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Ski Techniques and Tips for Steeps - 3 Checking Speed

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Controlling your Speed on the Steeps

Being able to skilfully use your edges on the steeps will allow you to predict your desired direction much better. It will also give your turns that livelier feel and the definite end to them, which, once mastered, will shoot your confidence level up even more.

To introduce this edge checking lets first practice it on a normal gradient. Start off by making just one turn and as you come towards the end of the turn steer the skis across the hill and tilt them to a much greater degree than normal. You’ll notice a louder sound as you do it. To achieve it you will need to allow your hips and knees to drop into the hill. This is what creates the edge angle you need.

Practice the edge check in each direction feeling to the louder noise and definite end to the turn.

Try practicing the manoeuvre repeatedly in each direction. Eventually the noise will be loud and short in duration showing you how you have become more skilful at tilting the skis onto a dynamic edge check.

The more dynamic the check becomes, the more shock you will have to learn to deal with. To avoid being put of balance by the shock try to remain soft in the leg to be able to absorb the pressure build up. The part of the body that will give if you are not ready for it is likely to be around your waist. To avoid it breaking and collapsing try to keep a strong core with some retained tension. Retained tension is best explained by having stomach muscles that are neither totally tense nor totally relaxed, but somewhere between the two. This will keep the middle of the body strong and avoid the upper body collapsing forwards with the pressure shock.

When you feel comfortable with this take it to the steep slope. Don’t jump straight in at the deep end. Work up to your level of steepness progressively.

At this stage in your steep slope skiing you should start to become aware of your pole plant and how effectively it is being used. If you can aim to plant the pole to initiate a new turn just as your skis have checked out the end of the old turn, you’ll have greater confidence and stability going into the new direction.

Discuss Ski Technique with Warren Smith

If you would like to ask Warren any questions about the ski techniques or exercises described above, or otherwise discuss them, please write in to our Ski Technique Forum.