KNOWING HOW AND WHY A SKI WORKS

The idea of this section is to reduce confusion and help you understand useful theory. That understanding of 'why,' arms you with the ability to easily put the 'how' into accurate action. Certainly, you don't have to be a professor in physics but it truly is a winning ‘card' when a skier understands the basic mechanics of why a ski works, bearing in mind that theory is useless unless applied in practice. That said, read this section a few times then as your practice progresses, refer back to clarify anything that may be a little misty.

• The Skis Become Your Servants

  Turn the tables once and for all – make the skis genuinely work for you. For a ski to work efficiently, it should be operated in three basic ways: 1. As a skidding machine (variations of ski side sliding). 2. As a cutting machine (A carving action) 3. As a combination of a ski's cutting and side skidding capabilities. With these three basic skills in your armory, you'll stand out from the crowd. The vast majority only ever aspire to number 1 above. So having all three skills exist in skiing your quiver makes you a little special.

• The Skis Are Cutting Machines

  Kitchen knives and skis' edges are ostensibly the same things - cutting tools. For each to cut cleanly, three conditions are required: 1. A ski's or knives sharp edge must be directed toward the item or snow to be cut. 2. Downward pressure must be exerted onto the sharp edge. 3. The ski or knife must be allowed to travel along its own length through the snow or, the item to be cut.

• Ski Edge and Kitchen Knife; The Same But, Different

  But, there is a fundamental difference between a standard kitchen knife blade edge and the part of the ski we call an edge. The difference is obvious. From tip to tail on both sides, the ski and its edge, is constructed as a curved cutting machine. Commonly, this is known as the side-cut, but, a kitchen knife blade edge is usually manufactured, straight. So, what happens when the ski is tilted onto that curved edge or side-cut, as is Ian's in this photo. Ian's side-cut or the inside edge of his right ski is directed toward the snow, he exerts pressure on it and, then he allows it to travel along its own length; in turn, this causes the curved edge's cut line or groove to be in the shape of an arc. The ski's pure cutting action is mostly referred to as a “Carved turn.” Under normal circumstances, a standard kitchen knife-edge is incapable of cutting such an arc-shaped groove. Also, Ian's right ski in the photo is bent as a result of his exerting pressure through it; this is commonly known as, “putting the ski into reverse camber.” (The most modern skis that have a feature known as a rocker, the reverse camber may not be present or will not be quite as obvious to someone looking at such skis.) That is, the opposite of the natural camber state of a non-pressured ski. The result of Ian's skill is seen in the adjacent photo. It is two clean arc-shaped cut lines or grooves, resulting from two skis having been tilted to the edge, pressured and allowed to run along their respective edges. In the photo of Ian, it appears that his right ski is flexed/bent evenly from tip to tail. Ian created this evenness of ski flex by balancing above the very center of his right foot and ski, thereby causing pressure to be exerted through the ski's center; in doing so, he caused the full amount of 'rubber'/length of the ski to meet the 'road'/snow. If Ian had exerted extra pressure through the inside edge of the outside of turn ski, his right, it would have bent/flexed further.…

• Resistance Created by Centrifugal, Centripetal and Gravitational Forces

  As speed increases, centrifugal force becomes more apparent; a snow-resisting ski travels through an arc, its forward momentum supplies the force necessary to create the centrifugal force and, the snow supplies an equal amount of resistance or centripetal force that pushes against the ski. The faster a ski travels the more it must be tilted if it is to fully resist the snow; something close to total snow resistance occurs when a ski is forced to fully carve. When a ski is tilted less, if it is to maintain full grip when turning, then forward ski speed must be reduced. If speed is not sufficiently reduced when a turning ski is flattened/tilted less, then the equal measures of the opposing centrifugal and centripetal forces lessen; that is the ski resists the snow less – in practical terms that means the ski will skid, more or less, sideways (it travels out of the original arc, at a tangent). Simply, if ski pressure applied and momentum remain constant, the more a ski is tilted to edge the greater the ski to snow resistance and, the closer it gets to a full carved turn situation. The permanent effect of Gravity becomes far more apparent as the skis re-cross the fall/gravity line when a turn is being completed and gravity's relentlessness pulls the ski sideways downhill (completely accurate would be to say, pulled toward the center of the Earth). In relation to skiing, the effect of the pull of gravity is compounded by the effects of centrifugal and centripetal forces.

• The Value of Dynamic Balance

  Particularly with regard to the precise exertion of pressure through the center of a ski, the 'fruits' of your previous labors become more and more apparent. The accurate set up of deftly balanced athletic stance, your Rock, is at the very core and will evermore be, to the forefront of your efforts, especially with regard to ski cutting and carving abilities. If you haven't already, you will soon fully realize that full ski-to-snow gripping and maneuverability powers are only possible when the balance is concentrated at the center of your feet and therefore, skis. Never forget the constant struggle or fight for you, the skier, is to gain as much advantage from your equipment as possible; that is, particularly, when you want or need, fuller gripping capabilities of your skis. You're being able to create maximum ski edge adherence to the snow whenever you choose is, perhaps, the greatest control asset you have. It means that overall you can consciously dictate the way your skis react to your physical actions.

THE SIMPLE SKIDDED TURN - THE 'GATEWAY'

The goal of learning the simple skidded turn is to create an efficient platform on which advanced turning techniques can efficiently develop. The basis of a simple skidded turn is laid in the ability of dynamically balanced skiers to rotate their legs, as accurately as possible, around their own axis. In so doing, centrally located pivot points are created. These pivot points offer the opportunity to, accurately, skid and steer skis. The size of turning arcs can vary through utilization of, more or less, leg rotary and pressure application actions. Vitally, simple skidded turning techniques are major in assisting a skier, at will, to maintain and control downhill speed. Skier efficiency in performing simple skidded turns is the entry point that can give birth to various types of the more dynamic turns. They are, carved and skidded carved turns (short radius) that involve more forceful and varied combinations of ski edging efforts and pressure applied to skis controls.

• The 'Gateway'

  The techniques you'll use to execute these turns provides the springboard that can propel you toward making very accurate and powerful advanced turning actions. Precisely performed, Simple Skidded Turns allow you to truly use your skis in the way that every ski manufacturer and designer intended – In other words, fundamentally, you are about to operate your skis in the ways that elite World Cup skiers do. You might think this impossible or improbable; it isn't. Just a little thought and determination can bring dramatic results for almost any skier. After all, my knowing colleagues and I repeatedly teach these fundamental skills to beginner skiers from day one. Often unwittingly, these novices get the best possible start. If they can succeed, then surely you can. But, beware! Beginners, usually, have no pre-conceived ideas and no hang-ups; being more experienced, perhaps, you might be carrying some unhelpful baggage. On top of that, your belief system may have long told you that the way you ski is just fine and, others may have continually told you how good you are. Plus, at least in part, these admirers might be right. All of that considered, there's still no choice; the fact remains that in order to improve performance, something must change. It takes great courage to change the way you ski. But, it takes even more guts to stay changed, persevere and relentlessly continue to develop. From now on, constantly replace self-doubt and trepidation with the joy and exhilaration genuine all-terrain skiers experience. The advanced ski slopes of the world beckon.

• Leg Rotary Actions: A Lesser-Known Skill

  Incredibly, I’ve learned that many experienced skiers have never heard of steering skis from pivot points through rotary actions of the legs. Is it conceivable that many have been coached in these skills but have totally misinterpreted every scrap of information supplied? That's doubtful. Far more likely is the probability that most skiers have taken very little, high caliber, professional instruction. It's amazing that more don't take lessons. Voluntary pivoting actions are vital to skier technical progress – Fully, these skills are fundamental to eventually making high-powered carved and skidded carved (short-radius) turns. So, concentrate, allow yourself to be completely open to change and, be willing to adapt. Making positive change is almost magical. That's because, as more efficient techniques take hold, your perceived bad habits fade away as your skiing inevitably strengthens (Tip: Change your mindset from, “What am I doing wrong? To: “What am doing or can I do that will work, how can I improve it and when I do that the unhelpful aspects of my skiing will, often rapidly, fade away and my skiing will continue to positively develop.” Finally on this point, possibly you may not have heard of a ski technique facet or you think an aspect won't work. But, are they reasons for not trying something new? You know the answer to that! Often, surprises can bring exhilarating moments; plus, having an open mind can bring many a big pay-off.

• Establishing Pivot Points

  A pivot point can be established anywhere along a ski’s length. But, the one you want is located at a ski's and, therefore, a foot's (feet's) center. Surprise, surprise or, no surprise at all, you establish these central pivot points in the very same place as the central balance and pressure points you established earlier. From this moment, for almost every maneuver you make, you should attempt to concentrate, almost every turning a ski action around this one on each foot central balance, pressure and now, pivot points. If nothing else just possessing that knowledge arms you with the power to operate your skis with great precision. Additionally, a center of foot or feet pivot point establishes the opportunity for a very efficient form of ski skidding to occur. Such skidding, when applied, assists the skier to steer her or his skis through varying turn arcs or turning circles. Variations of ski turning arcs largely depend on a combination of pressure applied to skis and the amount of force used to incur a skid when leg rotary or pivoting actions are utilized. As an aside, using myself as a prime example, if only someone years ago, had told me that stated immediately above or maybe had I understood it, I would surely have become a more adept skier far sooner; I hope you won't miss out for as long as I did.

• Faster Skiing and Leg Rotation/Toe Steering as a Part-time Skill

  Critical and necessary to speed control as required by terrain and skiing conditions, when making simple skidded turns, you now know how to ski very slowly, at will, through utilization of your underfoot pivot points. But, of course, you will want the added exhilaration of skiing faster. Obviously, anytime you learn to use a skill to an extreme e.g. skiing very slowly, it's especially helpful; that's because, you now know that if “You've been there before, you can, when needed, go there again.” With that skill instilled into your 'muscle memory,' the possibilities of ski descent speed variations exist for you to ski at, almost, any speed of your choosing. The great news is that you can now adapt your leg rotary/toe steering skills to slow, fast or medium-paced skiing.

• The Gaping Gateway

  Mastery of simple skidded turning skills, truly, builds a strong, basic platform, one from which any kind of advanced turning technique can develop. Your diligence in mastering leg rotary will bring you and your skiing to this point: • Greater Efficiency of Athletic Stance. • Dynamic or Forceful Balance Capabilities. • Some Efficiency of Ski Control: Dynamic balance allows potential maximum and varied amounts of force to be used when applying such skills as turning your skis through skidding actions, in combination with the pressure exerted through your center of ski length pivot points.

• Matching the Skis

  If, when you ski, you are still using some kind of a wedge or snowplow formation, don't be concerned! Your progress is in a very sound place and, already, you have created a large degree of efficiency. Your newly found simple skidded turn efficiency is the basis of your quest to become a parallel skier or a far more functional one. With regard to the situation of the balance, pivot and pressure points, skiing in either formation is, fundamentally, the same. An hour or two might be all the time needed to complete your, basic, parallel skiing overhaul or conversion job. Already from earlier reading, you should be somewhat competent at keeping your heels still, in combination with situating your feet in a natural gait keeping them around Hip width apart. What you are about to learn will assist in, largely, resolving any remaining difficulties you may have in this area of technique.

• The Drawbacks of Carved Turns

  Inevitably, when skiing, the time will come when only limited space is available; as a result, the typically longer turning arcs created by full ski carving actions are often not possible. Therefore avoid the mistake of believing that skiing is just about carving with your skis. Especially when space to maneuver is limited, ski design and the physical limitations of the operating skier limit the possibilities of making space 'eating' carved turns: Depending on the use they were designed to serve, skis vary in side-cut shape. Obviously, a ski with a more curved side-cut can cut through the snow in a tighter arc. A ski with a less curved side-cut takes longer to carve a turn than the aforementioned; that is if skis, of whatever design, are allowed to travel at the same speed through the turn. What are the physical limitations of the operating skier? a. Skiers vary in weight thus affecting the amount of pressure that can be applied to a ski. b. A ski can only be tilted to the edge so much, and no further. c. No matter how physically strong the skier, a ski can be flexed/bent only so far, and no further. d. Limited ski turning space – That is, in places where executing the generally faster and longer radius carved a turn, might not be the prudent option or, even possible. Allowing your skis to side-skid – Simply doing that, helps you too, largely, overcome your personal and equipment limitations. Plus, the good news is this; your ability to centrally pressurize and balance above your skis is no less valuable when you by whatever means decide to skid the skis. Already, you know of the two basic ways to skid your skis: 1. Full side skid of skis in one direction and, 2. Incurring a skid from a central pivot point – toe steered skis; that is when the force of a ski side skids in one direction and the tail, the opposite.

• Turn Transition

  Most technically adept skiers concur that it’s tough to get a fully side-skidding ski, to grip or carve. This is no less true if a ski is skidding sideways at the very end of a turn. If you determine that the beginning of your next turn should be carved, then surely it will make the operation much easier if your skis' trajectory is fully forward at the end of your former turn; that is, with very little, occurring, sideways sliding action. The problem, if you are linking turns with little or no traverse, in another instant, that sliding ski will become the wholly active, new outside-turning ski. Answer this question: What hope is there of that sliding ski is establishing enough grip to the snow, to enact an instantaneous carving action; that is with little or no sideways ski sliding at the very beginning of the following turn? Your answer should be – “Very little, at best.” The beginning of a new turn doesn't guarantee that an already side-sliding ski will stop doing so. For at least the initial half of the turn, futile are your hopes of your new outside of arc turning ski, gripping the snow, to any great degree. So, the habit of keeping feet/heels still i.e. not sliding them laterally, and particularly the one on the inside of a turning arc, assists both of your skis to track/curve along their own length. Of course, when the edges are changed to the opposite two of the four at turn transition there is a time when the skis will be flat, and therefore prone to some side slippage. But, only for the instant it takes for a partial edge change to occur and, it is possible for the upcoming new inside ski to be picked up. Then, turn initiation can occur by placing a possibly already tilted to new inside edge ski directly onto the snow – the possibilities of that ski then largely side-skidding are basically eliminated. Very heavy, resistant snow conditions can dictate that a ski is lifted clear of it and, placed on an edge. That would be done because, in such…

• Speed and Ski Skidding

  Earlier I afforded little discussion on how much a ski should be tilted to an edge, or when. That's because the simple skidded turn is generally used for ski turning at lower speeds. That being the case, your skis can be operated when fairly flat, i.e. tilted just enough that the skis retain sufficient grip, enough that they will not simply slither sideways because resistance or ski tilting efforts are insufficient. Ski carving or cutting generally employed at higher speeds. To slow down, you may decide that a shorter radius of turn, than that allowed by a pure ski carving action, is required. As discussed, you can then incur an efficient skid. Your skid can be major, minimal or anywhere in between, depending on your practical skiing circumstances. Further, if skis are flattened too much, the skier will not so much turn as grip-less, skid fully sideways. To resist natural gravitational force, depending on the speed of the descent, and to maintain sufficient grip when toe steering is engaged, enough edge tilt must be retained to limit ski side slippage. Or, if you sense that your skis are insufficiently tilted to the edge, to maintain edge-grip at the speed traveled, tilt your skis further to edge. And, if necessary, exert extra pressure through the 'trying' to grip edge. The common names for these combined skills are edge and pressure controls.

• Conclusion

  Continue to adopt the mindset of really adept skiers. From now on, fully accept your ability to efficiently skid your skis as being paramount in your skill armory. With the advent of modern skis, too many have been caught up in the idea that to cut and carve is the only real goal. If you are to be an all-terrain skiing exponent, in order to efficiently survive in difficult ski conditions and circumstances, you will need every skill possible at your disposal. The skill of, accurately and at will, skidding your skis should be at the top of your list in your quest to become that all-terrain skier. “Repetition is the Mother of Learning.” – Albin Gurklis. Perhaps, some time ago, it dawned on you that I remind you of the same or similar facets of technique over and over. Such repetition will bring greater strength of mind and action. That's why, repetition, otherwise known as practice, will always remain the primary producer of continued advancement in your skiing performance. Now march on through the just kicked open gateway to all-terrain skiers' advanced techniques. Finally, whether or not (the chances are that you still do!) you still have technical issues with operating your skis in parallel formation, you must read and put into action the information in the very next section. Whether you believe that is you or not, you will still find that putting the information, that you find there, into practice can help rid you of some unhelpful facets in your skiing performance. Go for it!

SKIDDED CARVED TURNS – “THE BLEND”

The goal of skidded carved turn performance is to enable the skier to take full advantage of the combined carving/cutting and skidding capabilities of the skis. Skiing in this way allows the skier to forcefully control speed over or through the snow, even when the speed being carried is high. The skidded carved turn offers the skier the possibility to constantly adapt technique appropriate to ever-changing skiing conditions. For example, the skier may wish to increase speed; so, using the skis' cutting capabilities, more than those of skidding, may be more appropriate. Or, the skier may wish to reduce pace, and so, use the skis' skidding capabilities and reduce the force utilized that cause the skis' edges to cut/carve. Such fluctuations of utilized skills, allow the skier to vary turn arc length to almost any degree desired. Skidded carved turns are often referred to as, short to medium radius turns.

• Varied Skill Utilization

  Part of the wonder that is alpine skiing is the total freedom to ski in any way you choose. The adaptability of the skidded carved turn encourages the liberty to, at will, constantly adjust technique to suit an immediate skiing situation. For example, one situation may be better suited to more ski carving action, while another may require more voluntary leg rotary action to allow your skis to be steered through a tighter turning arc, as more skidding of the skis is utilized; thus slowing the skis, depending how much leg rotary action is employed. Ultimately, as an advanced skier, the adaptable skidded carved turn could be the skill set you mostly use. Because it involves varying amounts of carving and controlled skidding, whether you are an intermediate skier or World Cup exponent, you will ski in this way anyhow. Any turn involves, even if minimally, a degree of both skid and carve.

• Skier and Ski Limitations

  No matter how strong or agile the skier, he or she can tilt and pressure a ski so much, and no more. Also, a ski has its own limit in its bend-ability. That, in turn, limits the tightness of turning arc possibilities, if ski carving action continues. Also, the making of fully carved turns places limits on, when required, ski speed reduction. So when skier limitations and physical ski limits are reached, it is an ideal time, as shorter/smaller and slower turn radius of turn becomes appropriate, to use central pivot points to assist skidding and lose speed – Of course, any form of sideways ski skidding tends to slow their speed.

• Turn Your Skills On and Off Like a Water Tap

  If ever there was a time to play with your technique, this is it. The beauty of these skidded carved turn techniques will be your ability to use large, moderate or minimal amounts of carving and skidding actions. Then you can, depending on ski conditions and severity of slope steepness, vary the power of both techniques, carving and skidding or allow something approaching equal measures of both. Plus, to make a more specific turn type, there are always the options of wholly desisting from using one skill and fully adopting the other. To assist all of that, you must develop your ability to read the hill immediately ahead of you. As you do so, constant playful experimentation will soon bring you to the point where, most of the time, you will dominate both the terrain and the way your skis respond to your actions. Any likelihood of boredom with skiing will be a thing of the past.

• The “Skier's Turn” and Prudent Descents

  A ski racer can 'blast' down the controlled environment of a ‘closed to the public’ course, trusting nothing will obstruct his/her hell-bent quest for victory except for the gates that indicate the route of the course. Without obstructions blocking such a descent, she/he can, as far as possible, attempt to utilize the speed of the fully carved turn for the duration of the course. The recreational skier rarely enjoys such luxury. ‘Open to the public’ ski runs, with all their obstructions, dictate that we ski defensively, albeit that we can ski passively aggressively. Obstructions on public slopes include, most importantly, other skiers, but also lift towers, trees, rocks, cliffs, moguls/bumps, variable snow conditions and steepness of the terrain. That's why the skidded curve could be referred to as the “skier's turn.” Simply, it allows you to use all of your skis' capabilities, even when circumstances and conditions dictate that greater caution is wise. For example, you may be fully carving and traveling extra rapidly, but you see a sharply angled bump blocking your path. Instant situation assessment tells you that if control is to be maintained, you must immediately slow down, but not too much. You may simply choose to simultaneously reduce the force of one skidded carved turn skill and increase another. Possibly, you would choose to flatten the skis by reducing Ankle roll and introduce, to the degree needed, toe steering. You may even slacken pushing down of the outside turning Hand/pole tip to relieve ski edge pressure. The bottom line must be, however aggressively you ski, your first and last consideration must be, “Am I able to slow sufficiently and/or stop, if prudent to do so?” The skidded carve will be a massive ally in the physical effort that might immediately follow that thought.

• Conclusion

  Having now blended the accomplishments of carving/cutting with those of pivot/rotary actions of the legs, a number of skills in your skier's toolbox has grown considerably – But soon I hope you'll have to get an even bigger one. To help you take another positive step toward your lofty goal of becoming an all-terrain skier, that of major balance adjustment and recovery. Much of the discussion there encourages the reactionary skills necessary to help you stay on your feet. Many perceived lost causes don't have to be so. Using your bravery, technical skills and dogged determination can help you to avoid many a painful fall. In this skidded carved turn section, I have broken down the inseparably linked facets of the other sections. They are The Rock that is athletic stance, all around balance, pressure control, edge control and active leg rotary/toe steering actions. Plus, you have furthered your knowledge in regard to the subtleties of the ‘turning on and off’ of those skills. The next section, adjustment, and recovery are inextricably linked to all of those achievements. Skiers remaining 'parking and riding', remaining static, as they operate is not an option. No, we should be constantly adjusting, in an effort to both maintain and recover balance when it's diminished or lost. In everyday life, paramount to avoid constantly falling over, little kid to Grandma and Granddad, all of us are fully obliged, even subconsciously, to adjust and rescue our balance literally hundreds or more times a day.

CARVED TURNS AND NEW SENSATIONS

The goal of carved turns is to employ, when required, the full gripping to snow capabilities, of the skis. To do this, skis must be used, more or less, as ‘cutting through the snow’ implements. Success depends on a high degree of precise ski operation. To carve/cut, a ski must be allowed to travel along its own length, meaning its tail must follow the very same line as its tip, through the arc of the turn. Further, to execute a carved turn, a ski must be sufficiently tilted onto its edge, with an appropriate amount of pressure, applied to its center. Under most skiing circumstances, primary concentration should be given to the operation of the inside edge of the outside of turning arc ski. For the skier who has ambitions to travel faster, while still maintaining control, development of these ski-cutting skills are key to that ambition.

• Safety and Carved Turns

  Take special note! Safety must always be your first and last consideration. The following are strongly suggested precautionary steps: 1. The most important – Initially, and for some time to come, learn ALL carving skills on easy beginner and green runs. This helps minimize speed, build confidence and reduces the loss of control incidents. 2. Practice on the widest and least crowded slope you can find. Carved turns, by nature, tend to be of longer radius, and so, require space for turn execution. 3. It is imperative to always check the proximity of other skiers uphill from you. If you think they may be too close for you to begin carved turning or any other practice, they probably are. 4. At turn completion, sometimes the speed of carving and gripping skis can actually take you back up the hill – that raises the possibilities of a head-on collision. So, be sure the 'coast is clear', especially as you enter carved turn completion phases. 5. If more than one of you is skiing together, operate in one, or both, of the following ways: a. When you're both turning at the same time be sure to do so in the same direction and don't attempt to overtake each other. This creates more potential for a high-speed, head-on collision. b. One of you should begin a turn series, while the other waits to go – this creates safer operation until the other skier has made several ‘space-creating’ turns, down the hill. 6. Slowly, graduate to tougher slopes. Steeper can mean faster. Become absolutely confident in your carving abilities before moving to the next level. Confidence is a precious commodity; build it, don't lose it. Boring? Maybe! But, through my career, I've witnessed too many serious, even life-threatening collisions. You can’t ski when you’re in the hospital! Safety first, always!

• Sensations!

  Through your ski carving actions, you are about to feel distinctive physical sensations that the skiing masses rarely experience, maybe five percent at most. The full potential of the gripping capabilities of your skis are about to be brought into focus. Few things in the world of sports can match the sensations felt by an athlete as those when a ski carves and grips to its full potential. These sensations can be equated to a race car driver’s experience while negotiating a tight bend when the wheels don't slide sideways one iota. If you don't become excited by what you are about to achieve, you likely never will be. Soon, you will appreciate the potent combination of centrifugal and centripetal forces, and a heightened feeling of the gravitational pull that keeps us stuck to Mother Earth. Now, learn to cut and slice with your skis, to create super gripping power. Begin to feel the unique exhilaration of pressure build-up through your body, as the skis grip the snow close to their full potential. Once learned, you'll want more of the same and more, again and again!

• Trust!

  A little word with a big meaning. Many, even vastly experienced skiers, find it very tough to fully allow their skis to work for them, or, more precisely, allow their ski cutting machines to carve/cut through the snow. That lack of trust can mean that half of a ski’s capabilities are rarely if ever, used. Apart from the lack of knowledge, a major reason why carving capabilities are not fully employed is a lack of faith in one of their major design attributes. I refer to your ability to change direction, or turn, by using the skis to cut through the snow with their curved, knife-like, edges. Very possibly, even when you only attempt to learn these carving skills on simple, easy blue runs, there's a chance our old friend, fear, willfully rear its head again; a potential confidence breaker. You too, with accurately executed practice, will realize and trust, that the wholly dependable cutting ski edges, if left largely to their own devices, will carry you in control around each consecutive turn, to completion. But, development of that trust must be earned. It will, initially, only occur, if you take 'baby' steps. Then like a toddler learning to walk, wobbly at first, inevitably, confidence builds and you then can begin setting tougher goals.

• Heels Still Again

  Another “less is more” advantage, keeping your heels still, just as you did when 'patience' turning will be key to your ski-carving efforts. The simple act of keeping your heels still is primary in allowing your skis to run fully along their own length. Retention of 'quiet' heels, along with sufficient tilt of your skis and pressure applied through them, can permit arc-shaped grooves to be cleanly cut, into and through the snow. To make even more certain that that happens, two major ingredients are required. They are two of your greatest natural virtues: 1. Abundant amounts of old-fashioned guts; just make it happen. 2. A determination to continually develop precision. It comes down to, “Let the Skis Turn Me.” – From this moment on, do all in your power, to allow that last phrase to totally command your thoughts – Concerted trust and bravery will take you far.

• “Let the Skis Turn Me”

  In your immediate future development, the patience and determination to do just that must dominate in your quest to use your skis as precision cutting implements. Bear in mind, that it will require, even more so, that you allow the attributes of body, equipment, and forces to work in your favor. The “Skis turning you – less is more” principles require little or no use of sideways ski skidding or, that includes, no active voluntary pivoting/rotary actions of your legs and feet.

• Proving the Power of the Cutting Edge

  These first ski-carving proving actions are simply an advanced version of the natural lateral balance turns learned in earlier: • Set your skis in an extra wide, plow/wedge formation. Note: You won't do this for long; this is only for proving purposes. • Face across and slightly down so that your right ski will be the outside or lower ski on the very easy green graded slope that you should be on. Make sure to point the lower ski down the hill enough, that you will gain sufficient speed to take you slowly across, and a little down, the slope. • Set up a solid HASH Rock athletic stance – Make sure that the pole tip on the outside of your turning arc, the right, is pushed onto the snow – Doing that, helps to ensure exertion of full pressure through the foot on the same side. • Check that your eye-line is level/horizontal – Pull your toes upward to create pronounced Ankle joint flex; a fuller amount of fore and aft Ankle flexing promotes greater lateral range-of-motion of the same joints. Now the really radical part – Maintaining that wide wedge ski formation, as far as possible tilt or tip using your corresponding Ankle, the lower or new outside, your right, turning ski onto its inside edge; the multi-directional capabilities of your Ankles allow this. • Isolate your Ankle action; be sure not to take your head and Shoulders in the same direction of the laterally rolling Ankle – working like this, ensures that you exert approaching full pressure onto that, about to turn, ski. • Ankle flex test to ensure your ability to create maximum leg power and pressure through the very center of that heavily tilted ski – Completely ignore the non-pressured inside ski. • Get moving and let the skis run – Keep the new outside of turn heel and foot perfectly still – don't move it! • It will feel, to begin with, that you are traveling down the hill, just where you first aimed that lower ski – But, by remaining patient for a few moments, you will…

• Troubleshooting Checklist

  • Are the results of my Ankle flex testing powerful enough? Meaning is fore and aft balance accurate? • As I carry out that test, does the tilted-to-edge ski slip sideways? • If it does, I need to do one or both of the following: a. Tilt the ski considerably further onto its inside edge and/or, b. Make sure that when I do tilt the ski, the action is isolated to my Ankle, and I don't take my upper body toward the same direction as my operating Ankle thus relieving pressure from inside of ski edge where it is required. • Am I shifting my heel sideways i.e. not ‘literally’ letting the skis turn me? • Am I lifting the outside pole tip from the snow? I shouldn't be. • Am I keeping my eye-line level? • Are my Shoulders remaining vertically above my kneecaps for the turn's duration? • Am I curling/pulling my toes upward, sufficiently to help retention of accurate fore and aft balance?

• Carved Turn Stress on the Body

  Making carved turns places extraordinary stress on the skier’s body. That's a reason why, as in the self-addressed questions above, any weaknesses require constant work and adjustment; that helps to control the stress level. Often, without at first being conscious of it, working on positive skiing actions, strengthen other areas of your skill. The precision instruments, that are your skis, can only be accurately used, if the operator, you, makes precise actions. In no other area of skiing skill, is that truer than in the execution of the carved/cut turn.

• Still with the Proving Actions

  At this stage, the confidence should be there, that you can prove the inside edge will grip when traveling in both directions; virtually, every attempt should produce the cleanest of cut lines. Now, on purpose, lose grip, regain it and produce more clean grooves. A little earlier, I hinted at the solid-and-firm sensation under the outside turning foot. The loss and return of that sensation offers clues – indications of when the strong grip is present or otherwise. Make deliberate mistakes - Experimenting like this, assists in identifying the difference between even a slightly side-skidding ski, and one fully gripping the snow. • For ski-to-snow gripping purposes, the pressure exerted through a ski is only as effective as the amount of accompanying ski tilt. You will prove that now. • Retain your ski-wedge formation – tilt a ski to an extreme angle, onto its inside edge, Ankle flex test that maximum pressure is exerted through the ski's center; ensure that the outside-of-arc pole tip is pressed onto the snow and, that your eye-line is level. •As it runs, let the ski begin to cut a groove. Make mental note of the sensation spawned by that zero sides skidding ski; it will have a very firm feel underfoot. That sensation in your memory bank, next, change only one specific thing; reduce the amount of ski tilt to flatten the ski – Do that by rolling the extremely flexed outside Ankle toward the outside of the turning arc. • While flattening the ski, be vividly aware of what's occurring under your foot and ski – Even though the ski still has full pressure exerted through it, it will begin to slide sideways toward the outside of the turning arc – An amount of ski-to-snow grip disappeared; after stopping, look at the marks scored into the snow by the ski. • The sharp look of your groove will be far less apparent. In fact, there may be no sign of a groove – If you flatten a ski in the extreme, it can become totally grip-less – When that occurs, the…

• Prove That Less Pressure Equals Less Turning Power

  What happens when your ski is tilted to its maximum, with little or no pressure exerted on it? The result will be very similar to that of operating with little or no ski tilt but still exerting much pressure – It's turning power will, at best, be stunted. Prove that: • With your HASH Rock balanced and still with your skis set in a wedge formation, tilt your chosen new outside ski as far onto its edge as you possibly can – Be sure too, that your eye-line is absolutely level and, your outside pole tip is being pushed firmly onto the snow – As you begin moving, simultaneously, you will begin to carve a clean groove. • Then, while constantly maintaining full ski tilt, simultaneously lift your outside of turning circle Hand/pole tip, tilt your eye-line toward the turn's inside and lean in toward the center of the turning arc. I hope you'll detest the subsequent event! The natural balance will be diminished, plus: 1. You may well overbalance completely, even to the degree of falling to the inside of the turning arc. 2. The normally pressured outside, a lower foot may completely rise above the snow – All of this occurs because your COM shifted toward the inside of the turn arc. 3. That greatly diminished pressure causes the still tilted ski, to rise out of the forming groove, and slide sideways toward the outside of the turning arc. 4. Your HASH Rock may still exist but, if it is not adjusted to allow you to naturally balance over the outside turning foot, your edge-control efforts become futile. Learn to despise this totally out-of-balance feeling. Learn just how uncomfortable and, out of control it really is. Try to understand that, if you've never truly felt negative, it is much tougher to know the truly positive. Next, go from abject adversity to shining success. As you last finished, I want you to start in the same precarious situation. Let the skis run, in the hope that you begin turning in your chosen direction – Depending on the negligible amount…

POLE SWING AND TOUCH UTILIZATION AND EFFECT

Primarily, ski poles are best utilized as lateral balance aids. Skiers' lateral/sideways balance is strengthened, the wider apart and lower to the ground the pole tips are carried; as a result, also the lower and steadier will the skier's center of mass/gravity be. Further, when a pole is swung forward to touch the snow, it creates two effects: 1. For the minimal time, the pole is in contact with the snow, the area of skier support is increased, adding to the support area covered by the two skis and the space between them. 2. The touch/plant of the pole onto the snow is a signal or ‘trigger’ to turn; the poles become turn initiation timing aids. Contemporary skiers have learned that the pole swing and touch are most effective when accurately timed to make shorter radius turns.

• Big Warnings!

  To say poles are the most misused piece of skier equipment is a gross understatement. However, I don't have the luxury of observing your skiing to judge the optimum time to introduce the pole touch/plant. Therefore, as preparation, when utilized for more advanced turning efforts, it may be best to ensure that pole swing and touch is somewhat proficient when used in alliance with simple skidded turns. If the pole swing and touch are to be used at all, development of accuracy is key to your overall technical skiing progress. If you are to gain genuine advantage from pole swinging actions, be sure to put in the necessary practice to assure accurate use of your poles.

• The Key Role of Hand Carriage

  Efficient real skiing situations require you to be very miserly with your pole action. Yes, the pole touch can be very useful but, even the best World Cup racers have almost made the pole swing obsolete, mostly using poles to assist balance. Certainly, in giant slalom when the gates are spaced further apart than the gates spaced closer together slalom, the pole plant/touch is rarely used. Several years ago, these elite skiers and their coaches realized that pole touching/planting did little or nothing in helping them achieve faster times.

• Wherever You Face, Swing the Pole Forward

  You now know that at the turn initiation phase, depending on how open your chest is to the fall/gravity line, it affects the turning arc radius of the following turn. Also, you know that no matter what direction the chest is faced, the imaginary line between your hands should remain parallel to the line across your chest. With regard to swinging a pole forward, this makes life easy: Simply, no matter where your chest is facing, to execute a pole touch, literally swing the pole forward, as per the photo above, meaning forward of your chest facing direction.

THE BUMPS (MOGULS), POWDER, AND CRUD

Why do most skiers avoid the bumps? – The answer goes all the way back to the very roots of this roll. There are, fundamentally, two reasons why so many steer clear of tougher terrain and conditions: 1. The lack of efficient athletic stance, the Rock, and therefore inefficient balance. 2. The fear that stems from a lack of those skills. Closely note; avoid the kind of painful personal experience that I suffered when skiing bumps, powder, and crud. You'll largely avoid such skiing adversity through continuing to work hard at further development of the skills of, stance and balance that will forever be so crucial to every skier on the planet. To assist that development, initially, I encourage you to ski over minimally bumpy terrain at moderate then, quicker speeds. Even with these small obstacles standing in your way, by consciously maintaining a balanced Rock-like athletic stance, soon you will develop greater control and a higher level of performance when skiing an array of tougher skiing circumstances.

• You Have the Skills

  Fundamentally, you have what it takes, if to a degree, you have mastered and continue to develop the skills explained throughout this roll. Naturally, the desire must be there to ski the bumps; some don’t want to and never will. Maybe small bumps might be all you want. That’s fine. Every turn in this rapidly changing terrain is a new test of your overall skill and adaptability. At some stage during a mogul run, possibly, every individual skiing skill ever learned will be used. The quickness of thought, nimbleness, recovery powers, strength and speed of movement are some of the attributes needed for success in maneuvering through the bumps.

• How Are Moguls Formed?

  We bring them out of the refrigerator at the end of the summer of course! The true story is that skiers form them as they constantly turn in the same places on the same slope. As they do so, the skis’ sideways and cutting actions displace the snow. So, skiers’ repeated skiing along those same routes causes the snow to be gradually piled into small hills (moguls). The more skiers that pass, the bigger the moguls/bumps become. The steeper the hill, the stronger the effect of the forces and the quicker will be the formation of larger bumps. Gravity naturally pulls the skis sideways and down the hill faster, forcing your skis to push more snow onto the 'growing' moguls.

• Start Small

  Most resorts have training green and blue bump runs. Normally, moguls found there are not as large, plus the general speed of the skiers using those gentler slopes tends to be slower. Therefore, less snow gets displaced. As always, start on the gentlest of mogul runs. Gain confidence and competence there before graduating to the next level. Most beneficial is to transition from easier green to tougher green, and easier blue to tougher blue, and so on.

• How to Ski the Moguls/Bumps

  Basic mastery of balance skills can almost make bumps feel as though they’ve been flattened. The reason? As your skis ride over the undulations in the terrain, with you, deftly balanced on top of them, naturally the joints of Ankles, Knees and Hips flex and extend; that is, provided you adopt a balanced Rock and maintain it for a run's duration. Know that: 1. Little has to change when skiing bumps. 2. You don't have to turn on every single bump. 3. Skiing this way creates time; time to allow the bumps to be skied in a relaxed way. Bump skiing doesn't have to be all ‘crash, bang, wallop’ - No, bump skiing can be a smooth and calm operation. Those hints, offer indications that mogul fields are not the ogres they are so often purported to be. Years ago, after a somewhat exciting bump run in the company of trainer Peter Curtis, I uttered, “That felt really untidy!” He responded, “Chalky, what do you think it is, a billiard table?” I knew it wasn't. Peter continued, “Of course it felt untidy; every time you hit a bump, your stance and balance will be affected, but your run was controlled, because each time you lost balance, you adopted your stance and balance to regain it.” Remember, bump skiing is the very definition of “A series of linked balance recoveries”. Following peter’s comments never again, did I worry about being “untidy” in the bumps. From then on, dominating my thoughts, were questions such as, “When I lose balance, how do I rescue it and keep going?” The result – My mogul skiing developed much further, much quicker. As my Rock/balance skills developed further, certainly in smaller bumps, even when traveling at higher speeds, the process started to feel very different. The feeling would sometimes be that the bumps did not exist or were, at most, minimal. My new ability to lose balance and then accurately regain it, allowed me to almost ignore minor irritations. Obviously, as the bumps get bigger, the…

• Powder Skiing: The Big Fallacy

  “I have to lean back in powder snow, right?” Wrong! As a ski instructor, I can promise this mythical statement remains as untrue now as it ever was. Balance remains and will always be King. It is needed for every facet of skiing if ongoing skills are to be performed with any efficiency. Less balance equals diminished power to operate all skills. I don’t care how powdery, cruddy, steep or fast you are going; fighting to stay in all-around balance must be the never-ending goal. All of the major tips and instruction in this section, if accurately applied, will add strength to all of your efforts, as you tackle more difficult to ski terrain and tougher snow conditions. As with all of your skiing, your quick thinking, early anticipation, and smoothness of action will help to keep you safe in, sometimes, very challenging conditions. Sometimes, such daunting skiing conditions will cause feelings that the challenge may be too much; that's when the all-terrain skier in you becomes mentally tougher as the challenge is accepted and overcome. The feeling of euphoria following these, sometimes, daunting instances makes every scare seem worthwhile.

Meet the Author

• Professional Ski Instructor and Motivational Speaker Chalky White

  Ski the world with Chalky White. Highly effective coaching. Listen, act and succeed.

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  If you want a coach that ALWAYS helps improve client performance, Chalky White is your man! (Read commendations here at www.The7secretsOfskiing.com). If you want someone to arrange your trip for you to wherever it might be, he’s your man! If you want any help or advice regarding skiing, the long experienced Chalky is definitely your man! And if you want an internationally known, highly experienced, even renowned, ski instructor to present to your ski club or group and explain how, based on the information in his #1 bestselling book The 7 Secrets of Skiing, those vital to all skiers ‘7 Secrets’ work for literally all levels of skier, Chalky is certainly your man. Contact him at: Cell: +1 970 390 6267 Email: ChalkyGo@gmail.com Web: The7secretsOfskiing.com

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