How to keep CARVING on steeper terrain

Triggerboy62
4 Oct 202106:53

TLDRIn the video, Tom from TDK Ski Racing shares valuable tips on maintaining control while carving on steeper slopes. He emphasizes the importance of managing speed and introduces two strategies: 'skiing the fast line slow' by braking and 'skiing the slow line fast' by carving across the hill to control speed through turn shape. An advanced tip combines these methods with ski tip pivoting at the start of each turn, allowing for greater control and fluidity. The video concludes with an example of professional skiers applying these techniques on challenging terrain.

Takeaways

  • 📈 When the pitch of the slope increases, so does the skier's speed, presenting a challenge in maintaining control.
  • 🛷 To control speed on steeper terrain, skiers can either 'hit the brakes' by skidding and drifting or 'hit the gas pedal' by carving aggressively across the hill.
  • 🏂 Skiing the 'fast line slow' involves taking the shortest path down the slope while using skidding turns to control speed.
  • 🏔️ 'Hitting the gas pedal' on steeps means carving with purpose, pointing skis sideways across the hill to check speed after each turn, known as 'skiing the slow line fast'.
  • 🎿 The advanced carving technique combines aggressive carving with pivoting ski tips at the start of each turn, allowing for greater control over line and speed.
  • 🏂️ In steep terrain, professional skiers use a combination of carving and pivoting to maintain control and manage their speed effectively.
  • 🏞️ The video provides examples of different techniques on various slopes, from flat to very steep, like the European Black slopes in Austria.
  • 🎥 The video clip showcases Chris demonstrating the techniques on a hard, icy surface, emphasizing the practical application of the discussed methods.
  • 📌 The script emphasizes the evolution of skiing techniques from traditional skidding to modern carving, highlighting the benefits of the latter.
  • 📈 The key to successful carving on steeper terrain is balancing speed control with forward momentum, ensuring a fluid and confident skiing experience.
  • 🗣️ The video encourages viewers to observe professional ski races for reference and to practice these techniques for improved skiing skills.

Q & A

  • What is a common challenge faced by skiers when the pitch of the slope increases?

    -A common challenge faced by skiers when the pitch increases is the acceleration of their speed, which can exceed their comfort and ability level, making it difficult to continue carving in a safe, controlled, and confident manner.

  • What are the two main options presented in the script to control speed while carving on steeper terrain?

    -The two main options are to either be defensive and hit the brakes, or be offensive and hit the gas pedal to control speed while maintaining carving.

  • What does 'skiing the fast line slow' refer to?

    -'Skiing the fast line slow' refers to the technique of staying close to the fall line and carving short radius turns on the flat part of the slope, then using skidding and drifting to control speed when approaching steeper sections.

  • How does 'hitting the gas pedal' help in slowing down while skiing?

    -Hitting the gas pedal involves keeping the skis carving and pointing them sideways across the hill after each turn on steeper slopes, which checks the speed while maintaining forward motion and controlled carving.

  • What is the term for 'skiing the slow line fast' and how is it executed?

    -'Skiing the slow line fast' is the technique of carving back and forth across the slope with medium to large radius turns, effectively taking the long way home by doubling the distance compared to straight skiing down the fall line, which controls speed through turn shape rather than etching.

  • What is the advanced tip given at the end of the script for expert level carving?

    -The advanced tip is a combination of the 'slow line fast' concept with pivoting the ski tips at the start of each turn, allowing for more control over the line and speed, similar to what professionals do in world cup ski races.

  • How does the skier demonstrate the concept of 'skiing the slow line fast'?

    -The skier demonstrates this by carving medium radius turns at the top part of the hill, then starting each turn with a small pivot and skid as the slope gets steeper, and cutting across the slope instead of going straight downhill.

  • What is the significance of the term 'taking the long way home' in the context of the script?

    -The term 'taking the long way home' refers to the strategy of carving back and forth across the slope, which increases the distance traveled compared to a straight line down the hill, allowing for better speed control and fluid carving.

  • What is the role of ski edges in controlling speed during carving?

    -The ski edges play a crucial role in controlling speed by scraping sideways over the snow, especially when using the 'fast line slow' method, although it's not the most elegant way to carve by definition.

  • How does the script differentiate between traditional skiing methods and modern carving techniques?

    -The script differentiates by highlighting that traditional skiing methods primarily controlled speed by scraping ski edges sideways, whereas modern carving techniques focus on controlling speed through turn shape and fluid motion across the slope.

  • What advice is given to skiers who encounter steeper pitch sections unexpectedly?

    -Skiers are advised to either hit the brakes by using the 'fast line slow' method to control speed through skidding and drifting, or to hit the gas pedal by employing the 'slow line fast' method to control speed through carving across the hill and maintaining forward motion.

Outlines

00:00

🏂 Carving and Speed Control

This paragraph discusses the common challenge skiers face when their speed increases with the pitch of the slope. The speaker, Tom from TDK Ski Racing, introduces tips for maintaining a safe, controlled, and confident carving technique. He emphasizes the importance of controlling speed on varying slope sections and presents two options: defensive braking or offensive acceleration. The traditional method of skiing the fast line slow by skidding and the modern carving technique of skiing the slow line fast by controlling turn shape are explained. An advanced tip involving a combination of both methods is also introduced, highlighting the professional approach of pivoting ski tips at the start of each turn for enhanced control.

05:02

🏔️ Demonstrating Carving Techniques

The paragraph showcases Chris demonstrating different carving techniques on a slope. Initially, he carves medium-radius turns on the top part of the hill, but as the slope steepens, he adapts his technique. Chris starts each turn with a small pivot and skid, then cuts across the slope rather than going straight downhill. This method is highlighted by observing Chris carve down a very steep European black slope in Austria, on hard icy terrain, demonstrating the effectiveness of the carving techniques in challenging conditions. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage by leaving comments, liking the video, and subscribing for more content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Carving

Carving refers to a skiing technique where the skier uses the edges of their skis to make precise, arc-shaped turns on the snow. In the context of the video, carving is the primary method discussed for navigating steeper slopes while maintaining control and speed. The video emphasizes the importance of mastering this technique to continue skiing in a safe, controlled, and confident manner.

💡Pitch

Pitch, in skiing, refers to the incline or gradient of the slope. As the pitch increases, the skier's speed tends to increase as well, which can make controlling the skis more challenging. The video discusses how to manage this increase in speed when transitioning from flatter to steeper sections of the slope.

💡Speed Control

Speed control is the ability to manage and regulate one's velocity while skiing, especially on varying terrain. The video provides tips on how to control speed when the pitch of the slope changes, ensuring a safe and comfortable skiing experience. It contrasts two methods: defensive braking and offensive acceleration, to illustrate how to effectively control speed on steeper terrain.

💡Fall Line

The fall line is an imaginary line that a skier would take if they simply let gravity pull them down the hill without making any turns. In the video, it is mentioned that as the skier approaches a steeper section, their turn radius gets bigger and their ski tips point down the fall line, leading to acceleration. Controlling the fall line is crucial for managing speed and maintaining control during carving turns.

💡Skidding

Skidding is a technique where a skier intentionally slides their skis sideways across the snow to scrub off speed. In the video, it is described as a method of slowing down by skiing the 'fast line slow', which involves making shorter turns and skidding the ski tails to reduce speed before entering a steeper section of the slope.

💡Pivoting

Pivoting refers to the action of turning the ski tips in a new direction at the start of each carving turn. The video explains that professionals combine this with the 'slow line fast' concept to have more control over their line and speed. It involves starting each turn with a small pivot and skid before cutting across the slope, which allows for fluid and controlled carving on steep terrain.

💡Turn Shape

Turn shape refers to the form and radius of the turns a skier makes while carving. The video emphasizes that by altering turn shape, a skier can control their speed without etching or skidding. On steeper slopes, the skier can control speed by making medium-radius turns and pointing their skis sideways across the hill after each turn, which slows them down while keeping them moving forward.

💡Ski Racing

Ski racing is a sport that involves competitors racing down a course set on snow-covered slopes. The video is presented by Tom from TDK Ski Racing, who combines ski instruction with race coaching. The techniques discussed in the video, such as carving and speed control, are essential skills for ski racers looking to improve their performance and control on the slopes.

💡Advanced Ski Tip

The advanced ski tip mentioned in the video is a combination of the concepts discussed earlier, focusing on the use of ski tips to control line and speed. It involves starting each turn with a small pivot and skid, which is a technique often used by professionals in world cup ski races. This tip is highlighted as a way to achieve more precise control while carving on steeper terrain.

💡Steep Terrain

Steep terrain refers to a slope with a high gradient or incline, which presents a greater challenge for skiers due to increased speeds and the need for more precise control. The video provides specific strategies for maintaining carving on steeper terrain, such as hitting the gas pedal to control speed through turn shape and using advanced techniques like pivoting at the start of each turn.

Highlights

The main challenge in carving is controlling speed on varying slope pitches.

As the slope pitch increases, so does the skier's speed.

Tom from TDK Ski Racing shares tips for safe and controlled carving.

An advanced ski tip is provided at the end of the video.

When encountering a steeper pitch, a skier's turn radius may increase.

To slow down, skiers can either skid and drift or maintain carving and point sideways.

Skidding your turns is a traditional method but not the most elegant way to carve.

Carving across the hill instead of following the fall line controls speed through turn shape.

Professional skiers combine slow line fast concept with pivoting ski tips at the start of each turn.

Pivoting and skidding at the start of a turn provides more control over line and speed.

The video includes a demonstration of carving on a very steep European black slope.

Carving on steep terrain requires a combination of techniques for optimal control.

The video aims to help skiers become better through ski instruction and race coaching.

Carving is about moving in a fluid and controlled manner down the slope.

The video provides a practical guide for skiers of all levels to improve their carving skills.

Learn how to carve on steeper terrain by watching Chris's demonstration in the video.