How To Carve While Skiing

[@scottb6047]

Not sure if you are aware, but you roll your skis on edge along with pressuring the front of the boot. The roll on edge is what makes the turn happen. If the skis stay flat, they don't turn. Pressuring the front of the boot sort of naturally causes you to roll a little on edge. When you become aware of it, rolling to a high edge angle causes the ski to bend probably more than pressure on your boots. The combine for sure to make the turn.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Great point! I sometimes don't bring that up to folks who are new to carving or not getting that "catching feeling" because it forces them to be patient and let the ski catch on it's own, sometimes newer skiers will get impatient and over roll to force the turn. But absolutely a good point and necessary to learn when finnessing turns.

[@irideaduck939]

Finding appropriate terrain is so important to improving your skills ... great advice Elliott! Years ago when my daughters were younger we pulled out the Alta trail map with the intention of skiing all of the blue runs, crossing them off the trail map as we completed them. It was really fun for them and they made significant improvements that year! Sure they could "survive" many of the black runs, but that didn't improve their skills. Now to the question of why to learn to carve. I don't think folk understand the control and stability carving provides both on and off trail. Want to ski faster with more control ... learn to carve!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Totally!

[@agenthex]

Just fyi, the ski isn't bent by "pressure" but by tipping angle. There's literally an equation relating increasing edge angle to decreasing radius (meaning the ski is more bent). The ski sidecut shape is literally engineered to project a semi-circle of reducing radius onto a plane as it angles down, and you can test this yourself by pushing a ski down onto the ground while it's at different angles (it only takes a few pounds of force). People often confuse this with "pressure" because pressure coincides with that decreasing radius (for reasons of conservation of angular momentum), but the pressure isn't what causes the bending.

[@lebooselover978]

This was such a well made video and the techniques were explained in a manner that was easily understood. Thanks!

[@anthonyfavalessa138]

I do many carving drills including alternating the Hand on Hip, but either missed or never heard anyone say put the Butt/hip into the turn. I like that I look forward to adding that on Opening Day sometime this November

[@darinsmith2458]

Wow.. Another snow day.. I am jealous.. More of surf than a carve day.. I agree with flexing the boot and flexing the tip of the ski.. I will add that it starts with flexing my toes.. When I went from my straight race skis to shaped race skis all I had to do to get them to turn was to flex my toes.. I had to do a lot less effort and it really was more like running down the coarse rather than jumping down the coarse (if that makes sense).. My race boots had absolutely no flex.. I think that is why I learned to flex my toes.. I just carried that over to my boots that I have now that have some flex.. I would say try flexing your toes and see if it flexes your boots..

[@josephstratemeier8619]

I've been working on putting pressure on the downhill ski this year and it's really helped me. Not only can I carve turns better it gives me more confidence on more technical terrain. Not skipping leg day helps too!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

awesome!

[@jw3406]

Grateful for the initiation of technique videos, this was my primary equipment channel. Now, it appears the journey has come full circle. In a sense, I find myself transitioning from a viewer to your student, ready to delve into the realm of techniques.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Thanks, hopefully it was helpful!

[@jw3406]

​@@RicketySkiReviews I am ready for a recurring segment in this series that delves into the nuances of mastering skiing techniques (point skis down hill and drive the bus (athletic stance, beep, beep.):), exploring challenges (learn to carve on downhill skis from 1980s? Challenge accepted, hold my beer), and sharing valuable insights (these skis are good for snow, JK.) I think your youtube "shorts" videos check this box quite well:) Think Happy Thoughts:) P.S. After first deep powder tracks "riding the bus" straight down White Bark Ridge at Mammoth Mountain on machine waxed, warm-fuzzy, Atomic 110 Bents, my next personal prefrence is "riding the horesy" across the chunder on repeats.:)

[@stevenpeterson659]

When you start looking into carving skis seems like a lot of them come with system bindings. You might address system vs flat skis in general and for carving specifically.

[@scottb6047]

What happened to rolling the ski onto its edge? roll the ankles, knees, big toe / little toe however you want to describe putting the ski on edge. Edge angles? Even if you pressure the front of the ski it won't carve unless its rolled onto its edge. They carve without putting pressure on your boots just by rolling them on edge. Key point you need to mentioin.

[@Grego1373]

Great video Elliott! I love that you are doing instructional videos now too. Especially since carving is your thing. I thought your easy to understand language was much easier to follow than some of the other KZbinrs. Keep up the great work.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Thanks!

[@AcheuleanAxe]

Hi Elliot, I love this video! 'Flexing the front of your boot', can you explain a little more? Are you trying to push down on the ball of your downhill foot, so it's trying to push the ski to bend (and tilt)?

[@lod2414]

Love your videos! I learned to ski in the early 90's in New Hampshire and I'm just getting back into it. I can't carve and never really understood what people meant talking about it. Thank you so much for the detailed explanation. Going to try this tomorrow.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Right on, good luck!

[@MatthewWi11oughby]

Been looking forward to this video since I subscribed in the summer! You explained it a lot better than the other channels! It might be helpful to mention that you also need to put the ski on its edge when you pressure your downhill boot. That was something that I dont think was very intuitive about carving to me as a beginner(just started learning this season). Also, maybe explain which ski is your down hill ski. I dont think that is very intuitive for beginners either. Overall this is the best carving tutorial on youtube! I love how simple you keep it! I will be trying out these tips on the hill tomorrow!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Great tips! love this comment

[@StartCodonUST]

I finally bought a pair of narrow detuned slalom skis this season (Blizzard Thunderbirds). While I have the technique to carve well on all-mountain skis, it wasn't until my second day in a row where I was mostly skiing moderate slopes that I was able to feel like I had properly figured out the timing and pressuring to properly bend the ski and link up fully rounded turns.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

awesome!

[@osceolaseminole5596]

Very helpful. Just getting into skiing. Thank you.

[@driverjohns6051]

really enjoyed this video! I've been working on carving for the past 3 years. As silly as it may sound, my goal year round is to get to the gym to be in shape for ski season. What I have found is that technique has helped me much more that brute muscle exertion. Hope to see you up at Bogus!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Awesome!

[@asfdaigjusadjfepijfadf]

I think something that helped me understand how to pressure the front of the boot was conciously closing my ankles/keeping tension in the ankle muscles. Using the muscles in the ankles to bring my body more forward over the boot also helped alot with mainting balance over bumps. Before reading about ankle flexing people would tell me to "get more forward" or try to "push the tongues of with my shins as hard as i could" but I would end up trying to lean and rest all my weight over the front of the boot which would lead to me getting off balance and too far forward. Now i try to focus on my feet, ankles and bent knees to stay nice and balanced and keep some light pressure on the tongues of the boot.

[@lassivaatamoinen5468]

I was also told to LEAN on the front of the boot, as a kid. The people who know how to do it rarely know how to teach it. Basically, you need to start off of a balanced stance on your feet, with uniform weight on both feet. Then just slightly drop down your stance at your knees, basically lightly resting on the tongue of the boot. Your weight should still be fairly balanced between toes and heels at this point. And with this stance you can basically do anything. Once you get the basic feel, you start to load up the front of the boot more, meaning that you'll shift weight more on the balls of your feet and toes. But still, you should be standing on the whole foot, not like you would be tip-toeing around. But then, also the fit of the boot plays a part here. I have skinny legs, and basically I get pushed too far back, if I tighten the cuff of the boot just as it should be. (Or, I do need spoilers at the back, to dial them right)

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Totally and alot of it starts with a good stance, if you lean forward with a bad stance, it doesn't quite work either.

[@gemhawkz]

Excellent video thank you. I think it’ll help me a lot.

[@evanxie3703]

Very nice and informative video, well done! Your style is very relaxed and natural, kinda like Jans from Stomp it, I personally like it more than the way you comment on others' video and believe it will win more subscribers. Keep up the good work!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Cool, thanks!

[@samfaught2540]

I've been waiting, hoping for this one

[@RicketySkiReviews]

hope you enjoyed it, kind of a newer format so still a bit rough around the edges.

[@angelobarone1898]

I enjoy watching your videos. I believe your reviews are genuine and thats important when so many on the internet are trying to sell something. In this video I thought is was interesting when you said to be patient and wait until the ski hooks into the turn. I’m going to try that. While I watch tube videos on skiing I find myself wondering about things like what mountain they are skiing and what type of run they’re on green, blue, etc; and possibly how fast they’re going. I feel if I knew this it would help me compare my own skiing with what I’m seeing. Keep up the good work!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Right on+

[@Peter-do8gy]

Hi simple but very effective couple of key tips on the magic of ski bending!! As a skier who learned on straight skis I appreciate your time and advice.My question is what is your tip or magic move so to speak to keep the uphill ( bent leg ) ski from separating . I know the goal is to keep two parallel tracks in the snow but as the slope gets steeper i find it hard to keep this uphill ski from splaying out and separating . Thanks Elliot

[@urbanrunoff]

yeah i struggle with this too when it gets steep or rough and unpredictable. In general it is a matter of not having even edge angle on both skis. so basically strength and flexibility in hips and legs. i think practicing short turns really helps, check out how racers warm up. there is a reason one does not see many people do true short turn carving on the slopes, it is not easy and every mistake (uneven edge angle) will through you off.

[@Peter-do8gy]

thanks@@urbanrunoff

[@simongloutnez589]

Skier, instructor and a lot of coaches criminaly underutilise the cat track! Using the cat track not only allow us to make use of 100% of a lap, it also reduce or nullify the requirement to go on a green (not in every situations). The things you would practice on a green, practice it on the cat track! When coaching to very young skier like U8, it also allows to spend more time free skiing. Like, I'll pick a drill that we are gonna do all day (or until they get bored, then I change the drill, keeping the same exercice helps with the group's flow to get them making more laps) on every god damn cat track. Get them to a mogul field or any piste, you practice on the cat track, then let them ski for this run, merely suggesting lines or challenge (that would be beneficial and/or fun, but its a free lap so no need to enforce it), practice on the cat track back to the chairlift, and they feel like they just spent a free skiing lap 😁 wich help bring the groups attention to the exercice during the next lap.

[@davidbeazer9799]

Two thumbs up for this comment. 👍👍

[@RicketySkiReviews]

The cat track is great for my kids too, bc one can work on edge control while the other hops in the trees between and meats us on the other side.

[@simongloutnez589]

@@RicketySkiReviews and those little cat track tree runs sometimes have the first side hits ones will try 😁

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Thanks for Watching Everyone! Anatomy of a Turn and Terminology Video Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4DVqXuMf9R-gqMsi=u3Z4tFkacJVNC1bd

[@mathieug6136]

Good tips! I watched alot of how to carve videos and even got the carv app this year (it's great btw!), but it's surprising how flexing the boot don't have so much emphasis in general while it's really the advice that made it clicked for me. I'm on the carv app group chat and most of the time when people are sharing videos with low ski IQ, I see no efforts in flexing that outside ski boot to put pressure at the front of the ski, so the ski don't bite much and they end up skidding.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@squarrl]

So I was a decent skiier and learned on the east coast. I did jr racing programs as a kid (straight skis) and taught skiing when in early 20s. I took a fall out west and tore my achillies. I stupidly kept skiing on it another day, which is basically impossible and caused more damage. I am now 40 and struggle to complete my turns as much as i would like. I am looking to go slower. I have spent a long time getting boots to fit me again, but lost a lot of confidence i think and maybe small for foot movements i used to do? I dont see mention of this but trying to push your downhill ski forward was something i remember doing to make the turn radius more a C then S and have struggled doing this. I am running Mach1 boots and older atomic xti skis. Thinking maybe i need to go softer on the skis?

[@jons7e]

It seems really important to match the stiffness of the boots to the stiffness of the skis to have the resistance to transfer that pressure to the skis

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Good point

[@simonorr594]

Yeah - I have some new Atomic Redsters with a race tune, and I have to use my race boots with those. I tried them in soft three clip boots and hurt my knee - feeling pretty stoopid right now

[@seMIKOLONc]

Great information, curious if you can make a video about exercises that you can do in the gym over the summer to improve / get stronger in these two skills (pressuring the boot and upper/lower body separation) ?

[@Outofthelimits]

Getting ready to post my video review of your carving technique video. Just kidding.. I will show this to the learning to carve-r in my life and that'll be the true test.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

haha

[@jaychu3850]

We need to see Elliot rip …. Cuz there is a lot of talk from him criticizing other people skiing 😂…come on Elliot let’s see it!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

It's really hard to get a 2nd shooter since I ski weekdays, you can check out my skiing on the Volkl Deacon Review from this past summer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHbLZ6GGdqZ7nbssi=5VqktKz_Z-oECHxS&t=29

[@whoisthe1412]

What size QST are you riding?

[@RicketySkiReviews]

176

[@jenniferlynne3314]

Will you do one of these for skiing bumps? I suck 😂

[@RicketySkiReviews]

haha I am still learning them myself to be honest

[@jenniferlynne3314]

@@RicketySkiReviews THE STRUGGLE 😂

[@DrPhranc]

Hey Elliot. You mentioned subscription levels, but I am having a hard time finding a link to that. Thanks.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Hey Frank, if you go here: www.youtube.com/@RicketySkiReviews/featured There's a button on top that says "Join", that will bring you to the subscription page.

[@blabla9932]

hi there i enjoy your videos a lot. keep up the good work ! i would you like to ask you to enlighten me with what do you actually mean by "flexing/pressuring the boot" ? is it pushing down my shins against the tongue of the boot trying to bend it?

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Yes exactly. Good athletic stance, and push your knees toward your toes

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Yes exactly from your pov shins toward your toes

[@davidseng7530]

You need to set up a skiing workshop on the East Coast.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Haha, I have lots of love for the East, but I think it would be hard to leave the skiing out west.

[@LiamOBrien-m2q]

A Noble effort, but a lot is lost in visual translation with a POV camera selfie stick-get your buddy Zack to film you (or maybe film Zack....)

[@simonorr594]

Yup. A skidad vs Elliot ski-off in Idaho!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Yeah totally, I might have to update this down the road, it's hard to get a second shooter, but wanted to give the people asking at least something to work with as a jumping off video.

[@philh1826]

​@@RicketySkiReviewsfantastic lesson. If you're ever in Las Vegad between January and March, I'd be willing to film you

[@paulsvids8655]

Please get someone to take videos of you skiing! Watching your ski tips making turns doesn't give someone learning the best perspective. It would be nice to see your body position and actually see your skis carve through the turns - especially the transitions at the end of the turns. I'd offer to shoot the video, but I live a long way from you!