Ski turn initiation, Sliding or carving

Dear all,

I have just got into skiing last year and my first trip was to Courchevel 1850 which was great.. this year I have just been to Verbia and soon off to Austria.

Last year I did a (learn to ski in one day) on a dry slope in Plymouth and managed to get to Stem Crestie turns or plough parallel. Before I went to Courchevel I did use the internet to learn in my head how to ski parallel, ie watching you tube etc, and also bought the Sofa ski school dvd and that had helped no end Thanks Klaus if you are reading this :)

anyway, I would like to know if what I'm doing is correct to initiate a ski turn? I will try to explain. Imagine you are on a slope say a gental blue, the skis are parallel hip width aprart and weight forward, knees slightly bent, what I do to turn say left is, I push down through my right foot ie like pushing the accelorator down while driving a car, does this make sense? and to turn right I then push down on the left foot. the skiis start to turn accross the slope and depending on the tilt of the ski I will slide or carve. This is how I have been taught from the begining.

ok what I would like to know is if that is correct?? when I do turn it feels strong and positive and safe etc and when I angulate I carve and go back up the slope:)

is the next step thigh steering ? is thigh steering more powerfull etc? or is thigh steering a secondary affect of steering with the feet ie pushing down through like the pedels on a car? ie if you just stand normal without any kit and push down on say your left foot your knees role to the right, and vice versa.

I'm just trying to understand what people do to Initiate a turn, weather to push lean etc etc...?? I do understand that sterring with feet is something you do when learning snowplough and how important is it in moguls and powder etc, but is thigh steering better and in what way? also I did find that all that pushing with my feet caused me to have buring sansation under the ball of my feet which is a real pain...

Hope this makes sense :)

Andy

Depends what type of skiing I feel like doing. Skidded turn initiations or carved turns are suitable in different situations.

I just don't understand what you mean by 'thigh steering', could you explain?

Hi,

Try to roll your knees into the turn before you put pressure on the outside ski, it sounds like your not using your knees to turn.

Hi and thanks for your replies, yes ultancav, I'm using my feet to turn, is this a beginner trait? and yes I will try to experiment when I do to austria in a couple of weeks!! I will find a slope that is not to steep and the plan is the traverse accross with no poles and place my hands on knees and push them to the inside of the turn and see what happens... of course I need to meke sure that I role both of my knees at the same time and the same tilt angle else one will colide into the other A-Frame!

Pablo Escobar, what I mean by thigh steering is,,but first let me explain foot steering or flexion steering as I think it is called..... I will try to explain a little more.. if say you stand up in your living room with feet say hip width apart... then push down with your left foot you will notice that your knees role to the right,, and then vice versa, what I mean by push down is not lift your foot but try to push your foot through the floor.. if that makes sense..

Thigh steering is no pushing what so ever, just again simply stand with hip width apart again and then just role the knees so no pressure is placed on the foot. Again the knees just role but the differnce is that when you want to make a ski turn left you just role your knees to the left and when you want to ski right you just role your knees to the right.


Hope that helps :)

Pabs, Thigh Steering is a Warren Smith core skill AFAIR.

Andi282, how far do you intend to go with improving your skiing, before you seek out an Instructor?

bandit wrote:Andi282, how far do you intend to go with improving your skiing, before you seek out an Instructor?

Hear, Hear :lol:

roll your ankles and knees from one side to another to put pressure on the skis' edges and keep it like that for a while.U will notice you begin to turn...Of course,I think proper pole planting is a key to initiate a turn.

iiimmm wrote:..Of course,I think proper pole planting is a key to initiate a turn.

Anyone seen Trencher today :D