Parallel Skis - A How To On What The Skis Have To Do

[@constantine6464]

you've just explained every and each of my mistakes lol

[@backfromsolaris3648]

Just had my first day of skiing and have been compiling videos to help me improve my parallel mechanics. This is really helpful!

[@thomasmedeiros5722]

Skiing starts from the feet up. Ankle flex and changing pressure from foot properly are essential. A professional instructor will use certain drills to help students develop the necessary sills that shown in this video. Deb Armstrong videos on KZbin are my favorite coaching videos. Just some observations from a skier who has worked in the ski industry since 1975. I still do drills to maintain my skills.

[@hstubc]

Phenomenal video. Thank you! It helps tremendously with troubleshooting

[@peterharris3096]

Very clear explanation, well presented thank you. 👍

[@charlesarcher9626]

Lily well done. Thank you😊

[@galuple]

Great stuff! Super easy to understand

[@section8ski]

Thank you! Easy to understand was the goal. So glad it’s helpful.

[@perro0076]

About the pressure thing. You can see with that skier in the orange jacket pressure is identical on both skis. Which is correct. Shame you don't say anything about one foot NATURALLY being in front of the other during the turn. I haven't worked out exactly, but it makes parallel turns so much easier when you consciously slide that inside foot forward.

[@tobinleopkey1753]

The skier in the orange jacket has both skis tipped on the edge nearly the same amount, and both skis twisted the same amount (in the more steered turns), but the pressure is not identical between the two skis… there is more force going through the outside ski at the apex of the turn. The inside ski being in front of the outside ski is what I call “lead change.” It’s a result of bending the inside hip/knee more than the outside hip/knee and/or a result of turning the legs.

[@section8ski]

Whoops responded with the wrong profile… but exactly as above:)

[@perro0076]

@tobinleopkey1753 Well, if you look at the snow plumes given off during the turn, I'm afraid you could be forgiven for saying you're not correct. Apart from a couple of exceptions, they're identical. Identical pressure is what you need. If you don't believe me, look at any top racer, and they do the same.

[@perro0076]

@section8ski He-he. No problem. My reply next one down 😀

[@section8ski]

The skier in the orange jacket is me, and while there’s certainly pressure on the inside ski, it doesn’t feel identical (however, I have no objective data to back that up). There’s enough pressure to compress the snow and bend the inside ski to the same degree as the outside one, but more force usually goes through my outside foot. I’m much stronger with the straighter outside leg to resist those forces than I am with the bent inside one, and sometimes I need a little more pressure on the outside one to bite… sometimes less:) I’m always adjusting the pressure between the two based on how they react with the snow and there are times when it’s 50/50… but typically a little more on the outside.

[@ronfeast932]

Correct body weight position on skis i.e.not too far forward or back crucial for novices.Cheers

[@asbjchk]

One thing I don’t quite understand: if I put more weight on the outside ski when I turn, then obviously my inside and outside will have different arc to the snow, logically the skis will become unparalleled So either I put 100% weight on the outside ski and lift my inner ski everytime I turn, or I put 50-50 on both while I turn so that both skis have the same arc and turn direction? Could anyone resolve my confusion please? 🙏🏻

[@tobinleopkey1753]

@@asbjchk Once the snow is compacted it doesn’t take much force to put the ski into reverse camber, so more pressure (or weight) on one ski vs the other won’t necessarily make it turn more or less. It will often affect how much the ski grips or how easy it is to twist though. This is highly snow dependent. For example, too much pressure on the outside ski in soft snow may make it over-grip and under-steer and in that case you will probably want to add more pressure to the inside ski. Or if the outside ski doesn’t grip enough to change direction you’ll probably want to add more pressure to it. So I guess my answer is to put the right amount of pressure on the inside ski so that you can twist it or tip it the same amount as the outside ski. Sorry to be vague, but there aren’t really absolutes when it comes to ski technique.

[@asbjchk]

@@tobinleopkey1753 that’s clear enough. Appreciate! 🙏🏻

[@ratkinson-uk]

Not really parallel skiing, which is done with flat skis. What you're showing and describing is carving with the skis tilted.

[@chrissuess2795]

Nice banking in that first demo. Grade D. Initially I thought you were completely off. Turns out your higher end demos are acceptable. Your explanation is decent but could use a little refinement. Overall I’ll give you a solid B. And no. I’m not some slacker. Someone showed me this video and I had to correct a few misconceptions. Fine points. But still.

[@section8ski]

Thanks for your constructive feedback:)

[@Nezarus0]

Show us how it's done, then.

[@hstubc]

LOL Gives D and B and provides no substantial feedback. Perhaps you could introduce yourself to us with your skiing credentials and tell him how he could improve.

[@partyandski]

Turn it up to 11 Tobin

[@Puzzoozoo]

As a mature beginner I'm guilty of a lot of them.