Carving Tuition - Has to be seen!!!

I am a keen, enthusiastic, but still only a good intermediate skier, who is touching middle age but keen to improve his skiing.Never really been taught to carve just made it up as I went along with friends. As Im fortunate to be getting 2 Austria twice this season I am determined to improve, and have scouring the net for tuition etc.

Can I suggest if there is anyone out there who wants to polish their skills in carving and other matters to have a look at the attached clip on you tube from Sofa Ski School- Learning to carve.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vlzIkIQa3e0

I watched it a couple of times and reading the reviews on the sofa ski school its persuaded me to buy the DVD.

Please dont take my word for it, have a look at it on Youtube I thought it was great. Clear, simple, constructive tution set in a marvellous backdrop, and very much worth a view. It quite simply made alot of things fall into place (In theory anyway, I will keep you posted if it has a positive reult)

That is a very good video. It gives a great impression of the speed when carving. I like the look uphill befor turning. Unfortunately that's not possible at speed and occasionally even though you're going fast, someone will be straight lining down behind you :shock:


Trencher

Great find, thanks very much. I think I'll get the DVD as well :D

Best bit is the section starting at 1'35". (Tip - watch the background action...)

First of all Im sorry but you have to laugh when the bloke in the back ground falls over then crawls to his ski, then in the next shot hes trying to put his skis back on. Shouldnt laugh but it brings back memories of the amount of times Ive fallen over and still will do in the future but to have it caught on camera is bob on! :lol:

Did the touching Knees in Bansko and the tea pot part also. Felt abit of a prat but when it clicks you really feel comfortable and confident with your ability.

Im OK going across the Piste and if the Piste wasnt so wide Id feel ok but the last part of the video losses me, as the turns are so quick! Your really planning your next turn before you finish the last turn if you know what i mean. I think! :roll: This last part of the video is the stage Im at and I really want to crack it before I go away In January.

mfc wrote:
Im OK going across the Piste and if the Piste wasnt so wide Id feel ok but the last part of the video losses me, as the turns are so quick! Your really planning your next turn before you finish the last turn if you know what i mean. I think! :roll: This last part of the video is the stage Im at and I really want to crack it before I go away In January.

That's the thing about carving, it is quick. It's like being on a roller coaster with no brakes (unless you want to cheat and start skidding). The speed control comes from three things.

1/ making the turns fuller. That is try turning through at least 120 degrees. This will slow you down, but requires the edge pressure to last longer (technique). Most people's bodies are static when they are carving and the edge pressure runs out befor they reach 90 degrees of turn.

2/ tighten the turns up. Basically two ways to do this. More inclintion of the skis and loading up pressure on the front end of the skis.

3/ snap the transition. Reduce time on a flat ski between turns. The edge change can take place in less than the length of the ski. This is more important as the terrain steepens.

Skiers skidding turns are literally applying the brakes all the way down the hill. This means they can more easily cope with steeper terrain than you might want to practice carving on. As I implied above, carving is like skiing using no brakes.

Trencher

Well the Sofa Ski School - 'From Blue to Black Diamond' DVD arrived and have watched it through once and replayed a couple of bits. With the Pound/Euro as it is it probably cost me £20 including posting and packaging. The fact of the matter is I feel its probably the most worthwhile £20 I have ever spent on skiing, and that includes my goddamn boots!! (I have those feet that are allergic to ski boots)
As I originally stated I would never classify myself any better than a good intermediate skier who will try most things but at times quite poorly with no technique. Only got back into skiing 5 years ago after a gap of 16 years and have not had a lesson since my return. Learnt to ski ankles together and for much of the time still do and as a result I am never in a position to gain the benefit from carvers.
From viewing Klaus Mairs DVD I have already identified a number of habits which result in me having problems on the steep and perfecting short turns.
An example of this on the steeps is poor body position which causes me to use my inside edge instead of my outside edge alot of the time. There are quite alot of other things that I have already learnt and can clearly in my mind see what I have been doing wrong, but I will not bore the experts amoungst you with my poor and unqualified descriptions.
The proof of the pudding will start on saturday with a week in Mayrhofen with the family and friends where the pace will be sedate and encourage me to practise the lessons and tips shown on the DVD. I have promised myself to have a couple of lessons whilst Im there. The real test will come at the end of January when I go again to Schladming with friends who ski at a higher level.
I will be taking the DVD with me to Mayrhofen for no other reason to show the youth in our group the simple demos of body postioning and drills.
For those intermediates like me who seem to be stuck and want to to improve I totally recommend the DVD as a learning tool. Simple, effective drills and well explained theory which even I can understand and relate to. It may not make you an expert skier but I am confident it will make you a better one.

Scarlet, you may want to get hold of a copy of "The Allmountain skier" by Mark Helling. Gives a good insight and understanding. Also, demonstrates that carving is just one technique among many. Pages 168 and 174 has photos showing "legs together"! So don't decry your close leg capability, there are many on J2 that cannot do that.

Then go ahead and learn carving, which is another useful technique. Along with downward unweighting, page 182, and others.

You hear many people extolling "carving" as though it was the only acceptable form of skiing. This is a technique, suitable for certain conditions, and when you can perform it as well and freely as Trencher, would be enjoyable to do and to watch.