morning Thanks so much for the encouragement from a 77 year old.
im not sure how skiing my whole life and racing a bit, i never got this right. this video was exceptional and now i can't wait to go practice this "backwards" technique until my brain and leg muscles have accepted it. thank you!
This is an exceptional description of a perfect carved turn. The video and drills are top quality and I find myself getting into the flexed position in steeper terrain. I am a ski patroller and love seeing this broken down and know that it will help my skiing. Kudos!
I remember the first time I really bent a ski, carved deep on edge. I was 12yr. Old going around this slight bank at my local hill. I remember going low and pressing underfoot hard, turning camber into rocker. As soon as I released to link the carve, I shot out of the turn, and launched maybe 10 feet further than expected and wiped out hard. That was a great feeling and the day I learned how to put a ski on edge.
I have to say this video transformed my skiing. I am 65 years old and finally feel like I am getting a high edge angle. I have gotten some dirty looks from Taos ski instructors because you really need a bit of speed to do this. I feel like Bode Miller out there now. I fully realize I don't look like I feel, but whatever.
This video is eye opening. I was one of those people that believed the stacked position was the only position. I can’t wait to get on the slopes with this new insight
❤Thank you so much! I started skiing in 1984 when I was 16 years old. I tried to advance my technique by reading books, watching various videos, observing skilled skiers, and getting a few skiing lessons from profis. I have to admit that when I came across to this video a few months ago it literally turned on the lights in the darkest corner of my brain about the knowledge and experience in skiing, which I wasn’t aware of so far. This tutorial was more enlightening than anything else throughout my entire journey in this field. I am grateful… ❤
It's my understanding when you extend up your skis lose a certain amount of grip on the snow. I still catch myself extending up, but more and more staying low as you say here. It's changed my skiing. A ski patrol person asked me yesterday on the lift "How did you learn to ski like that?" I said hours and hours of practice and watching lots of great instructors like yourself on YT. Thank you.
Wow, thank you very much. That was awesome. The best recommendations and marketing always come from customers. The thing is that when you extend against and away from your base of support (edged skis carving in the snow), you increase pressure. The instance you stop, pressure drops. So instead of extending up during transition when you dont need any pressure you should be extending sideways into the turn during the turn when you need pressure and as extension and turn forces end you release and float through the transition. Happy Holidays both of you, the Triggerboy Team!
Totally awesome video. It really hit the nail on the head. As an older skier, I now realize that I am still a slave to the whole unweighting movement and this has been getting in the way of any improvement in the transition, despite plenty of practice. I have been using Carv to help with this, and it has been useful, but this was a revelation as to what I have been doing wrong. The whole unweighting of the ski by moving the body upward is no longer necessary in a carved turn. This was a real eye opener. Thanks.
Wow!!! You got it! So nice to hear. Yes, you need to extend into the transition is some cases as when skiing basic parallel turns or in crud or very steep and narrow places but when you carve you definitely do not need to do that. If you extend you most likely mess everything else up. No quick transition, no early edge engagement, difficult to build high edge angles etc. etc. Thanks for watching and glad to have been of any help. Cheers, Tom
Actually you still do unweigt your legs, but not anymore by going up. Now you raise your legs to unweigt them, which is much faster so you can start the next turn much earlier. :)
This video changed my skiing totally to a new level. I was struggling with new skis and everything felt wrong until I remembered this video to stay low also between turns. Epiphany moment! Have been skiing 40years occasionally and now at the age of 50 can feel how to get the most out of carving. Grinn just doesn't leave my face. Hattu päästä!
Nice lecture. Last year I casually discovered I could ski better when having the feeling I was "constantly sitting" with low center of gravity, "close to the ground" like a running cat. Don't know why I stopped doing so. This video is going to take me back to the right track.
Yes, thats a good one. Cats stay low. So should we. Nice to have been able to point you back in the right direction again. If only I had done the same over the years, stuck with what works instead of listening to "super" coaches. Keep it up. It is never too late to start over. Happy Holidays, the Triggerboy Team
So nice to hear. Sorry you cannot ski more often but at the moment I too prioritize writing this comment instead of skiing. We have had rain and storm for the last week and today the sun is out for the first time and we have -3 deg. Cheers, T
I love the cue you shared about not falling into the turn, but instead extending and pushing with your legs into the turn. Excellent content delivered nice and clear! Thank you so much!
This is an excellent video on how to effectively transition from the old edges to the new edges in transition (flex to release rather than extend to release). The skier should not however push into the turn (actively extend their legs to create pressure) once they have reached the new edges through flexing as they exit the transition. That extending movement tends to push you out of balance. Rather you should actively flex the inside leg while balancing over the outside foot and allow that outside leg to lengthen naturally without forcefully extending it. The pressure is created by the snow pushing against the outside tipped ski to equally offset the forces ( both centrifugal and gravitational) as the ski arcs towards and past the apex of the turn. The exercise Tom describes (an excellent exercise) will however require that you actively extend the legs through the arc and then retract them in transition in order to experience the feeling of flexing to release followed by lengthening of the legs in the arc. Active conscious flexing and extending is required because they are being performed at slow speed and the skier is learning new movements and the timing of those movements.
Yep, the sensation and controll of carve you are getting by pushing into turn / activelly extending legs during turn is fabulous. That is the way for controlling the arc, that is the way to 'bite' into snow. Have no clue why some are still promoting up lifting and passive lean over technique for carving... which fails short on anything other than green/blue and soft.
I‘m with 60 starting skiing, my instructor was explaining me the transition, but told me that I need to avoid sitting. I have started developing my own technique and this video was a revelation to me. Thanks for your clear speaking, which made easy to understand every explanation.
Thank you for watching and for leaving a comment with such good feedback. The instructor you had was correct. You should avoid sitting in the back seat. However, now you know why WC skiers sit in the back seat and now you know the technique. Have a great spring skiing season. Cheers, Tom
Thanks for this Tom. I’ve been working on improving my carving by focusing on toppling and not really progressing. On occasion I’ve stumbled across the sensation of my knees coming up under me as I move through the transition followed by my legs extending out. When it happens it just feel right but it didn’t seem consistent with my “understanding” of what I should be doing. This lesson was a big light bulb moment for me and I can’t wait to get back out and work on this.
I also "stumbled" across this technique then spent several days combing thru videos looking for vindication. Like many people I thought you had to extend before the transition. I found Klaus Mair's video with side by side comparesons of slalom racers. He calls it a compression turn. Then I found this excellent video. I use compression turns most in quick short turns. It gets you on edge right away. Thanks Tom for helping steer me in the right direction
What a mind blowing technique video! I also stumbled across this technique when skiing in New Zealand 2023. The NZ National qualification races were on for a few days and I was watching and copying a similar drill the coaches were having the racers do. It felt exactly like this video. Body low, legs coming up and under me then extending and biting the snow. It felt so amazing.
Dear Tom, I am writing to thank you very much. Your video opened my mind and I took an incredible step with my skiing technique. I immediately tried to do the WC technique and my carving reached another level. The idea of falling into the curve is amazing. Now I can dig deep even on ice. To be honest I didn't use your drill, your words were enough for me. The only drawback is that this technique is so heavy on the muscles. I'm an old skier (55+ years of skiing), I'm an addicted skier, I've tried all the techniques but this one is so much fun- Thank you so much you had a big impact on my skiing
Great to hear. Thanks for watching and for such good words on my video. So glad I could inspire you to try something new and reach a new level. Keep it up. We are almost the same age. Cheers, Tom
I've seen multiple skiing channels over the past couple years. Some are pretty good, but none came to the quality of explanation and examples as you do! Great job!
I've watched many videos, drills, and instructions on extreme edging, but your video tops them all. The transition from keeping low to extending during the turn did it for me. That is well put and a great side-by-side comparison. I could see myself in Chris.
I started skiing when I was 3 and I ALWAYS followed the technique where I would fully extend for a transition. I've recently noticed that no matter what I do I couldn't achieve those sharp turn radiuses and deep carvs. I'm really looking forward to trying your drills this season. Thank you for the great content and in-depth explanation!
I am 68 and am returning to skiing after a long (25year) break, as I couldn’t justify lift ticket prices, when surfing is free and 5 minutes from home. Now that surfing is on the back burner ( try paddling for thirty minutes through 4 lines of water, just to get outside in a good day) I can’t wait to use my new modern all mountain skis and use you fantastic explanation of the correct technique !! Thank you, George
Thanks a lot for sharing. Yes, wind and waves are free.... I know from being a windsurfer myself. Or actually far from free as gear cost a lot of money but no lift tickets. Something I really struggle with while visiting areas where I do not hold a season pass or get a discount. Cheers, Tom
I have had many advanced carving lessons over the years, terms like early angulation, inside leg steer, early outside leg press and extension to maximize pressure were used. You explanation regarding simply staying low, then extend your legs is a great visualisation of how that action will change your centre of mass, logically followed by an increased edge angle and more acute turn without you feeling you have to lean into it. Thank you for sharing.
Tom - You are "nailing" it again! Thanks for getting this video out. I am coaching Age Class athletes at the moment (U10's and U 12's) and realize this is the age to introduce these movements. Tough fighting against traditional concepts, however, I feel like my group that I'm working with are "opening" up their thinking. Keep these videos coming. Thanks, Coach Crawford Pierce
Fantastic! Great to hear. Yes, U10 and U12s are the right age for these sorts of movement drills. The long poles are introduced too early in my opinion. The longer we can wait with the gate blocking the better. At least get the kids into the right movement patterns before blocking gates. I know this is not always possible as we do not teach kids individually. Keep up your good work. Happy Holidays, Triggerboy & Team
I've always loved skiing this way, particularly in poor light where feel for the snow seems way better to me. However, following the experience of my son from U12 to U14, I'd be wary of choosing one technique for all kids this age. Introduce it for sure, but keep a wary eye on different athlete builds. My son's now in a feeder team for the Swiss Ski team. His U12 coach got him to top 3 level regionally. Then in U14 his new coaches got him skiing this way, extending into the turn, and with his physique it turned out very badly. He's grown 34cm in 2.5 years, tall and thin, and it's only now in his last year of U16 that this technique is starting to work well for him. The U12 coach (a FIS level ex-racer) said it was too early for him to make the progression to this technique, given his physique (though he could do it seemingly fine). The two U14-16 coaches ignored this, but in my son's case the U12 coach was right. It took him 18 months to get back to where he'd been before in SL, a frustrating period for him. With thin beansprout athletes, watch out for over-reliance on hip angulation at the expense of ankle-knee at initiation, and ending up with hips too far back/insufficient shin pressure against the boot at initiation. Shorter, stocky, powerful kids seem to make this transition more easily, perhaps because they have shorter levers. As the lanky ones shoot up at this age, they get all uncoordinated, not knowing what to do with their long limbs! However personally I'd always choose to use what Tom describes so well here - great job Tom 👍
Thanks and thanks for watching. Great to hear you tried it out on the slopes. As I see it, everyone has to go to the toilet at some point :) Cheers, Tom
I have been struggling to make quicker transitions. Finally, a step by step explanation of how to do it. Fantastic video! Can't wait to take this info out on the slopes and onto the race course.
Adrien Duvillard taught me the French technique of sinking to unweight which is essentially the same as flexing. That was in Aspen in 1963 and I've been lucky to ski that way since. It does require some specific exercises to toughen the quads such as sitting against a wall with thighs parallel to the floor. At 78, I can still do five minutes but there were years when I could last longer. Another point is that the modern ski provides for a much earlier turn onset requiring less pressure on the outside ski. My old Rossies circa 1970s were not suitable for flex to release. Regardless, I'm delighted that getting low and staying low is finding favor!! Kudos.
Hi, thanks for sharing. Even though I never was taught the French style, so called down unweighting was used a lot in bumps and powder. Back in those days we did not have carving skis that is true, but we also did not have flat groomed terrain as we have now. Back then it was moguls in one form or an other, dedicated mogul runs but also during afternoons every run was turned into a battlefield and yard-sales. There was no other terrain. Be sure to watch my video on how to ski crud. I actually have two I think. Take care, Tom
I have been trying to improve my skiiing for a number of years, and have been experimenting with bending more in the knees/waist and taking a lower approach, but I was never sure if that was "correct" or not. I am planning a lesson for this season with an expert coach and was going to bring this topic up (if being low or not during transition was proper). Keeping low in the transition always felt fast and snappy between turns but I never knee if it was proper. Your video has gave me great food for thought, I will definitely be trying out your drill. I wanted to add, that as a person watching these kinds of help videos, shots of "bad" technique are very valuable. I do see you do this quite a bit and I appreciate it, I would say continue that focus, showing a comparison of the good and bad techniques. Thank you.
Thank you very much for watching and taking much time to comment with content appreciations and suggestions. I agree with you. It is very valuable information for the student what it looks like. What bad looks like and what good looks like. That is actually the whole purpose of when we shoot our students and ski racers on video. My motto has always been, if it looks great than it is also great. If your video looks like Hirscher then you ski like Hirscher. I will keep your comment in mind and try to use more "contrasting" video lessons. Or segments in the videos. Thanks. Cheers, Tom
I tried the drill on a local indoor ski slope. It was hard work but so much fun! Almost fell during first couple of runs but after a while my skiing never felt better! Thanks for such a great tutorial!
This video might have just changed mine & my racers lives. Thank you for all these amazing videos! Always giving me new drill ideas & ways of explaining things to my kiddos :)
I am riding alpine carving snowboard. This is the best practical tip that I have found on RUclips in years!!! I have just applied these recommendations, and confirm that it absolutely works! I was doing all of the mistakes mentioned int his video… Falling into the turn, etc. The best part of this tip is that it is way easier to control the speed by fast transitions, so now I can carve even on steep terrain, which was a challenge for me before watching this. Thank you Triggerboy62!
Excellent video. Learning how to flex in order to release edges is a key technique never taught in my Canadian ski instructor training (to level 3). Yet it is crucial. Thanks Tom for the showing this important technique to us!
I have been working on my skiing for years and am an instructor and coach . I realize that staying low at the link allows quick transition and as you say extending the legs laterally moves the hip into the right place. I am so tired of hearing coaches and instructors talk of toppling . I also see so many videos where people are trying to get pressure in there boots for their carve device but they are not creating the forces in the proper way by letting pressure build though the transition staying low and extending the leg. These people seem to think that the numbers on their device make them good skiers and do not appreciate that there are many ways to make numbers but the only numbers that count are the seconds you win by in a race. As you said in sports power comes from a flexed position of the ankles and knees to build explosive power. Well done with this. You do not know how many arguments I have had about what you have been able to explain very succinctly.
Thank you for this amazing video! Usually most other tutorials show the proper techniques but they never point out common mistakes. For example the part where you compared the two pictures, low in knees vs extended, I'm a 100% sure i'm making that mistake and without actually pointing it out I'd never figured that out myself. Once again thanks and keep up the nice vids!
Love this. An old coach/instructor used to say, "Deflect the tree line, not the lodge". In other words, let the energy stored in the flexed ski, power you across the hill through the turn, with your body driving (extending) at the next turn apex, rather than popping your body up and down, which wastes energy, and causes you to skid your skis against the lodge (base of the hill). While you are transitioning, let your legs/knees come back up underneath you, using the rebound in the skis, so your head doesn't bob up and down, but drives towards the next turn... basically, keeping your head (more or less) at the same level throughout the turn, not popping up and down like prairie dogs looking for trouble.
Excellent video! As a 61 year old who learned to ski 40 years ago and only skis just for enjoyment of making it to the bottom of the mountain without falling on my arse I noticed the old ingrained coaching technique in myself, ie the uplifting to transition. Thanks for encouraging me to book an instructor to help with my carving technique.
I watched a lot of your videos particularly the ones with Chris. I think this was the best of them all. I been a ski instructor for a long time and a race coach. Learned a lot more when I became a race coach. I coached the U 8’s and learned so much more. Going to racing made a better instructor/coach and skier. Keep up the good work. Don Glennan
Hi, yes, this is my strength: combining ski instruction with race coaching. I've taken Chris and taught him all those ski instructor techniques as well. Thats why he is such a good overall skier. Can ski anything. And is currently also a ski instructor and jr coach. Happy Holidays, Triggerboy & Team!
This video makes so much sense! Why? Because it's about getting better at carving and who best to compare it to than a World Class, FAST racer. Usually the athletes with the fastest run times have the best technique. This video shows exactly that.
Exactly! We look at the top athletes and we pay great attention. Every time we have a WC racer or such on a racing or training course we try to compare with video. What are the similarities and the differences and what is part of a skiers style and what strengths and weaknesses do they have. If you look at Moltzan in the video. How can you argue its not of value? Cheers, Tom
Thanks for your video! This is exactly what I need to learn. I Always wanted to carv lower and now I'm finally understanding the fundamental mistake I've made going into every turn. Can't wait for januari to go skiing again :D
Great to hear. I see so many trying to carve low and struggling really badly. When you do it like I do it in the video you carve automatically almost hips on the snow. In just a few turns on a very moderate pitched slope with almost no speed. Cheers, Tom
What an excellent video for carvers or racers who want to quicken their transitions. When you think about it, energy is being used to raise your body mass up when you do a full extension. In stead of using that energy to lift your body, it can be used to move the legs laterally allowing lightning fast transitions. It's a bit like sucking up moguls with your legs between turns, except that you are on a groomed slope. Thanks for putting this out there for all instead of keeping it a secret like some coaches did.
The secret is out there. Thanks for watching and for your comment. Yes, use the energy wisely. Kind of cheesy statement as everyone is trying to save energy at the moment I know :) Happy Holidays, Triggerboy & Team!
Nice video, waiting to try this low transition on Saturday. I see this low transition always in SL, but in GS seems there are some skiers that seems to extend their position in the transition (Odermatt)
Thanks and thanks for watching. Let me know how the drill worked out on the slope on Saturday. Yes, primarily in SL but as you can see from the video, also in GS. Depends on the course. If it is very tight then lots of low transitions. Odermatt typically stays more extended. But there is so much more to skiing than the transition. Maybe its the Stöckli skis :)
I saw a video of me skiing recently. I couldn't believe how upright I was. This video here is going to help me. As soon as we get some snow that is LOl
I am a level III PSIA instructor and certified USSA race coach. this video is superb. Great job, I could not have said it better myself. I also find it is a good early season list of items to keep in mind for my own skiing.
Today was my first chance to try this. Unbelievable. I’ve been doing it backwards! I was pretty rough, but today may have been the first time I carved-ish a turn in my life (61!) Thank you.
Thank's for another great video. You have the very rare gift of explaining things in a very easy way. Personally worked with plenty of trainers back in the days when I was racing, none of them were so easy to understand as you are, even though they eventually made some good skiers. Now when I teach my daugher, I'm trying to explain her the basics the way you do it- it's so easy to get when you just try to use it! Thank you so much, you're such an inspiration! That's my daughter some time ago, now she's way better ;) ruclips.net/video/8x7YWMagD98/видео.html
Wow, thanks for such great comment. Thank you. Funny thing is that we had a very good ski racing jr joining our club and when I gave him feedback he was going - I cannot understand a word you are saying! He had been listening to other coaches all his life and had no clue to what he actually should be doing. Glad to hear you think my advice is simple. BTW, your daughter is a really good jr racer. If you have not seen the video My Story about Chris please do. And show it to your daughter. She is doing the right movements. From there she will suddenly just shoot for the stars. Cheers, Tom
I have been trying so hard to carve. This video gives me a brand new perspective. I am going to work on it this winter when my family and I ski in the Hakuba Ski resort in Japan. This gives me a glimpse of hope that I can really care through out the turn and not skied. Thank you.
Thank you for watching and hopefully you will be able to nail that first carve sooner than you think. Remember, you can always correspond with me here on my videos by leaving comments as I read and respond to all comments as a daily or weekly routine. You can also send me email at tdk.skiracing@gmail.com for video analysis etc. Be sure to ref your RUclips user name. Have a great end of summer and fall. Cheers, Tom
Been hearing about staying low flexed in transition for a long time at PSIA events. but this video provides a simple drill and crystal clear explanation of how to get there more effectively. Will be out skiing on the toilet seat next chance I get
Wow, thank you! Algorithms work. Be sure to subscribe for new content and also check out my other videos out there. I think there are over 600..... Cheers, T
Thanks for your video. I am old and overweight, but somehow that is the way I make turns. The more I flex and lean the better I turn. Maybe it is from being overweight and out of shape, and the technique you describe is the only way I can turn by using my weight. And I can only turn well when I'm going fast. Many years ago, when in my mid fifties, I actually won a slalom competition among co-workers and clients, most of whom were in their 20s and 30s. I ended up with the fastest time on the mountain (Winter Park) for anyone that day, even though I had never skied a slalom course before. I did it by skiing like I had seen on TV, by letting my skis ride once I made the turn at or above the gate, and proceeding without fear of the next gate. It also helped that I grew up skiing in New England and that it is was unusually icy conditions for Colorado. The other skiers were not used to ice. Maybe it also helped that I had never had a ski lesson. It was great fun.
Thanks for sharing your story. Yes, you can become a fast skier without taking ski school lessons and dare I say it out loud, sometimes even better that way. Weight helps a lot when it comes to amateur racing as courses are set so that you need speed. Also, your background in New England clearly worked to your advantage. If you are not used to ski on ice then ski racing might bring on some nasty circumstances that you have a hard time dealing with. Great observation. And yes, you can learn to ski by looking at WC racers and try to mimic what they do. That is actually what all coaches and racers do. Or should do. Cheers, Tom
Thank you for the explanation. As a ski instructor of all levels I teach beginner high school athletes for ski racing. Showing this video is extremely positive explanation of the correct way to carve thru a race course. Most students are visual learners from my experience.
Hi, thanks for watching and great to have instructors and coaches among the audience. Yes, my experience too. Kids are visual learners and learn by trial and error. Good luck, Cheers
Just started to watch your various videos this season and listen to the accompanying explanations and direction that you provide. Just fantastically good stuff. Not only do you know this material extremely well, perhaps more importantly for us viewers, you are also able to convey what you know in a an easy-to-follow, convincing and concise manner. I've been skiing for about 30 years. About 10 years ago I began to adopt retraction instead of always using extension when I was trying to self-teach myself short, rapid turns -- what a blast it is to pop from from edge to edge. Then the pandemic hit and I lost two ski seasons. When I resumed skiing, this season I inadvertently went back to using extension transitioning exclusively -- I guess old habits sometimes come back. But coming across your videos has knocked the sense back into me. Thanks so much for the excellent job that you have done here and in your other videos!
Wow, thanks a million for such good feedback. I am totally stoked. Glad to have been able to share interesting content and also inspire you to adopt it back into your skiing. Hopefully also in the future. Cheers, Tom
Great video! I liked your older video "How to ski crud" very, very much but then forgot about this channel. This time I came cross this title and was curious what "carve low" meant. Within the first couple of seconds I recognized your voice. Yes, you are the guy who provided many great points in that "crud" video! So I have to watch this one to the end. Of course I am not disappointed. You pin pointed the most widely spreading mistakes intermediate to advanced amateur skiers tend to make: flexing their waists rather than knees between turns! Thank you so much for the videos. Please keep providing more insights on the common mistakes amateur skiers and their coaches tend to make.
Thanks a lot for such great feedback. So glad you came back to my channel. I have loads of videos, just check the Video tab or go to Playlists where they are put under categories such as intermediate or advanced. Cheers, Tom
Sure. It also occurred to me that the ability of making ski-to-ski and edge-to-edge transitions in a low position is critical for moguls, in which transitions often have to be quickly made at the top of a mogul where skiers may be in an absorption/flex position. In such a situation, people who habitually extend into a high position in order to make a transition will get shot out into the air. And, since most people don't have the ability of pulling back lower legs and feet in the air (like in a dolphin jump turn,) they end up losing control completely and crashing into the next valley. @@Triggerboy62
The best explanation on how to carve of all tutorial videos ever... ( I highly suspect that the other videos were trying to hide this trick...) Thanks for sharing!
Wow, thank you very much for such great feedback. Be sure to check out my "secret move in skiracing" videos. And no, I dont think they hide it, I think they dont know how it is done ;)
Excellent. Thank you!!!!!! I’m 76 and still trying to get to that extreme carving angle. Your video is very instructive and helpful. My leg strength is not what it use to be and the fear of falling is always present. Wish my slopes had wide groomers like in your videos. Thanks again for an excellent video.❤
What a great lesson. I still suffer from learning to ski in the 80's and 90's when unweighting was drummed into us! This will help & I. can't wait to get to the slopes. Thank you.
Hi Martin. Yes, this lesson is perfect for you. I also learned to ski back in the days of old skis and up-unweighting and for those who want to rid that prominent up extension habit at transition, this is the best drill I have found. Let me know how it worked. Cheers, Tom
Exactly my challenge as well. I STOPPED competitive ski racing in 1987! Now getting back into Masters racing and I have been baffled as to why I can not quite master the high edge angle carve. Now I realize that my leg kinematics were backwards. Legs are STRAIGHTER in the turn, and MORE BENT in transition. I never quite realized this.
By accident I stumbled on this video last night after waxing my skis. Today,, 4thh time out for the season and this refresher did me the world of good. While the last session was pretty good, today was great, I got that high angle power back, rally felt in control! Thank you!
Finally a video that explains how to carve. Looking forward to trying and work hard. I am ski instructor and you just change my life. i always wanted to learn that
Awesome video. You can watch good skiers all day long and not have a clue how to mirror them. Your breakdown of the technique really helps show what they are actually doing diffetent and how you can apply it. Looking forward to trying this next season. Thanks a bunch! Now gotta check out your other vids.
Hi Mike and welcome to the channel. Glad you liked the how to carve low video and I am sure you will love other content here on the channel as well. Both published and future videos. I was just shooting video at Interski in Levi and I have truly awesome footage to be released. Stay tuned. Cheers, Tom
So glad to hear you have come over advice you never heard before. Please let me know how it worked out. Just got back from my first ski trip and cant wait to go skiing again. Cheers, Tom
i´ve been watching about 2 hours of skiing advise cuz im wanne improve a lot this season and this is the best video i found and i think itßll be that for a long period of time thank you
Thanks for watching also my videos. Good to hear you want to improve. This is actually one of the easiest drills to completely change the way you ski and the reward can be instant. Lots of people have for example already said so in the comments here so far after trying it out on the snow. Good luck, T
thanks for the great video..am an older skier now, I have been skiing all my life, starting with telemark as a kid..am amazed that beginners are not shown to carve , moving only the lower body, instead being being kept on parallels once they come off snowplough!
@@Triggerboy62 I was coached in the 80s....so I was totally backwards in my approach. your video made it all so clear. The more aggressively I carved, the more "pop" I was getting coming out of the turn and when I got into the new turn, it took forever for the ski to set a new carve. It was a mess. The quickness from edge to edge using this low transition is amazing. You have to learn to use that energy to drive the skis out, but not get lazy and push your whole body up. Once you start carving hard, a low transition is a must. There is just too much energy to do any other way. But I will say this.....doing the low transition is brutally exhausting for an old guy. I wonder if you could do another video on the importance of inside ski carving/edging in achieving high edge angles with your OUTSIDE ski. For the last few months, I had been trying in vain to really achieve high edge angles. I am talking FIS level hip dragging GS turns.... As an ex-racer, I see no reason I can not do this at least on easy snow, but I have been struggling. There are two issues which were holding me back. #1 problem was not doing a low transition, per this video. That problem is solved now. Thanks. #2 problem was more complex. I was not understanding what was meant by "shorten the inside leg". I had poor inside ski sensitivity and control. I thought I had good "similarity" between DH and inside skis, but I did not. I was still A-framing a bit. Then I would try to achieve higher angles by "shortening" my inside leg. This would just result in me A-framing with a wider stance, and completely losing my outside edge. No one explains "how" to shorten your inside leg, and this leads you to believe that you just drive your knee up, using leg and hip flexor muscles. I eventually learned that is NOT true. They way you shorten your inside leg is using the inside ski to "carve away from the outside ski" by tipping your inside ski effectively MORE than your outside ski. This is extremely hard from a muscle control standpoint. It requires ankle dorsiflexion, and good inside ski awareness + dynamic balance developed through "one ski" drills. But once you start to develop the ability to use edging to pull your inside leg into position, it is amazing. You are pretty much guaranteed to have a rock solid outside edge at a very high angle. Your inside ski carves away to the inside, effectively increasing your whole body lean and outside ski edge angle, but in a way that is very stable. In other words, you do not shorten your leg by shortening your leg. Shortening it is a result of having the inside ski control to "over turn" your inside ski. Thus your inside ski effectively determines your turning arc and edge angle. As you edge your inside ski away, and your outside edge angle then increases, your outside edge angle effectively instantly catches up to your inside ski. What happens in practice is you crank a harder turn! How come no one ever explains this in this way. They just say "drive your inside knee"....which creates a mess if you do not realize HOW to do that.
Hi, I am from Poland. I ski a lot in the season, of course as an amateur. For many years I drove very fast. (slopes in the Alps, mainly Austria and Switzerland). For several years I have been trying to improve my skiing technique(In old age -53 years😃). I think your video will help me a lot, your exercises, I think they opened my eyes to skiing. I knew , I wasn't in the toilet seat position and didn't know how to fix it. I think your exercise will help me. Good idea that you showed what skiers do wrong😄. My skiing is in the movie "Davos" - Emaus nickname Greetings to you Mariusz
Hi Emanus!!! Greetings to you in Poland. I found and watched a bit of the Davos movie, hilerious.... not sure who you were. Please tell me more closely. 53 is not old if you ski and feel 35. Cheers, Tom
@@Triggerboy62 😀 Yes, we are similar to each other in the film. I have yellow pants, a black jacket and a Smith helmet. thanks for your reply. Now we have morning. I go to work, treating people. Regards
Thank you so much for such good advices ! I ve been improving my carving the last couple of years trying to be more agressive and lower and lower. Seeing videos I was recently convinced that I shouldn't extend between 2 turns. You just gave me the tips to improve quickly. THANKS ! Christian
Tried many years to curve but I know I am doing it wrong but do not know why. Wow. This explanation indicates that I have been doing the opposite of what is needed. Many thanks.
Thanks for watching and hope you will get all your issues with carving sorted out. I also have many other videos on carving so just search my channel for the beginner carving lessons. But yes, many do the complete opposite. Nice that you noticed it yourself. Cheers,Tom
I started skiing in my 50's and have spent the last 17 years trying to learn how to do what you are describing in your video. I am not sure how it happened but this season is the first time that I have learned how to adopted this technique in my skiing and it feels like a radioactive spider had bit me and I now can ski down steep terrain like some kind of Marvel superhero. It is the most amazing feeling that I have experienced since I was 5 years old when my Dad took off the training wheels from my bicycle.
Wow, thanks for sharing. Goes to show that we can always learn new things. And get the thrills. Great story. Thanks. Cheers, Tom
Great respect for you sir, I'm 20 and sometimes I worry it will be getting more difficult progressing as a skiier.
Maybe I won't become a professional racer but I still have time to become extremely good.
Right now I only have money for 5 days a year, it isn't much but I think I already carve well. Videos like these help me improve.
It’s exactly my story. Word for word. My 50’s, this season, excitement of the newly gained feeling when steeps and longer steep while bending in transition
Iim 69 and been skiing since the late 70’s. I watched this last year and played with this retract legs between turns. I realized that I learned to do this many years ago but had never heard anyone talking about it. This is the best ski technique video I have come across in my almost 50 years of skiing.
@WhirledPeas agree. 66 yo this season ( 23-24), and I look forward to practicing this drill
I had been stuck with my carving technique for several seasons. Not getting high enough edge angles, not getting fast transitions between the turns etc.. and losing the control totally on steeper parts of the slopes. Then I watched this video and really paid attention to not extend fully up (like I have been taught, lol) and boy it changed my skiing. First time this season I was able to touch the slope with my knuckles while doing carved turn on my 23m radius all-mountain skis! So, big thanks for this video, I think most of the guides on youtube do not explain this, even they are doing it also in their videos.
Hi, so glad to have you on my channel and great to hear such good feedback and foremost, that you actually took your carving to the next level. The problem with sports in general is that so called correct technique is not something grabbed out of nowhere. It is based on environment resources and limitations and how you interact accordingly. Many therefore ski correctly but they dont know what they are doing. Just like a monkey climbing a three or a tiger chasing a zebra. Many times not even instructors or coaches. My approach has always been analyzing great skiers and then applying their movement patterns to whom I coach. Combining ski instruction and race coaching has also been working great for me as there are so many miss conceptions regarding both spectrums.
Cheers, Tom
Es ist eine Freude, diesem Video zuzuschauen. Hier wird gezeigt, wie man seine Carvingtechnik noch weiter verbessern und verfeinern kann. Ich werde in der kommenden Saison daran arbeiten. Ich bin 78 Jahre alt und blicke auf eine 74 jährige aktive Skilaufgeschichte zurück. Es macht immer noch großen Spaß.
Danke fyhr zuschauen. Und fiel glyck beim carving in kommende vinter, grusse Tom
At last, an instructor who is able to describe ACCURATELY the movements needed to produce the desired output. Too many instructors (including RUclipsrs) use vague language to describe skiing, but here is someone who is technically and mechanically correct.
Thank you so much for such good verdict on the content of the video. And for watching. Thank you. Cheers, Tom
Almost 30 years ago I was actually called out NOT to do this during my Level 3 PSIA exam by one of the examiners! I protested that it was the most efficient carved turn but then shrugged and gave them plenty of tall cross over. And, yes, I passed the exam. I also went away knowing I could out ski almost every one of the examiners. 😂
Hahahaaa.... I know that feeling. I remember that we had to ski a racing track when I took my cert and the examiner said it was all wrong.... that it looked like Alberto Tomba.... but that was WRONG! Cheers, T
Wow, this seems to be the the first video about carving where someone is pointing out this particular move (at least as far as I know). It makes absolutely perfect sense! Thanks, well done my friend.
Wow, thanks! Cheers, Tom
This video is life changing. A true “ah ha!” Lightbulb moment!
ruclips.net/video/90RChr1otpQ/видео.html
Harald Harb of PMTS has been teaching flex to release for more than 20 YEARS now.
Check out Harald Harb and PMTS skiing. He gets way more in depth on this.
Great vid showing the flex to release!
I have tried it today .... and boy😳😲 it is a gamechanger. Thank you very very very very much for this video.
Thank you for watching! Cool, glad it made a difference! Cheers, Tom
You know you are in the good place when most of the coments are from ski instructors. Thanks for helpful explanation. Every season I try to improve my skiing
Thank you very much for both watching and speaking so nicely about our content and viewers. Great to have all you instructors here, see as many as possible of you at INTERSKI :)
Cheers, Tom
I'm 52... being skiing since I was 9. I was instructor in the late 80's into the 90's. So I learned (and taught), the gliding turn/extension into the turn technique. As such, my carving is very inconsistent. Going to try this next time I go out!
Thanks for sharing your story. Quite similar to mine. And many others so lots of people can identify themselves with your comment. This drill is EXACTLY what guys and gals like you and me should work on. And as you can see for me at least it worked out very well. Thats why I hope that by sharing this technique here on RUclips as many as possible can gain access to high edge angles and killer turns. Cheers, Tom
Wow, I’ve not seen any video pointing that technique out. It’s such a golden nugget of wisdom for carving steeps.
Thanks for watching 👍
Thanks very much for your series on carving. I was taught old skool given I’m 58 yrs old now. But I’ve never really ‘got’ carving until I watched these videos.
Wow, that is HUGE. Being part of your first successful carving experience and journey! Cheers, Tom
Hey Tom. I want to say thank you for your videos. They help me so often. I am a life long skier and still avid about it. I am 68 years old, skiing over 100 days per year in Sun Valley Idaho. I raced for Aspen Ski Club in the 70's with 46 FIS points as my best. Then went on to be a fully certified ski instructor on Aspen Mtn for 16 years. I still work on my skiing and make an effort to stay current. I can leave rail road tracks and rip it. I do coach myself and find your videos super helpful. Making the transition from how we skied in the 70's to the current ability if the skis has been exciting and some work. Letting go of an A frame, using the inside ski have been new patterns. But often you remind me of something that needs attention in my skiing. Staying low in transition. Bringing my knees up in a half circle at transition. Trying not to over edge my new outside ski like we did. Retracting my inside knee, Weight change, And as Sasha Rarick said, 'kind of like riding a bike'. Anyway so many of the drills i use came from you and so often when i review your videos i am often reminded of something i have forgotten. Thank you so much. Jeffry Mann
Thank you Jeff for sharing. Im so glad for you, having been able to ski all your life and gone through different phases. I know that so well as my story is much the same. Never was a good ski racer back in the days but did race as a jr, then off-piste and back country for 10y before taking my ski instructor cert. Then ski instruction and coaching and masters racing until present. Still working on my own skiing and battling aging and injuries. Thanks for watching my videos and lets share turns some day :)
Cheers,T
Harald Harb will be very proud of you, I swear that's all he talks about in his books (esp the "Essentials of Skiing").
Most people think I'm crazy for learning how to ski from books, but his books talk about tipping, flexing, fore/aft, counterbalancing, and counteracting in amazing details that I think all skiers MUST read. I'm a true believer, learned how to properly ski at age 42. His third book, Essentials of Skiing, is by far the best one.
I am continuing to expand to learn from other sources, since everyone has something to offer.
Thanks for sharing your videos and experience, the ski world needs more people like you.
Thats a great book 👍
Yes you can learn to ski by reading a book. Or watchinga video 👍
The most comprehensive video of correct carving!! Thank you!’
Your drill is similar to harbs touching the boots with both hands in transition drill.
Outstanding, including your explanation of why racers appear to be extending when in fact they are retracting--very subtle and well observed. Your level of insight is rare. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, that was nicely said. We try our best to bring you good and easy to follow instruction. WC level. Cheers, T
This is your best explanation video. I was a cert 3, USA instructor, and I was having trouble understanding how the World Cup skier achieved such great angles. A flexed transition is definitely what they are doing! I have used a flexed transition for mogul skiing and even for powder, but I had not tried it for race carving. Thx!
Thanks for watching. Yes, I was also first using this method in the bumps but after seeing Jens Byggmark brake all the rules of proper skiing and winning all the races he participated in at first before everybody else caught the bandwagon my understanding for high end carving emerged. ruclips.net/video/I8ipm2jpWZs/видео.html
Happy Holidays, the Triggerboy Team
PSIA methods just kill people from skiing better.
You are correct in noting that the greatest extension is in the middle of the turn, the Center of Mass moving towards the inside of the turn. In order to pass from extension to extension, the retraction is necessary. Note that this also relaxes the muscles in the transition. It’s important to understand that the skier is NOT turning in the center of the transition; when the skis are 100% flat there is no turning. Thus you should be flexed/relaxed here, before entering the new turn.
Exactly the same here for me as lvl 3 german instructor…kinda knew it was a thing but never consequently used it in carving turns. I also don’t have a racing background, so it never came to me naturally. Feel kinda embarrassed but totally stoked to figure it out on the pist this season at the same time :)
13:07 “Flex to release.” Love it! truer words have not been said on this subject.
Thanks! T
I’ve actually been doing this to a number of years but didn’t understand what I was doing. It’s fun. Even at Canada’s most southern ski area that is small it’s fun. This is the best video with clear demonstration. I’m going to get at it tomorrow morning Thanks so much for the encouragement from a 77 year old.
Great going Dennis. Hopefully you had a good day out on the slope. Cheers, Tom
im not sure how skiing my whole life and racing a bit, i never got this right. this video was exceptional and now i can't wait to go practice this "backwards" technique until my brain and leg muscles have accepted it. thank you!
This is an exceptional description of a perfect carved turn. The video and drills are top quality and I find myself getting into the flexed position in steeper terrain. I am a ski patroller and love seeing this broken down and know that it will help my skiing. Kudos!
Glad to hear it resonated with you. Thanks for watching. Happy Holidays, the Triggerboy Team!
I've done a few race camps and while the instructors were good, they weren't able to articulate instructions as clear as this. Good job.
Thank you very much for such good feedback. Cheers, Tom
I remember the first time I really bent a ski, carved deep on edge. I was 12yr. Old going around this slight bank at my local hill. I remember going low and pressing underfoot hard, turning camber into rocker. As soon as I released to link the carve, I shot out of the turn, and launched maybe 10 feet further than expected and wiped out hard. That was a great feeling and the day I learned how to put a ski on edge.
Great story. Thanks for sharing. Tom
I have to say this video transformed my skiing. I am 65 years old and finally feel like I am getting a high edge angle. I have gotten some dirty looks from Taos ski instructors because you really need a bit of speed to do this. I feel like Bode Miller out there now. I fully realize I don't look like I feel, but whatever.
Great to hear. Im sure the Tao ski instructors are watching you with envy. Glad to have been of assistance. Cheers, Tom
This video is eye opening. I was one of those people that believed the stacked position was the only position. I can’t wait to get on the slopes with this new insight
So glad I could bring something new to your skiing. Have fun. Cheers, Tom
❤Thank you so much!
I started skiing in 1984 when I was 16 years old.
I tried to advance my technique by reading books, watching various videos, observing skilled skiers, and getting a few skiing lessons from profis.
I have to admit that when I came across to this video a few months ago it literally turned on the lights in the darkest corner of my brain about the knowledge and experience in skiing, which I wasn’t aware of so far.
This tutorial was more enlightening than anything else throughout my entire journey in this field.
I am grateful… ❤
Wow, feedback like this is out of this world. Thanks, and thanks for watching. Cheers, Tom
@@Triggerboy62with my genuine compliments ❤
It's my understanding when you extend up your skis lose a certain amount of grip on the snow. I still catch myself extending up, but more and more staying low as you say here. It's changed my skiing. A ski patrol person asked me yesterday on the lift "How did you learn to ski like that?" I said hours and hours of practice and watching lots of great instructors like yourself on YT. Thank you.
Wow, thank you very much. That was awesome. The best recommendations and marketing always come from customers. The thing is that when you extend against and away from your base of support (edged skis carving in the snow), you increase pressure. The instance you stop, pressure drops. So instead of extending up during transition when you dont need any pressure you should be extending sideways into the turn during the turn when you need pressure and as extension and turn forces end you release and float through the transition.
Happy Holidays both of you, the Triggerboy Team!
Most articulate and accurate video on youtube on high performance carving. No big words, straight to the crux of the matter. Cheers for this!
Thanks, Tom
Totally awesome video. It really hit the nail on the head. As an older skier, I now realize that I am still a slave to the whole unweighting movement and this has been getting in the way of any improvement in the transition, despite plenty of practice. I have been using Carv to help with this, and it has been useful, but this was a revelation as to what I have been doing wrong. The whole unweighting of the ski by moving the body upward is no longer necessary in a carved turn. This was a real eye opener. Thanks.
Wow!!! You got it! So nice to hear. Yes, you need to extend into the transition is some cases as when skiing basic parallel turns or in crud or very steep and narrow places but when you carve you definitely do not need to do that. If you extend you most likely mess everything else up. No quick transition, no early edge engagement, difficult to build high edge angles etc. etc. Thanks for watching and glad to have been of any help. Cheers, Tom
Excellent
Actually you still do unweigt your legs, but not anymore by going up. Now you raise your legs to unweigt them, which is much faster so you can start the next turn much earlier. :)
This video changed my skiing totally to a new level. I was struggling with new skis and everything felt wrong until I remembered this video to stay low also between turns. Epiphany moment! Have been skiing 40years occasionally and now at the age of 50 can feel how to get the most out of carving. Grinn just doesn't leave my face. Hattu päästä!
Wow, that is great. Thank you for watching and lets ski until 100 :)
Nice lecture. Last year I casually discovered I could ski better when having the feeling I was "constantly sitting" with low center of gravity, "close to the ground" like a running cat. Don't know why I stopped doing so. This video is going to take me back to the right track.
Yes, thats a good one. Cats stay low. So should we. Nice to have been able to point you back in the right direction again. If only I had done the same over the years, stuck with what works instead of listening to "super" coaches. Keep it up. It is never too late to start over. Happy Holidays, the Triggerboy Team
I get to ski but rarely, but keep the dream alive in part by watching your videos.
So nice to hear. Sorry you cannot ski more often but at the moment I too prioritize writing this comment instead of skiing. We have had rain and storm for the last week and today the sun is out for the first time and we have -3 deg. Cheers, T
used your drills last season, improved my curving and edging a lot. This is the exact technic I need for the next level. Thank you so much
Perfect! And great to have a student progressing through several of my videos. This video is the third level of 3 Levels of Carving. Cheers, Tom
One of the best analysis of advanced ski techniques!!!
Many thanks!
Jan Wilam, ski instructor (ISIA, CTT)
Wow, thanks a million. Cheers, T
I love the cue you shared about not falling into the turn, but instead extending and pushing with your legs into the turn. Excellent content delivered nice and clear! Thank you so much!
Thank you and thank you for watching. That cue is as good as it gets. Especially when we know where it came from. Cheers, Tom
This is an excellent video on how to effectively transition from the old edges to the new edges in transition (flex to release rather than extend to release). The skier should not however push into the turn (actively extend their legs to create pressure) once they have reached the new edges through flexing as they exit the transition. That extending movement tends to push you out of balance. Rather you should actively flex the inside leg while balancing over the outside foot and allow that outside leg to lengthen naturally without forcefully extending it. The pressure is created by the snow pushing against the outside tipped ski to equally offset the forces ( both centrifugal and gravitational) as the ski arcs towards and past the apex of the turn. The exercise Tom describes (an excellent exercise) will however require that you actively extend the legs through the arc and then retract them in transition in order to experience the feeling of flexing to release followed by lengthening of the legs in the arc. Active conscious flexing and extending is required because they are being performed at slow speed and the skier is learning new movements and the timing of those movements.
Yep, the sensation and controll of carve you are getting by pushing into turn / activelly extending legs during turn is fabulous. That is the way for controlling the arc, that is the way to 'bite' into snow.
Have no clue why some are still promoting up lifting and passive lean over technique for carving... which fails short on anything other than green/blue and soft.
I‘m with 60 starting skiing, my instructor was explaining me the transition, but told me that I need to avoid sitting. I have started developing my own technique and this video was a revelation to me. Thanks for your clear speaking, which made easy to understand every explanation.
Thank you for watching and for leaving a comment with such good feedback. The instructor you had was correct. You should avoid sitting in the back seat. However, now you know why WC skiers sit in the back seat and now you know the technique. Have a great spring skiing season. Cheers, Tom
Thanks for this Tom. I’ve been working on improving my carving by focusing on toppling and not really progressing. On occasion I’ve stumbled across the sensation of my knees coming up under me as I move through the transition followed by my legs extending out. When it happens it just feel right but it didn’t seem consistent with my “understanding” of what I should be doing. This lesson was a big light bulb moment for me and I can’t wait to get back out and work on this.
Fantastic! Glad to play a part in your skiing. Hopefully your next time on the slope will be a revelation. Cheers, Tom
I also "stumbled" across this technique then spent several days combing thru videos looking for vindication. Like many people I thought you had to extend before the transition. I found Klaus Mair's video with side by side comparesons of slalom racers. He calls it a compression turn. Then I found this excellent video. I use compression turns most in quick short turns. It gets you on edge right away. Thanks Tom for helping steer me in the right direction
@@davidriedmiller6576 ruclips.net/video/nlMn5UZNFxc/видео.html
What a mind blowing technique video! I also stumbled across this technique when skiing in New Zealand 2023. The NZ National qualification races were on for a few days and I was watching and copying a similar drill the coaches were having the racers do. It felt exactly like this video. Body low, legs coming up and under me then extending and biting the snow. It felt so amazing.
Dear Tom, I am writing to thank you very much. Your video opened my mind and I took an incredible step with my skiing technique. I immediately tried to do the WC technique and my carving reached another level. The idea of falling into the curve is amazing. Now I can dig deep even on ice. To be honest I didn't use your drill, your words were enough for me.
The only drawback is that this technique is so heavy on the muscles. I'm an old skier (55+ years of skiing), I'm an addicted skier, I've tried all the techniques but this one is so much fun-
Thank you so much you had a big impact on my skiing
A clarification I wanted to say to push myself to fall inside the curve
Great to hear. Thanks for watching and for such good words on my video. So glad I could inspire you to try something new and reach a new level. Keep it up. We are almost the same age. Cheers, Tom
I've seen multiple skiing channels over the past couple years. Some are pretty good, but none came to the quality of explanation and examples as you do! Great job!
Wow, thanks! And thanks for watching, Tom
I've watched many videos, drills, and instructions on extreme edging, but your video tops them all. The transition from keeping low to extending during the turn did it for me. That is well put and a great side-by-side comparison. I could see myself in Chris.
Awesome, thank you! Cheers, T
I started skiing when I was 3 and I ALWAYS followed the technique where I would fully extend for a transition. I've recently noticed that no matter what I do I couldn't achieve those sharp turn radiuses and deep carvs. I'm really looking forward to trying your drills this season. Thank you for the great content and in-depth explanation!
Hi, thanks for watching. Yes, this drill is a very good way to access those high edge angles and tight turns. Good luck. Cheers, Tom
I am 68 and am returning to skiing after a long (25year) break, as I couldn’t justify lift ticket prices, when surfing is free and 5 minutes from home. Now that surfing is on the back burner ( try paddling for thirty minutes through 4 lines of water, just to get outside in a good day) I can’t wait to use my new modern all mountain skis and use you fantastic explanation of the correct technique !! Thank you, George
Thanks a lot for sharing. Yes, wind and waves are free.... I know from being a windsurfer myself. Or actually far from free as gear cost a lot of money but no lift tickets. Something I really struggle with while visiting areas where I do not hold a season pass or get a discount. Cheers, Tom
And welcome back to the sport. Cheers, Tom
Thanks Tom! Will let you know how it goes.
So good- thanks for the excellent explanation of flexing into the transition!
You're so welcome!
I have had many advanced carving lessons over the years, terms like early angulation, inside leg steer, early outside leg press and extension to maximize pressure were used.
You explanation regarding simply staying low, then extend your legs is a great visualisation of how that action will change your centre of mass, logically followed by an increased edge angle and more acute turn without you feeling you have to lean into it.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks! Yes, my approach is slightly different to many others. And simpler. Cheers, Tom
Tom - You are "nailing" it again! Thanks for getting this video out. I am coaching Age Class athletes at the moment (U10's and U 12's) and realize this is the age to introduce these movements. Tough fighting against traditional concepts, however, I feel like my group that I'm working with are "opening" up their thinking. Keep these videos coming.
Thanks, Coach Crawford Pierce
Fantastic! Great to hear. Yes, U10 and U12s are the right age for these sorts of movement drills. The long poles are introduced too early in my opinion. The longer we can wait with the gate blocking the better. At least get the kids into the right movement patterns before blocking gates. I know this is not always possible as we do not teach kids individually. Keep up your good work. Happy Holidays, Triggerboy & Team
I've always loved skiing this way, particularly in poor light where feel for the snow seems way better to me. However, following the experience of my son from U12 to U14, I'd be wary of choosing one technique for all kids this age. Introduce it for sure, but keep a wary eye on different athlete builds.
My son's now in a feeder team for the Swiss Ski team. His U12 coach got him to top 3 level regionally. Then in U14 his new coaches got him skiing this way, extending into the turn, and with his physique it turned out very badly. He's grown 34cm in 2.5 years, tall and thin, and it's only now in his last year of U16 that this technique is starting to work well for him. The U12 coach (a FIS level ex-racer) said it was too early for him to make the progression to this technique, given his physique (though he could do it seemingly fine). The two U14-16 coaches ignored this, but in my son's case the U12 coach was right. It took him 18 months to get back to where he'd been before in SL, a frustrating period for him.
With thin beansprout athletes, watch out for over-reliance on hip angulation at the expense of ankle-knee at initiation, and ending up with hips too far back/insufficient shin pressure against the boot at initiation. Shorter, stocky, powerful kids seem to make this transition more easily, perhaps because they have shorter levers. As the lanky ones shoot up at this age, they get all uncoordinated, not knowing what to do with their long limbs!
However personally I'd always choose to use what Tom describes so well here - great job Tom 👍
This is a awesome tutorial. Tried it first time yesterday, it's a totally different new way to carve. Go "toilet seat position"!
Thanks and thanks for watching. Great to hear you tried it out on the slopes. As I see it, everyone has to go to the toilet at some point :)
Cheers, Tom
I have been struggling to make quicker transitions. Finally, a step by step explanation of how to do it. Fantastic video! Can't wait to take this info out on the slopes and onto the race course.
Best of luck to you! Cheers, Tom
Adrien Duvillard taught me the French technique of sinking to unweight which is essentially the same as flexing. That was in Aspen in 1963 and I've been lucky to ski that way since. It does require some specific exercises to toughen the quads such as sitting against a wall with thighs parallel to the floor. At 78, I can still do five minutes but there were years when I could last longer. Another point is that the modern ski provides for a much earlier turn onset requiring less pressure on the outside ski. My old Rossies circa 1970s were not suitable for flex to release. Regardless, I'm delighted that getting low and staying low is finding favor!! Kudos.
Hi, thanks for sharing. Even though I never was taught the French style, so called down unweighting was used a lot in bumps and powder. Back in those days we did not have carving skis that is true, but we also did not have flat groomed terrain as we have now. Back then it was moguls in one form or an other, dedicated mogul runs but also during afternoons every run was turned into a battlefield and yard-sales. There was no other terrain. Be sure to watch my video on how to ski crud. I actually have two I think. Take care, Tom
I have been trying to improve my skiiing for a number of years, and have been experimenting with bending more in the knees/waist and taking a lower approach, but I was never sure if that was "correct" or not. I am planning a lesson for this season with an expert coach and was going to bring this topic up (if being low or not during transition was proper). Keeping low in the transition always felt fast and snappy between turns but I never knee if it was proper. Your video has gave me great food for thought, I will definitely be trying out your drill. I wanted to add, that as a person watching these kinds of help videos, shots of "bad" technique are very valuable. I do see you do this quite a bit and I appreciate it, I would say continue that focus, showing a comparison of the good and bad techniques. Thank you.
Thank you very much for watching and taking much time to comment with content appreciations and suggestions. I agree with you. It is very valuable information for the student what it looks like. What bad looks like and what good looks like. That is actually the whole purpose of when we shoot our students and ski racers on video. My motto has always been, if it looks great than it is also great. If your video looks like Hirscher then you ski like Hirscher. I will keep your comment in mind and try to use more "contrasting" video lessons. Or segments in the videos. Thanks. Cheers, Tom
I tried the drill on a local indoor ski slope. It was hard work but so much fun! Almost fell during first couple of runs but after a while my skiing never felt better! Thanks for such a great tutorial!
Great job! Cheers, Tom
This video might have just changed mine & my racers lives. Thank you for all these amazing videos! Always giving me new drill ideas & ways of explaining things to my kiddos :)
Wow, glad to have been of such inspiration and hopefully help as well. All the best. Happy Holidays, Triggerboy & Team!
I am riding alpine carving snowboard. This is the best practical tip that I have found on RUclips in years!!! I have just applied these recommendations, and confirm that it absolutely works! I was doing all of the mistakes mentioned int his video… Falling into the turn, etc. The best part of this tip is that it is way easier to control the speed by fast transitions, so now I can carve even on steep terrain, which was a challenge for me before watching this. Thank you Triggerboy62!
Great to hear! Wow, thanks for watching. Glad to hear you got some value out of this video. Cheers, Tom
Excellent video. Learning how to flex in order to release edges is a key technique never taught in my Canadian ski instructor training (to level 3). Yet it is crucial. Thanks Tom for the showing this important technique to us!
Thank you so much for watching. And glad I could be of help. It is a concept quite rarely explained properly so I tried to do my best. Cheers, T
I have been working on my skiing for years and am an instructor and coach . I realize that staying low at the link allows quick transition and as you say extending the legs laterally moves the hip into the right place. I am so tired of hearing coaches and instructors talk of toppling . I also see so many videos where people are trying to get pressure in there boots for their carve device but they are not creating the forces in the proper way by letting pressure build though the transition staying low and extending the leg. These people seem to think that the numbers on their device make them good skiers and do not appreciate that there are many ways to make numbers but the only numbers that count are the seconds you win by in a race. As you said in sports power comes from a flexed position of the ankles and knees to build explosive power. Well done with this. You do not know how many arguments I have had about what you have been able to explain very succinctly.
I hear you. I get lots of comments like yours. Thank you for sharing and glad to have been of assistance. Cheers, Tom
Thank you for this amazing video! Usually most other tutorials show the proper techniques but they never point out common mistakes. For example the part where you compared the two pictures, low in knees vs extended, I'm a 100% sure i'm making that mistake and without actually pointing it out I'd never figured that out myself. Once again thanks and keep up the nice vids!
Thank you for watching and glad I could be of assistance. Good luck with this drill. Let me know how it went. Cheers, Tom
Love this. An old coach/instructor used to say, "Deflect the tree line, not the lodge". In other words, let the energy stored in the flexed ski, power you across the hill through the turn, with your body driving (extending) at the next turn apex, rather than popping your body up and down, which wastes energy, and causes you to skid your skis against the lodge (base of the hill). While you are transitioning, let your legs/knees come back up underneath you, using the rebound in the skis, so your head doesn't bob up and down, but drives towards the next turn... basically, keeping your head (more or less) at the same level throughout the turn, not popping up and down like prairie dogs looking for trouble.
Great explanation. Good advice. Yes, no head bopping. Thanks for sharing. Im gonna use that quote. Thanks. Cheers, Tom
These breakdowns are so good. They have helped me a ton to be a better skier.
Wow, thanks a million. And thanks for watching. Cheers, Tom
Excellent video!
As a 61 year old who learned to ski 40 years ago and only skis just for enjoyment of making it to the bottom of the mountain without falling on my arse I noticed the old ingrained coaching technique in myself, ie the uplifting to transition.
Thanks for encouraging me to book an instructor to help with my carving technique.
Glad I could be of inspiration. Cheers, T
I watched a lot of your videos particularly the ones with Chris. I think this was the best of them all. I been a ski instructor for a long time and a race coach. Learned a lot more when I became a race coach. I coached the U 8’s and learned so much more. Going to racing made a better instructor/coach and skier. Keep up the good work. Don Glennan
Hi, yes, this is my strength: combining ski instruction with race coaching. I've taken Chris and taught him all those ski instructor techniques as well. Thats why he is such a good overall skier. Can ski anything. And is currently also a ski instructor and jr coach. Happy Holidays, Triggerboy & Team!
This video makes so much sense! Why? Because it's about getting better at carving and who best to compare it to than a World Class, FAST racer. Usually the athletes with the fastest run times have the best technique. This video shows exactly that.
Exactly! We look at the top athletes and we pay great attention. Every time we have a WC racer or such on a racing or training course we try to compare with video. What are the similarities and the differences and what is part of a skiers style and what strengths and weaknesses do they have. If you look at Moltzan in the video. How can you argue its not of value? Cheers, Tom
Man - you really nailed it.
Thanks. Happy Holidays, Triggerboy & Team!
I just came back from the mountain. I practiced the carving technique you explained. I am going much better now!
Great job! Congrats on new skills. Thank you for trying it out. Cheers, Tom
Thanks for your video! This is exactly what I need to learn. I Always wanted to carv lower and now I'm finally understanding the fundamental mistake I've made going into every turn. Can't wait for januari to go skiing again :D
Great to hear. I see so many trying to carve low and struggling really badly. When you do it like I do it in the video you carve automatically almost hips on the snow. In just a few turns on a very moderate pitched slope with almost no speed. Cheers, Tom
What an excellent video for carvers or racers who want to quicken their transitions. When you think about it, energy is being used to raise your body mass up when you do a full extension. In stead of using that energy to lift your body, it can be used to move the legs laterally allowing lightning fast transitions. It's a bit like sucking up moguls with your legs between turns, except that you are on a groomed slope. Thanks for putting this out there for all instead of keeping it a secret like some coaches did.
The secret is out there. Thanks for watching and for your comment. Yes, use the energy wisely. Kind of cheesy statement as everyone is trying to save energy at the moment I know :)
Happy Holidays, Triggerboy & Team!
I appreciate what you do so much. Your videos are amazing. I can't wait to get out and practice this drill 🙂
Thank you so much for watching and hope your turns improve. Cheers, Tom
This might be the best advanced/Pro carving tutorial !!!! Thank you so much for sharing this my man!!!
Wow, thanks! And thank you for watching! Cheers, Tom
Nice video, waiting to try this low transition on Saturday. I see this low transition always in SL, but in GS seems there are some skiers that seems to extend their position in the transition (Odermatt)
Thanks and thanks for watching. Let me know how the drill worked out on the slope on Saturday.
Yes, primarily in SL but as you can see from the video, also in GS. Depends on the course. If it is very tight then lots of low transitions. Odermatt typically stays more extended. But there is so much more to skiing than the transition. Maybe its the Stöckli skis :)
I saw a video of me skiing recently. I couldn't believe how upright I was. This video here is going to help me. As soon as we get some snow that is LOl
Great. Be sure to check out my video: ruclips.net/video/0760JW5AjW4/видео.htmlsi=UO3wwJoTlEvAQhKW
Harb (PMTS) has been teaching this for years. Great demo, though.
Yes, this is a standard drill for them. Thanks for watching, Tom
I am a level III PSIA instructor and certified USSA race coach. this video is superb. Great job, I could not have said it better myself. I also find it is a good early season list of items to keep in mind for my own skiing.
Wow, so honored! Thank you very much and hopefully your season will be great. Cheers, Tom
I love skiing
That makes two of us! Happy Holidays, Triggerboy & Team
Today was my first chance to try this. Unbelievable. I’ve been doing it backwards! I was pretty rough, but today may have been the first time I carved-ish a turn in my life (61!) Thank you.
Wow, that is truly great to hear. Cheers, T (60)
Thank's for another great video. You have the very rare gift of explaining things in a very easy way. Personally worked with plenty of trainers back in the days when I was racing, none of them were so easy to understand as you are, even though they eventually made some good skiers. Now when I teach my daugher, I'm trying to explain her the basics the way you do it- it's so easy to get when you just try to use it! Thank you so much, you're such an inspiration! That's my daughter some time ago, now she's way better ;) ruclips.net/video/8x7YWMagD98/видео.html
Wow, thanks for such great comment. Thank you. Funny thing is that we had a very good ski racing jr joining our club and when I gave him feedback he was going - I cannot understand a word you are saying! He had been listening to other coaches all his life and had no clue to what he actually should be doing. Glad to hear you think my advice is simple. BTW, your daughter is a really good jr racer. If you have not seen the video My Story about Chris please do. And show it to your daughter. She is doing the right movements. From there she will suddenly just shoot for the stars. Cheers, Tom
I have been trying so hard to carve. This video gives me a brand new perspective. I am going to work on it this winter when my family and I ski in the Hakuba Ski resort in Japan. This gives me a glimpse of hope that I can really care through out the turn and not skied. Thank you.
Thank you for watching and hopefully you will be able to nail that first carve sooner than you think. Remember, you can always correspond with me here on my videos by leaving comments as I read and respond to all comments as a daily or weekly routine. You can also send me email at tdk.skiracing@gmail.com for video analysis etc. Be sure to ref your RUclips user name. Have a great end of summer and fall. Cheers, Tom
Been hearing about staying low flexed in transition for a long time at PSIA events. but this video provides a simple drill and crystal clear explanation of how to get there more effectively. Will be out skiing on the toilet seat next chance I get
Best video on carving on the internet. Thank u so much and also all hail too the algorithm for sending me here at 1:30 am 🙌🏼
Wow, thank you! Algorithms work. Be sure to subscribe for new content and also check out my other videos out there. I think there are over 600..... Cheers, T
Thanks for your video.
I am old and overweight, but somehow that is the way I make turns. The more I flex and lean the better I turn. Maybe it is from being overweight and out of shape, and the technique you describe is the only way I can turn by using my weight. And I can only turn well when I'm going fast. Many years ago, when in my mid fifties, I actually won a slalom competition among co-workers and clients, most of whom were in their 20s and 30s. I ended up with the fastest time on the mountain (Winter Park) for anyone that day, even though I had never skied a slalom course before. I did it by skiing like I had seen on TV, by letting my skis ride once I made the turn at or above the gate, and proceeding without fear of the next gate. It also helped that I grew up skiing in New England and that it is was unusually icy conditions for Colorado. The other skiers were not used to ice. Maybe it also helped that I had never had a ski lesson. It was great fun.
Thanks for sharing your story. Yes, you can become a fast skier without taking ski school lessons and dare I say it out loud, sometimes even better that way. Weight helps a lot when it comes to amateur racing as courses are set so that you need speed. Also, your background in New England clearly worked to your advantage. If you are not used to ski on ice then ski racing might bring on some nasty circumstances that you have a hard time dealing with. Great observation. And yes, you can learn to ski by looking at WC racers and try to mimic what they do. That is actually what all coaches and racers do. Or should do. Cheers, Tom
Thank you for the explanation.
As a ski instructor of all levels I teach beginner high school athletes for ski racing. Showing this video is extremely positive explanation of the correct way to carve thru a race course. Most students are visual learners from my experience.
Hi, thanks for watching and great to have instructors and coaches among the audience. Yes, my experience too. Kids are visual learners and learn by trial and error. Good luck, Cheers
This is the single greatest skiing video on RUclips.
Thanks!
As a former ski racer from the 1970s watching Gustavo Theoini and the Mahres- one can see times- and technique has changed. Change is hard!
Yes, it is. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Tom
Just started to watch your various videos this season and listen to the accompanying explanations and direction that you provide. Just fantastically good stuff. Not only do you know this material extremely well, perhaps more importantly for us viewers, you are also able to convey what you know in a an easy-to-follow, convincing and concise manner. I've been skiing for about 30 years. About 10 years ago I began to adopt retraction instead of always using extension when I was trying to self-teach myself short, rapid turns -- what a blast it is to pop from from edge to edge. Then the pandemic hit and I lost two ski seasons. When I resumed skiing, this season I inadvertently went back to using extension transitioning exclusively -- I guess old habits sometimes come back. But coming across your videos has knocked the sense back into me. Thanks so much for the excellent job that you have done here and in your other videos!
Wow, thanks a million for such good feedback. I am totally stoked. Glad to have been able to share interesting content and also inspire you to adopt it back into your skiing. Hopefully also in the future. Cheers, Tom
Great video! I liked your older video "How to ski crud" very, very much but then forgot about this channel. This time I came cross this title and was curious what "carve low" meant. Within the first couple of seconds I recognized your voice. Yes, you are the guy who provided many great points in that "crud" video! So I have to watch this one to the end. Of course I am not disappointed. You pin pointed the most widely spreading mistakes intermediate to advanced amateur skiers tend to make: flexing their waists rather than knees between turns! Thank you so much for the videos. Please keep providing more insights on the common mistakes amateur skiers and their coaches tend to make.
Thanks a lot for such great feedback. So glad you came back to my channel. I have loads of videos, just check the Video tab or go to Playlists where they are put under categories such as intermediate or advanced.
Cheers, Tom
Sure. It also occurred to me that the ability of making ski-to-ski and edge-to-edge transitions in a low position is critical for moguls, in which transitions often have to be quickly made at the top of a mogul where skiers may be in an absorption/flex position. In such a situation, people who habitually extend into a high position in order to make a transition will get shot out into the air. And, since most people don't have the ability of pulling back lower legs and feet in the air (like in a dolphin jump turn,) they end up losing control completely and crashing into the next valley. @@Triggerboy62
The best explanation on how to carve of all tutorial videos ever... ( I highly suspect that the other videos were trying to hide this trick...) Thanks for sharing!
Wow, thank you very much for such great feedback. Be sure to check out my "secret move in skiracing" videos. And no, I dont think they hide it, I think they dont know how it is done ;)
Excellent. Thank you!!!!!! I’m 76 and still trying to get to that extreme carving angle. Your video is very instructive and helpful. My leg strength is not what it use to be and the fear of falling is always present. Wish my slopes had wide groomers like in your videos. Thanks again for an excellent video.❤
Hahaa.... those slopes were to die for. Really. Best conditions ever. Levi is a super resort for ski racers and wannabees! Cheers, Tom
What a great lesson. I still suffer from learning to ski in the 80's and 90's when unweighting was drummed into us! This will help & I. can't wait to get to the slopes. Thank you.
Hi Martin. Yes, this lesson is perfect for you. I also learned to ski back in the days of old skis and up-unweighting and for those who want to rid that prominent up extension habit at transition, this is the best drill I have found. Let me know how it worked. Cheers, Tom
Exactly my challenge as well. I STOPPED competitive ski racing in 1987! Now getting back into Masters racing and I have been baffled as to why I can not quite master the high edge angle carve. Now I realize that my leg kinematics were backwards. Legs are STRAIGHTER in the turn, and MORE BENT in transition. I never quite realized this.
By accident I stumbled on this video last night after waxing my skis. Today,, 4thh time out for the season and this refresher did me the world of good. While the last session was pretty good, today was great, I got that high angle power back, rally felt in control! Thank you!
So glad I could be of any help. Thanks for watching. Cheers, T
Best explanation of high performance carving I’ve seen !
Thank you very much and thank you for watching. Cheers, Tom
The best carving ski lesson I never heard. thanks
Thank you so much, thanks. Cheers, T
Finally a video that explains how to carve. Looking forward to trying and work hard. I am ski instructor and you just change my life. i always wanted to learn that
Wow, that is awesome. I feel humble. Good luck in your work as a ski instructor and with your carving. Cheers, Tom
Awesome video. You can watch good skiers all day long and not have a clue how to mirror them. Your breakdown of the technique really helps show what they are actually doing diffetent and how you can apply it. Looking forward to trying this next season. Thanks a bunch! Now gotta check out your other vids.
Hi Mike and welcome to the channel. Glad you liked the how to carve low video and I am sure you will love other content here on the channel as well. Both published and future videos. I was just shooting video at Interski in Levi and I have truly awesome footage to be released. Stay tuned. Cheers, Tom
I have never heard the carve described this way before. Thanks so much for the excellent advice. Will try it this winter for sure!
So glad to hear you have come over advice you never heard before. Please let me know how it worked out. Just got back from my first ski trip and cant wait to go skiing again. Cheers, Tom
Thank you very much for the detailed explanation with technical background and the common mistakes!
You are welcome!
i´ve been watching about 2 hours of skiing advise cuz im wanne improve a lot this season and this is the best video i found and i think itßll be that for a long period of time thank you
Thanks for watching also my videos. Good to hear you want to improve. This is actually one of the easiest drills to completely change the way you ski and the reward can be instant. Lots of people have for example already said so in the comments here so far after trying it out on the snow. Good luck, T
Finally good explanation how to carve good! Your way of explaining and analysing skiing technique is phenomenal!
Wow, thank you! All the best, T
Best explanation of short fast carving turns yet! Can’t wait to put it into action
Awesome! Thank you!
thanks for the great video..am an older skier now, I have been skiing all my life, starting with telemark as a kid..am amazed that beginners are not shown to carve , moving only the lower body, instead being being kept on parallels once they come off snowplough!
Thanks. Yes, there are endless opportunities for instructors to teach this stuff all their lives :)
Cheers, Tom
This is one of the most insightful tips ever. Brilliant
Thank you and thank you for watching. Cheers, Tom
@@Triggerboy62 I was coached in the 80s....so I was totally backwards in my approach. your video made it all so clear. The more aggressively I carved, the more "pop" I was getting coming out of the turn and when I got into the new turn, it took forever for the ski to set a new carve. It was a mess. The quickness from edge to edge using this low transition is amazing. You have to learn to use that energy to drive the skis out, but not get lazy and push your whole body up. Once you start carving hard, a low transition is a must. There is just too much energy to do any other way.
But I will say this.....doing the low transition is brutally exhausting for an old guy.
I wonder if you could do another video on the importance of inside ski carving/edging in achieving high edge angles with your OUTSIDE ski. For the last few months, I had been trying in vain to really achieve high edge angles. I am talking FIS level hip dragging GS turns.... As an ex-racer, I see no reason I can not do this at least on easy snow, but I have been struggling. There are two issues which were holding me back.
#1 problem was not doing a low transition, per this video. That problem is solved now. Thanks.
#2 problem was more complex. I was not understanding what was meant by "shorten the inside leg". I had poor inside ski sensitivity and control. I thought I had good "similarity" between DH and inside skis, but I did not. I was still A-framing a bit. Then I would try to achieve higher angles by "shortening" my inside leg. This would just result in me A-framing with a wider stance, and completely losing my outside edge.
No one explains "how" to shorten your inside leg, and this leads you to believe that you just drive your knee up, using leg and hip flexor muscles. I eventually learned that is NOT true. They way you shorten your inside leg is using the inside ski to "carve away from the outside ski" by tipping your inside ski effectively MORE than your outside ski. This is extremely hard from a muscle control standpoint. It requires ankle dorsiflexion, and good inside ski awareness + dynamic balance developed through "one ski" drills. But once you start to develop the ability to use edging to pull your inside leg into position, it is amazing. You are pretty much guaranteed to have a rock solid outside edge at a very high angle. Your inside ski carves away to the inside, effectively increasing your whole body lean and outside ski edge angle, but in a way that is very stable. In other words, you do not shorten your leg by shortening your leg. Shortening it is a result of having the inside ski control to "over turn" your inside ski. Thus your inside ski effectively determines your turning arc and edge angle. As you edge your inside ski away, and your outside edge angle then increases, your outside edge angle effectively instantly catches up to your inside ski. What happens in practice is you crank a harder turn!
How come no one ever explains this in this way. They just say "drive your inside knee"....which creates a mess if you do not realize HOW to do that.
Hi, I am from Poland.
I ski a lot in the season, of course as an amateur. For many years I drove very fast. (slopes in the Alps, mainly Austria and Switzerland). For several years I have been trying to improve my skiing technique(In old age -53 years😃). I think your video will help me a lot, your exercises, I think they opened my eyes to skiing. I knew , I wasn't in the toilet seat position and didn't know how to fix it. I think your exercise will help me.
Good idea that you showed what skiers do wrong😄. My skiing is in the movie "Davos" - Emaus nickname
Greetings to you
Mariusz
Hi Emanus!!! Greetings to you in Poland. I found and watched a bit of the Davos movie, hilerious.... not sure who you were. Please tell me more closely. 53 is not old if you ski and feel 35. Cheers, Tom
@@Triggerboy62
😀 Yes, we are similar to each other in the film. I have yellow pants, a black jacket and a Smith helmet. thanks for your reply. Now we have morning. I go to work, treating people. Regards
Thank you so much for such good advices ! I ve been improving my carving the last couple of years
trying to be more agressive and lower and lower. Seeing videos I was recently convinced that I shouldn't extend between 2 turns. You just gave me the tips to improve quickly. THANKS !
Christian
You are so welcome! Wonderful. Thanks for watching. Keep on carving. Cheers, T
This is a fantastic tutorial - you are an excellent teacher! This is a game changer for me - thank you!
You're very welcome! So glad you found the video useful. Cheers, Tom
OMG, WOW, poetry in motion at 12.26 in, beautiful, so nice to have you back making these.
Thank you and thank you for watching. Great to be back and to feel appreciated. Cheers, Tom
Tried many years to curve but I know I am doing it wrong but do not know why. Wow. This explanation indicates that I have been doing the opposite of what is needed. Many thanks.
Thanks for watching and hope you will get all your issues with carving sorted out. I also have many other videos on carving so just search my channel for the beginner carving lessons. But yes, many do the complete opposite. Nice that you noticed it yourself. Cheers,Tom