HOW TO CONTROL YOUR SPEED WHEN SKIING | How to slow down, control your speed and remain in balance

[@markhavig641]

That was a great lesson for lower intermediates (like me) who are working on balancing on the outside ski. Our natural leg preference (usually the right leg) doesn’t often get mentioned in lessons. Turns on my right leg (left turns) are way better than on my left. During the last 2 seasons I’ve concentrated on balancing and turning on my left leg. It doesn’t look good (it’s wobbly) but it’s forcing me to use my left-leg muscles and my left-side balance to create a decent right turn. I’m slowly improving my skills and confidence ⛷️😎

[@peterginsburg2465]

The lifting of an up slope leg never helped my students to get centered on their skis, especially when going cross slope. They would go right back to their "tail wagging" position with weight back. If they hit ice, their their tails would slip out. What I discovered from my own skiing, that centering on your skis depends on how developed your lower leg muscles are. Beginners and intermediates tend to have weaker lower leg muscle control. Because of ski boot design, one can easily sit back on their boot backs, if they have little lower leg strength. And then they turn into "tail waggers." I had a lot of success in getting students centered on their skis by going back to the wedge (snow plow) position and getting them to apply pressure on their toes to turn while in wedge position. To do it right, you have to move more forward on your skis, which actually strengthens lower leg muscles and gives more control. If you sit back on your skis, you can't put pressure on your toes, you just force yourself back and put more weight on the backs of the skis. Once you get the students forward, and push down on their toes to start and maintain a turn, in wedge position, they'd gradually get more centered. Then we'd gradually transition to more parallel ski positions. And once you get them to be centered on their skis, then maintaining a carved turn gets easier with more control, THEN, you can get them to make those circular carving turns. My main problem with upper intermediate, "tail wagging" students who wanted more control, was when I insisted we go back to practicing wedge turns first and controlling turns with our toes. They weren't happy about that, with some complaining to my ski school director about it, especially in private lessons. Those skiers never did learn to center their weight on their skis. The key to getting students to do all that you say, is to get them "centered" on their skis first, which is the most difficult thing to get them to do. Once they're "centered," tilting their legs more, and all the other advanced maneuvers becomes possible.

[@kevinmurphy8644]

Great response - thankyou

[@SanduniPremaratne]

Great tips. Thank you!

[@markhavig641]

I agree…. and so do most ski schools. When instructors go for their level 1 qualification, they’re assessed on their ability to demonstrate wedge turns.

[@TomislavKolaric]

Thanks! This is one of more useful videos for intermediate skiers! I am very happy to stumbled upon this video. So many videos try to explain, but how you put it-it just makes more sense

[@user-bu9nb8wr6e]

Very good lesson and very clearly explained.

[@guymartinez4394]

Oh My God, your good...thank you for taking the time for us.

[@jeffliu4203]

Ok, so ski back uphill is a way to slow down. You have nailed it right on my fear, thank you! And the 3 tips you have mentioned are perfect ways to avoid the 3 pitfalls waiting in front of me, thank you again!

[@sylviacardona9815]

Loved the lesson🎉 thank you ❤❤❤❤

[@TonyTwort]

The instructor does not state to lift the heel to maintain balance with a forward stance. lots of lower level skiers lean back to lift the ski so the tip comes up and balance shifts to the back. Also when demonstrating the pole to snow she does it on a narrow track using the whole width, which endangers other skiers coming from behind

[@Flypidge]

Please can I ask anyone that has knowledge. How do I best control speed, I am tall and heavy...my weight is around 16.5 to 17 stone. I have been skiing a couple of times, I always find it takes a massive toll on my legs as I'm constantly skidding into the turn to decrease speed. I know this is incorrect but I do it because I'm scared of picking up to much speed.

[@alessandrol2221]

How much is it in SI units?

[@Flypidge]

@alessandrol2221 hello it's about 104kg

[@alessandrol2221]

@@Flypidge You're not exactly lightweight, but if you've got good muscles, it's not a big deal! I'm not a master myself and am still learning to ski well, but here's what I would suggest: -Try to train your legs a bit. -Be patient, as the coordination needed for skiing can sometimes feel counterintuitive. Follow the tips of this video, and pay particular attention to the advice about shifting your weight onto the downhill ski: this way, you won't skid, but instead, you'll be able to carve into the snow with the inside edge of the ski (the edge pointing to the hill) and then guide it toward the gentlest slope that you feel is safe. This will help you slow down. As I mentioned, it's counterintuitive because everyone tends to move "away from the cliff". But in this case, you need to keep your head over the skis and make sure most of your body weight is on the downhill ski.

[@Flypidge]

@@alessandrol2221 Thank you for replying, I was chuckling to myself when you said "not exactly lightweight" really made me laugh, your not wrong 😂 I appreciate your time explaining this, I am fairly muscular, especially in my legs as I play a lot of sports and walk. I think you are correct though as the muscles that hurt must be muscles I don't often use whilst doing normal activities. I will take that advice on board and look for good exercises to tone specific muscles that tend to ache when I have skied previously. I will also try to focus on my body position when turning, I need to really use my knees to lean away from the slope, like you said....so I can use the edge more effectively. I appreciate your time, I'll let you know how it goes. I still have almost 2 months before I go skiing, so hopefully I can start to tone up the muscles a little bit. All the best and have a great Christmas and New year's.

[@alessandrol2221]

@@Flypidge oh by the way, I didn't mean to be offensive! And when I wrote that answer I had read 140kg, which is a bit more :D Well, since you're muscular, it's not really that much! Merry Christmas to you as well and enjoy your skiing!

[@ricardomarinho7819]

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