Also ... ski instructors need to tone down the Jargon ... I think a lot of times student don't know what you are talking about but are afraid to admit it. Years ago, when I took my first ski instructors course, before the ski off the instructor told me he needed me to see me "Counter-rotate as I traversed the fall line". I said "ok ... I have to admit I don't know what you are talking about". He told me to "Point my shoulders down the hill as I finish the turn." I did that and passed the course. If I had not spoken up, I would have failed.
I was very lucky to have Tom to do my basi exams, he’s a brilliant trainer, always makes sure that you understand and explains it in a manor that we could all understand
@@autocars5077 Not a knock against Tom ... it's an industry wide issue ... ski instructor who don't use excessive jargon are the exception. Everything should be explained like you are speaking to a 5YO ... it really is not that complicated.
I do Javelin every time I am on skis. Literally EVRY time. I love that drill. When I have worse day and do not feel skis like I want to, I simply start doing Javelin. Few runs and all the muscle memory is back. Garlands are one of my fav drill too. Just be very caucious of other skiers while traversing. Great video!
Exercises and Drills are all for the good, but the chance to ski lots of runs behind a really great skier works the best for me. By the end, Aiden had 18 runs and i am sure many were following behind Tom as at the end of this video. Most of my improvement comes from spotting a great skier above me and falling in behind them to mimic for as long as i can keep up. Good improvement Aiden.
@@stacyhill mimicking a great skier is definitely a quick way to improve, but I truly think it can be hard to do if your levels are too far apart. Ie at the beginning Aidan was barely carving at all and clearly Tom is an excellent skier. I think it would have been difficult for Aidan to pick up on some of the essential basic improvements such as proper edge initiation and not being back seated just from watching and following. He wouldn't get the same feel and feedback as you get from something like a javelin turn. That very quickly gets you to create an edge on the outside ski, pressure more to the outside ski, and not sit back (ski tip rising as opposed to level or slightly tilted toward the snow). It also requires you to balance around the outside ski so you can't just lean into the turn as much, you have to create some angulation in the upper body. Definitely a place for both and after the drills being able to follow Tom probably was a major source of the improvement as well!
Commenters I agree - for visual learners. On the other hand - have to be able to keep up in terrain and speed. I think that's where the high level instructors come in. Book a full or 1/2 day private with one of the top (may have to book ahead). They'll probably do a run with you to see what you're up to then lead the way in terrain and condition with pauses for hints to improve and reinforce the parts that are good. 😁
The thing that really took my carving and turning up a notch, was really focussing on leaving clean tracks, pressure towards the cuff of the boot, and thinking about angulation. A lot of other things just follow with muscle memory.
@@staciw678 sorry - I mean the front of the boot. Put your weight into your shin against the front of the boot and the ski will bend at the tip initiating a tight turn.
Among the best dozen videos I have saved to drill the fundamentals into my 10 year old U12 racer. Especially the precise explanations that accompany key visuals, such as the choice of words starting at 8:55 ..."don't have the patience to move, set up on an edge angle, and feel the platform, and then take, lift off the other ski", impact words being "feel the platform".
It’s a great video. Not just for the tips but for its overall message - even intermediate or advanced skiers benefit from hiring a coach, and just one day can make a substantial difference. Getting a coach only at the beginning is a huge mistake, and people get to a point where they are stuck no matter how often they ski. Watching tutorials can help only partly - one needs someone to evaluate their style and tell them how to improve it. I hired a coach two years ago and it was definitely worth the money. Next season, I'm gonna do the same as there's always something to improve!
I like your emphasis on looking up before setting off, especially across the piste. Far too many skiers and ski instructors fail to do this and are either unaware of, or expect uphill skiers to avoid them and the people they are instructing.
The very first thing I notice about Aiden’s skiing is his posture. Very limited ankle flex, knees bent and an open back angle which puts his centre of mass over the tails of the skis. This causes “under steer” just like having too much weight in the boot of a car. He’s unable to engage/load the ski tips which means that they’re not biting into the snow and leading into the turn. When trying to encourage good posture and ankle flex, I always say that it’s more of a kneeling forward rather than a sitting down sensation. Right knee aims for right ski tip, left ski aims for left ski tip. As for Aiden’s back angle: “The upper body should be inclined as much or more than the shins, and the arms carried downwards and outwards, which will appear as somewhat forward and out from the body when the skier is on a slope.”
I am always looking for actionable instruction like you phrased it. I am working on my intermediate skills and was looking for more of what the sensation and stance should be. This explanation is perfect.
Carv is honestly one of the best pieces of technology I’ve ever used and the videos are probably the best I’ve ever watched, really trying to get to a better level much like in this video but struggling, will try these exercises and hopefully see some difference
Thanks Tom for a clear explanation and seeing how Aidan improved his skiing after working on the two drills. It really demonstrated what good looks like and the common mistakes. I'm 5 days into using CARV for the first time with a ski IQ of 109 with really low scores on edging (30) and pressure (27). I'm looking forward to focusing on these two drills in the next couple of days and seeing what it does to my scores. Sometimes we get overloaded with too much info but this brings it back to basics with two drills. Well done on the video and to Carv.
Free lessons. Very applicable to my own needs for ski improvement. I had carving lessons some years ago and I couldn't believe how much one lesson and a few drills and a different focus changed my skiing. I wonder where these guys are skiing. It looks like heavenly conditions for an intermediate skier like me.
Great to hear, all the best putting these tips into action Peter! We filmed this up on Stubai Glacier in Tirol, Austria. Definitely worth the visit if you ever get the chance! Happy skiing ⛷
Such a well crafted video. Instructions well layed out with constant feedback loop and clear explanations. Having exercises to practice is great. Thanks you!
I have been evaluated as being an expert skier, though there is a lot of room above me, I'm not doing helicopter jumps at 12,000 feet over a double black diamond drop. I found this information very good, I have heard it before however seeing it, refreshing the principals of good form is beneficial. I'll book mark this to my review list before my first run this year.
An almost perfect demonstration of the difference between a trainer and an instructor. This trainer explains what is wrong then explains how to fix it. This is training an instructor. An instructor notes what is wrong, creates a progression to fix it then makes it fun. Doing the traverses and garlands is when the stance and separation should have been fixed.
Great video - Good Camera Work, Good Demo's, Good Explanations!! - To me shows that skiing is still a simple sport and not much has changed in terms of how you develop skiers level. Garlands & especially Javelin Turs were the best weapons to help recreational skiers improve their performance back when I did my BASI in the early 80's and are still the best weapons for for tuning up elite level skiers to develop timing and balance skills, Javelin turns are also one of the best drill for developing young racers balance skills in getting them to harness the forces by starting to understand & utilize inclination - Good Job :)
Aiden did improve. He is still sort of in the back seat and isn't showing upper and lower body separation. He is not perpendicular to the slope. He could work on turn initiation with crossover and cross under getting his knees further apart and start using both skis independently versus having his knees locked in. Perhaps look at his boot ramp angle too. The drills really did help him.
Exactly what I noticed as I am a backseat skier as well and trying to break that. I didn't see any change in that in the before and after. For me I think it's fear. It's just scarier the more forward you are on your skis.
@@Vinny.X Try this tip, ski 10 turns and finish them pressing down under your heels, then 10 turns finishing with pressure under just the arch, then 10 turns pressing down under the ball of the foot. You’ll find that the turns work ok but there’s a big difference in how efficient they feel. It’ll open up an understanding if where your balance and pressure should be at different times during skiing….hopefully !
Best advice I ever got was to roll your ankles. Javelin is a good drill, people get really frustrated with it which shows how much they need to unlearn.
1st thanks to Carv and Tom for these awesomely produced vids and top instructors. Nothing beats a day spent 1-1 noticing the learner's real-time actions in skiing and providing specific improvement tips. To use Carv's tech to quantify your ski technique quality, and then measure improvement: fantastic! 2nd I'd like to share with my fellow skiers a complementary book-style resource: effortless skiing. As an intermediate thirsting to improve, this booklets simple two-step concept made an instant, major change for me. And nearly eliminated my burning quads. I bet it also generates a dramatic change to Carv's Ski-IQ. It starts from the trunk (core muscles) outwards and how that motion affects the limbs and skis, complementary to the myriad 'feet-in' tips.
Retired ski instructor here ... great video ... 12.5% is kind. Based on what I can see from the chair lift < 1% can carve at all. I try to get people to turn using just the side-cut (vs. getting impatient and turning their feet) and, once they have that down, add back in the rest of the mechanics.
Isn't that a testament that most ski instruction sucks or at least misguides people on how fast (more like snail slow) skiing progress actually happens. We all want to improve our skiing in a day, and the whole industry just keeps on bullshiting how we have "improved very much" even from morning to afternoon. This video is a perfect example.
@@profdrlt I think there are a few reasons why so few people can carve. 1) Most people just want to be able to get up and down the hill and socialize (which is fine). 2) If you are carving clean turns you are moving much much faster than if you are making skidded turns. I think a lot of people find that scary.
@@profdrlt I don't think that means instruction sucks. The average skier shows up with major habits that impede good skiing, like sitting back, tipping the shoulders in to turn, being locked in their lower joints. It usually takes way more than an hour to replace a bad movement that you may have been reinforcing for decades. It's important to be realistic about how much you can change in a single lesson, and it's important for the student to take accountability for their part in the process. The guy in the video made a huge improvement. He has started to move his lower joints in rather than totally inclining to start the turn, which has led to more balance on the outside ski, which has led to more turn shape. Most people take several seasons to get that much development. Is it perfect? Of course not. But it's a far sight better than what he was doing before the lesson. I'd be thrilled to have a guy like that show up in my lesson. Will he retain it? Probably not, but at least he has some tools to self-assess against the issues he worked on (e.g. does he get tracks when doing garlands? Is his tail off the snow when doing a javelin turn?).
@@pkundrat Got ya. At the point I commented I had no idea there was an app called 'Carv' ... I thought they were talking about people on 'Carving Skies'. That makes more sense .
Fantastic tips and the teaching is right on with how to do the movements, the Initiation / set up into a downhill edge of the turn. The javelin is it very impressive move and when you’re demonstrating it in the proper technique to form the move it was impressive to see how much separation there was from upper and lower torso and when you watch the video the uphill ski win lifted and cross the downhill ski you were presetting for your next turn because the tip of the uphill ski was pointing across the downhill upper edge when you’re totally loading the downhill ski which then allows you to transfer from Edgecliff Lasky to new downhill and ski and keeping the motions going in the proper direction downhill it is a very impressive and tactful move to create The loading and unloading from edge to edge ❤❤❤
I’ve watched lots of videos and still practicing but the one thing that sticks out for me when I’m carving vs sliding is the outside pressure is much greater than my inside. I have contact and bend my inside knee but most of the carve is performed by pressing hard into my outside ski. I think this is super important! Good video.
I wish I could practice this, but all the resorts near me are always super crowded. Having to dodge kids and snowboarders sitting in the middle of the run isnt fun and leaves no space to practice. I try anyway, but still jealous how your mountain is so open and clear of obstacles lol
If you visit a US ski resort, you'll find that nobody bothers to carve, they just ski in whatever way they like to enjoy a good time. Going off the piste is their favorite.
Oh my God. So very true. I've been skiing here in the US for a couple of months. I have never seen anyone carve yet. And the off piste thing? Dude! Every time I see them come out from somewherr... i'm like " what trail did you take to exit from there?" :))))
Excellent break down of the drills! Good points about looking back at the tracks…. Aiden really improves and probably feels more in control while carving
I like very much that you show the exercise on students. I tried following your advices and I think I managed to do nice narrow tracks on blue slopes but not on red ones. On the red I pick up speed very fast, I don't feel secure and confident at fast speed and forced to turn the ski sharper that way starting going in sliding mode.
Hello Coach. Overall an excellent video and very nice improvement of the athlete. In my humble opinion, his skiing can never really improve until he understands what it is like to have his CM over his base of support. ie: knees go in but hips can't move in and create a little counter at the same time because of the aft stance. When I compare your stance to that of the athlete when doing garlands, it is really obvious. The shin to the front of the boot helped. All parts: the ankle, knees and HIPS must flex in harmony to maintain a well balanced stance over the ski. Thanks for sharing the video.
Thanks so much for the insightful comment Rick. Let's hope that Aidan reads this one and can get back out there to keep practicing. Have a good winter ⛷
Thanks for the great instructions and videos. I have a suggestion for another video: Mastering Le Tunnel. Which would be about how to master the Piste behind Le Tunnel. Cheers.
A huge part (really the main problem) of it as a beginner is not knowing how hard you can sink into the turns without sliding off. Once you get to feel that you are actually safer than one thinks then it gets a lot easier to progress.
"wow" - love this! Being a total beginner I learn a lot from watching Adrian improve in just one day ⛷ just imagine a lesson like that in Austria, Tyrol, what a beautiful place 🌁
Thank you so much! I'm older, out of shape and only get to ski 1-2 weeks per year. These instructive videos really help me to learn the proper way to ski and to get some mental practice in, before I get out there.
Great vid. Showing progression from morning (both visual of how Aiden ski's, along with his Carv stats. Then comparison to end of day visual (side by side was excellent to see), along with showing ski stats (thank-you for showing what stats were at beginning of day). Video of Aiden at beginning of day, my thought was "that's what I look like." Aim is to look like Aiden at end of day. Now have some drills to work on.
Around the 10 minutes mark in Aiden’s javelin turn there is no mention of his hands positioning. This is another tell-tell sign. If you hands drop to your hips or your pockets you’ll drop into the back seat. Keeping the hands in front of you will help put your body in an athletic stance which will be easier to put pressure on the front on your boots and keeping it there, it’ll make you lean forward instead of back. Also, instead of javelin turns just bring the tail of your ski up while the spatula (front) keeps contact with the snow, it’s an easier drill to do before jumping in javelin turn which you’re now introducing a hip rotation on top of lifting the ski.
just watched some super g riders they almost have 90 degree edge angle atleast very close, but carving looks efort less and smooth great video and im learning carving on board
You should try garlands, one of the best drills ever. It looks very easy, but its much harder than it looks to get right. It's at slow speed, and the tracks don't lie about your improvement - you know when you've got it. Makes a huge huge difference to your skiing at all speeds. I also learn a lot by following, but with this drill you find out, or get found out. You can be lulled into thinking you're following every move and have good position, balance, on your edges etc, but as you're following there's not much chance to look back and see the quality of your efforts, particularly if your lead has a bit of a lick on. I get at least one, sometimes three trips a year - I always start with doing some garlands, sharpens you up and gets you back in the skill space to have a great trip rather than just think that you've remembered from last season and still got it 🙂.
Brilliant. That's pretty much where I was at years ago now. Where are you filming mate? Looks nice and and quiet. I might see if I can sneak a week towards end of season
Great improvement. Those drills are great. If he just positioned himself a bit more forward and out of the backseat, he could really take advantage of that carve.
How do I get an lesson with Tom Waddington? Please advise how I can organise this with Tom privately, would this possible as I think he’s a great teacher. Many thanks Rob
you have to be facing your upper body down the fall-line as much as possible in order to angulate a sharp turn. As you look down, it is tempting to be passive, but keep that mind active - eg, noting the terrain of the changing slope, ahead. This takes energy and focus, but can be done at any level.
Thanks for your feedback! If done correctly Javelin turns should help a skier with their basic position. It seems Aidan still has some work to do in this regard. Have a great winter ⛷
Great vid I'm the same comfortable skiing but more skiding no carv 😔I've got carv going to France in 3 weeks from🏴 I've had problems with my carv but, honestly @carv have been fantastic not had replacement yet but I believe they doing they best to sort out, great vid thanks mark
This was a really informative video to watch. I feel like I don't weigh enough to carve really well on my skis, but I'm still a beginner. Maybe trying these drills myself would help out. I appreciate the content!
This is great. I just started using Carv recently and I am pretty similar to Aidan at the beginning of this video. My current ski IQ is 130. I am going to work on these drills. HopefullyI can see some of same improvements as he did. #goals!!! Thanks @Carv! Hope you can get me to the next level in my skiing!!! Thanks!
@@patrickpurcell3671 this is a good question, however not as simple for me to answer as it should be.... My score this season (my first season of using carv) did not improve much at all. My first day out I scored a 130 and my season high was a 131, however, I spent the vast majority of the season on bunny slopes teaching my wife to ski, from the basics. Toward the end of the season I started feeling changes that I needed to make and noticed higher scores in various turns. More turns in the 140s and a few 150s. Unfortunately, by the time these adjustments started to "click" for me it was the last few days of the season and poor conditions. Ultimately, yes these exercises will absolutely help your scores and your skiing. Most importantly is repetition and noticing the feel of the adjustments, some if which subtle, then building confidence and comfort with these adjustments. On a side note, and sorry to ramble, I have an indoor ski facility close by and a aki instructor there has told me that my weight is too far back. Im not really in the back seat per say but he told me i need to be more forward. This is 30 years of a bad habit that I will need to break. So far trying to stay forward feels a little awkward. I'm committed to improving though!
Is there any good ski teacher out there who could comment on how folks are told to face down the mountain, but in mid and longer turns good skiers torsos actually face the direction of the skis across the slope and they round the bottom of the turn with the downhill/outside hand/arm punching across the torso in the direction of the skis (not down hill). It is kind of like a fake pole plant, but functions to kind of pull you out of the bottom (and lowest body position) of the turn. These are very obvious in at the 14 second mark where Tom is skiing (and any video of an advanced skier ). In addition to being in his back seat, Aiden never brings outside arm through the turn as noted at 14 sec with Tom, and Aiden's torso always faces down the hill. When your outer hip (and torso) drives forward in the direction of the turn, it has the effect of driving the shin forward and flexing the outside ankle and loading the outer ski. I would love to hear an advanced skier provide some details here for us learning. Most folks are taught to separate the torso from the legs (very important) and to face down the hill (maybe important in the beginning... but not later). It is not how good skiers actually do longer turns (yes for very short ones). Love some helpful commentary here.
@@G3FORC3 A bit too complex for my understanding. here is an example of what i am talking about being square to the hill and torso following the line of the skis. th-cam.com/video/KwYqjx8cXHU/w-d-xo.html Tom does more hand punch than McGlashan but it is still clear to me that his outside hand cuts across his body and his shoulders are actually facing the across the hill. I agree that is does not have to be much of a punch but drawing the outer (downhill) hand up to initiate the exit of the turn is what i am seeing. th-cam.com/video/KwYqjx8cXHU/w-d-xo.html here is another with JF Beaulieu th-cam.com/video/kE4FBPi9-sQ/w-d-xo.html Just my observations. To add another one. Folks often say keep your feet apart but in fact good skiers keep their feet together or more accurately their legs parallel. The feet and skis separate because you go on angle and the inner leg bends and moves forward and up as you lay over. The entire time the legs are parallel, more or less. This is not the same as a wide or shoulder width stance.
@@DavidSkisMy point is that folks are told to face down the mountain when in fact on mid to long turns they do not. Fine to say face the direction of the momentum. I am good with that, but it is also true that on mid to long turns the two merge and you are only facing down the mountain for a brief portion of the turn. Short turns are very different, so facing down the mountain or as you say facing your momentum makes complete sense, especially because your momentum is fairly constrained with short turns. I see lots of mid level to fairly strong skiers facing down the mountain on mid to long turns. I think this is a legacy of "face down the mountain" advice (like turning while holding your poles across in front of you while keeping your poles square to the mountain. All the kids i have skied with have been taught this drill. My two scents.
Thanks for watching! In this video we were using Carv, Find out more here: getcarv.com/ And just reach out if you have any questions as we'd be happy to help ⛷
I'm liking these videos, and I think they're good marketing for the product. A different Carv video emphasized early weighting of the inside ski, and I worked on that the last couple of days. It's a powerful technique. My question: All of the Carv videos that I've seen so far have been shot on velvet corduroy intermediate slopes. Maybe that works, maybe the concepts are communicated just fine on those easy slopes, but things happen a lot faster on a steep crud run, and depending on the snow, turn initiation can happen in a different way. Or maybe I'm wrong and all of that velvet corduroy skiing transfers to the steeps.
easy corduroy is the best place to learn these techniques that need to happen faster on steeps. in rougher terrain your technique gaps unravel faster, so we demonstrate a lot on moderate terrain. However this year Carv also scores the terrain steepness and surface.
Love these demonstrations and training videos. What I need is to find the right mountain and run to practice these drills on in the USA. Can you please make some recommendations of mountains and runs that offer enough space and angle to practice the recommended drills?
One of the difficulties I have with these videos is that they are filmed on groomed, very wide open terrain with few obvious bumps/moguls. The only place I have to ski has much, much narrower runs, with often not-great grooming and plenty of bumps and piles of snow. It would be good to demonstrate various skiing skills on that type of more challenging terrain as well. Beyond that, these videos are very helpful.
Very useful - as I kind of 'grew-up' on skis without lessons, I found my own way to it. I used these drills with my family last few weeks and now they look so much smoother and in control - also catching up with me - not sure how I feel about the latter! People in comments saying Aidan still has lots to work on - yes of course but look at the difference in one day! I know people who ski just as badly as they did 10 seasons ago.
Also ... ski instructors need to tone down the Jargon ... I think a lot of times student don't know what you are talking about but are afraid to admit it. Years ago, when I took my first ski instructors course, before the ski off the instructor told me he needed me to see me "Counter-rotate as I traversed the fall line". I said "ok ... I have to admit I don't know what you are talking about". He told me to "Point my shoulders down the hill as I finish the turn." I did that and passed the course. If I had not spoken up, I would have failed.
I was very lucky to have Tom to do my basi exams, he’s a brilliant trainer, always makes sure that you understand and explains it in a manor that we could all understand
@@autocars5077 Not a knock against Tom ... it's an industry wide issue ... ski instructor who don't use excessive jargon are the exception. Everything should be explained like you are speaking to a 5YO ... it really is not that complicated.
Agreed, it's important to get a good social understanding with the instructor. That can make all the difference and help to ask questions.
I do Javelin every time I am on skis. Literally EVRY time. I love that drill. When I have worse day and do not feel skis like I want to, I simply start doing Javelin. Few runs and all the muscle memory is back.
Garlands are one of my fav drill too. Just be very caucious of other skiers while traversing.
Great video!
Exercises and Drills are all for the good, but the chance to ski lots of runs behind a really great skier works the best for me. By the end, Aiden had 18 runs and i am sure many were following behind Tom as at the end of this video. Most of my improvement comes from spotting a great skier above me and falling in behind them to mimic for as long as i can keep up. Good improvement Aiden.
Truer words were never spoken... you are soooooooo right!
@@stacyhill mimicking a great skier is definitely a quick way to improve, but I truly think it can be hard to do if your levels are too far apart. Ie at the beginning Aidan was barely carving at all and clearly Tom is an excellent skier. I think it would have been difficult for Aidan to pick up on some of the essential basic improvements such as proper edge initiation and not being back seated just from watching and following. He wouldn't get the same feel and feedback as you get from something like a javelin turn. That very quickly gets you to create an edge on the outside ski, pressure more to the outside ski, and not sit back (ski tip rising as opposed to level or slightly tilted toward the snow). It also requires you to balance around the outside ski so you can't just lean into the turn as much, you have to create some angulation in the upper body. Definitely a place for both and after the drills being able to follow Tom probably was a major source of the improvement as well!
Commenters I agree - for visual learners. On the other hand - have to be able to keep up in terrain and speed.
I think that's where the high level instructors come in. Book a full or 1/2 day private with one of the top (may have to book ahead). They'll probably do a run with you to see what you're up to then lead the way in terrain and condition with pauses for hints to improve and reinforce the parts that are good. 😁
Follow and watch the experts definitely, you can even slipstream behind them they like it!
Doesn't work for me - there is so much hidden in the boots that you can never see - hence Carv data.
The thing that really took my carving and turning up a notch, was really focussing on leaving clean tracks, pressure towards the cuff of the boot, and thinking about angulation. A lot of other things just follow with muscle memory.
The “cuff”? What do
You mean, exactly?
@@staciw678 sorry - I mean the front of the boot. Put your weight into your shin against the front of the boot and the ski will bend at the tip initiating a tight turn.
Among the best dozen videos I have saved to drill the fundamentals into my 10 year old U12 racer. Especially the precise explanations that accompany key visuals, such as the choice of words starting at 8:55 ..."don't have the patience to move, set up on an edge angle, and feel the platform, and then take, lift off the other ski", impact words being "feel the platform".
Glad it helped!
It’s a great video. Not just for the tips but for its overall message - even intermediate or advanced skiers benefit from hiring a coach, and just one day can make a substantial difference. Getting a coach only at the beginning is a huge mistake, and people get to a point where they are stuck no matter how often they ski. Watching tutorials can help only partly - one needs someone to evaluate their style and tell them how to improve it. I hired a coach two years ago and it was definitely worth the money. Next season, I'm gonna do the same as there's always something to improve!
I like your emphasis on looking up before setting off, especially across the piste.
Far too many skiers and ski instructors fail to do this and are either unaware of, or expect uphill skiers to avoid them and the people they are instructing.
The very first thing I notice about Aiden’s skiing is his posture. Very limited ankle flex, knees bent and an open back angle which puts his centre of mass over the tails of the skis. This causes “under steer” just like having too much weight in the boot of a car. He’s unable to engage/load the ski tips which means that they’re not biting into the snow and leading into the turn. When trying to encourage good posture and ankle flex, I always say that it’s more of a kneeling forward rather than a sitting down sensation. Right knee aims for right ski tip, left ski aims for left ski tip. As for Aiden’s back angle: “The upper body should be inclined as much or more than the shins, and the arms carried downwards and outwards, which will appear as somewhat forward and out from the body when the skier is on a slope.”
Completely agree!
If the instructor got him in a better stance to start with... Aden would have done much better
I’ll try your advice on posture and ankle flex as I find it really hard to achieve. I’m always trying to correct leaning back like Aiden.
It’s about the right hips balance, Aiden skies on his heels and should feel on his front foot- from middle to toes!
I am always looking for actionable instruction like you phrased it. I am working on my intermediate skills and was looking for more of what the sensation and stance should be. This explanation is perfect.
I've watched A LOT of videos on carving and this is by far the best for actionable steps.
agree. Where would you practice them?
Carv is honestly one of the best pieces of technology I’ve ever used and the videos are probably the best I’ve ever watched, really trying to get to a better level much like in this video but struggling, will try these exercises and hopefully see some difference
Thanks Tom for a clear explanation and seeing how Aidan improved his skiing after working on the two drills. It really demonstrated what good looks like and the common mistakes. I'm 5 days into using CARV for the first time with a ski IQ of 109 with really low scores on edging (30) and pressure (27). I'm looking forward to focusing on these two drills in the next couple of days and seeing what it does to my scores. Sometimes we get overloaded with too much info but this brings it back to basics with two drills. Well done on the video and to Carv.
That was a pretty impressive transformation...well done both!
Thanks so much for the feedback!
We’re glad you enjoyed the video ⛷
Free lessons. Very applicable to my own needs for ski improvement. I had carving lessons some years ago and I couldn't believe how much one lesson and a few drills and a different focus changed my skiing. I wonder where these guys are skiing. It looks like heavenly conditions for an intermediate skier like me.
Great to hear, all the best putting these tips into action Peter!
We filmed this up on Stubai Glacier in Tirol, Austria.
Definitely worth the visit if you ever get the chance!
Happy skiing ⛷
Probably the alps in Austria or Switzerland by the looks of it
I am going to ski next week, and these tips are really helpful! Thank you so much.
Have fun, and let us know how you get on trying out the tips!
Thanks for watching ⛷
Such a well crafted video. Instructions well layed out with constant feedback loop and clear explanations. Having exercises to practice is great. Thanks you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Stay posted for more content coming shortly ⛷
I have been evaluated as being an expert skier, though there is a lot of room above me, I'm not doing helicopter jumps at 12,000 feet over a double black diamond drop. I found this information very good, I have heard it before however seeing it, refreshing the principals of good form is beneficial. I'll book mark this to my review list before my first run this year.
An almost perfect demonstration of the difference between a trainer and an instructor.
This trainer explains what is wrong then explains how to fix it. This is training an instructor.
An instructor notes what is wrong, creates a progression to fix it then makes it fun.
Doing the traverses and garlands is when the stance and separation should have been fixed.
Great video - Good Camera Work, Good Demo's, Good Explanations!! - To me shows that skiing is still a simple sport and not much has changed in terms of how you develop skiers level. Garlands & especially Javelin Turs were the best weapons to help recreational skiers improve their performance back when I did my BASI in the early 80's and are still the best weapons for for tuning up elite level skiers to develop timing and balance skills, Javelin turns are also one of the best drill for developing young racers balance skills in getting them to harness the forces by starting to understand & utilize inclination - Good Job :)
Aiden did improve. He is still sort of in the back seat and isn't showing upper and lower body separation. He is not perpendicular to the slope. He could work on turn initiation with crossover and cross under getting his knees further apart and start using both skis independently versus having his knees locked in. Perhaps look at his boot ramp angle too. The drills really did help him.
Exactly what I noticed as I am a backseat skier as well and trying to break that. I didn't see any change in that in the before and after. For me I think it's fear. It's just scarier the more forward you are on your skis.
@@Vinny.X Try this tip, ski 10 turns and finish them pressing down under your heels, then 10 turns finishing with pressure under just the arch, then 10 turns pressing down under the ball of the foot.
You’ll find that the turns work ok but there’s a big difference in how efficient they feel.
It’ll open up an understanding if where your balance and pressure should be at different times during skiing….hopefully !
@@denisobrien699 Thanks! Will try tomorrow
this was a really great video. nice touch.
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for watching Ryan ⛷
That's a massive improvement. Great coaching!
Carv once again uploads a fantastic apline ski lesson! Excellent work Carv.
Best advice I ever got was to roll your ankles. Javelin is a good drill, people get really frustrated with it which shows how much they need to unlearn.
Thanks for watching!
If instructors like Tom frequently come back to this drill it must be good 😉
Have a great winter ⛷
1st thanks to Carv and Tom for these awesomely produced vids and top instructors. Nothing beats a day spent 1-1 noticing the learner's real-time actions in skiing and providing specific improvement tips. To use Carv's tech to quantify your ski technique quality, and then measure improvement: fantastic! 2nd I'd like to share with my fellow skiers a complementary book-style resource: effortless skiing. As an intermediate thirsting to improve, this booklets simple two-step concept made an instant, major change for me. And nearly eliminated my burning quads. I bet it also generates a dramatic change to Carv's Ski-IQ. It starts from the trunk (core muscles) outwards and how that motion affects the limbs and skis, complementary to the myriad 'feet-in' tips.
Andrew thank you for that input. Where are those booklet(S) available?
I’ve just bought the book thanks to you Andrew!!
Holy moly that bit at 7:05 with Javelins was intense! I've seen my instructors drill one legged skiing but never seen it that intense before!
(great tip though, excited to give it a go, and really extend the time I can hold it!)
Best carving video I've seen! Gonna check out your product too.
Retired ski instructor here ... great video ... 12.5% is kind. Based on what I can see from the chair lift < 1% can carve at all. I try to get people to turn using just the side-cut (vs. getting impatient and turning their feet) and, once they have that down, add back in the rest of the mechanics.
Isn't that a testament that most ski instruction sucks or at least misguides people on how fast (more like snail slow) skiing progress actually happens. We all want to improve our skiing in a day, and the whole industry just keeps on bullshiting how we have "improved very much" even from morning to afternoon. This video is a perfect example.
@@profdrlt I think there are a few reasons why so few people can carve. 1) Most people just want to be able to get up and down the hill and socialize (which is fine). 2) If you are carving clean turns you are moving much much faster than if you are making skidded turns. I think a lot of people find that scary.
@@profdrlt I don't think that means instruction sucks. The average skier shows up with major habits that impede good skiing, like sitting back, tipping the shoulders in to turn, being locked in their lower joints. It usually takes way more than an hour to replace a bad movement that you may have been reinforcing for decades. It's important to be realistic about how much you can change in a single lesson, and it's important for the student to take accountability for their part in the process.
The guy in the video made a huge improvement. He has started to move his lower joints in rather than totally inclining to start the turn, which has led to more balance on the outside ski, which has led to more turn shape. Most people take several seasons to get that much development. Is it perfect? Of course not. But it's a far sight better than what he was doing before the lesson. I'd be thrilled to have a guy like that show up in my lesson. Will he retain it? Probably not, but at least he has some tools to self-assess against the issues he worked on (e.g. does he get tracks when doing garlands? Is his tail off the snow when doing a javelin turn?).
It was 12% of Carv users only - and thats already a selected population of people who already have ambition to carve and want to improve.
@@pkundrat Got ya. At the point I commented I had no idea there was an app called 'Carv' ... I thought they were talking about people on 'Carving Skies'. That makes more sense .
Wow those javelin drills are super cool and look really hard! Can't wait to try them
Nice one Tom and Aidan. Best carv video so far Tom 👍
Glad you enjoyed it Tom,
Thanks for the feedback!
Fantastic tips and the teaching is right on with how to do the movements, the Initiation / set up into a downhill edge of the turn. The javelin is it very impressive move and when you’re demonstrating it in the proper technique to form the move it was impressive to see how much separation there was from upper and lower torso and when you watch the video the uphill ski win lifted and cross the downhill ski you were presetting for your next turn because the tip of the uphill ski was pointing across the downhill upper edge when you’re totally loading the downhill ski which then allows you to transfer from Edgecliff Lasky to new downhill and ski and keeping the motions going in the proper direction downhill it is a very impressive and tactful move to create The loading and unloading from edge to edge
❤❤❤
I took like 8 years to learn how to carv perfectly and Aidan comes along and pretty much learns it in one day
I’ve watched lots of videos and still practicing but the one thing that sticks out for me when I’m carving vs sliding is the outside pressure is much greater than my inside. I have contact and bend my inside knee but most of the carve is performed by pressing hard into my outside ski. I think this is super important! Good video.
Remember independent leg action - wait - old fashioned skier, fat boards may be different - or is that what he calls dynamic? 😁
Phenomenal video...one of the best I've seen on this topic. Super excited to try garlands and javelins next weekend 😃 Thanks for this!
Awesome! Thanks so much for the kind words.
All the best putting this drill into action when you hit the snow on the weekend!
Have fun ⛷
Just make certain you are in the right position on your skis before you do anything...
@@stacyhill Will do! Thanks for the tip 🙂
I wish I could practice this, but all the resorts near me are always super crowded. Having to dodge kids and snowboarders sitting in the middle of the run isnt fun and leaves no space to practice. I try anyway, but still jealous how your mountain is so open and clear of obstacles lol
Professional instructor thanks for the lessons. 👊🏼
You bet,
We're glad to help!
⛷
Thanks heaps for the Vid ; been skiiing the South Island NZ winter; looking forward to next season now! Cheers
If you visit a US ski resort, you'll find that nobody bothers to carve, they just ski in whatever way they like to enjoy a good time. Going off the piste is their favorite.
They are trying to sell a product Carv 😂
The better you are at skiing on-piste, the better you're going to ski off-piste 😉
Have a great winter and thanks for watching ⛷
Oh my God. So very true. I've been skiing here in the US for a couple of months. I have never seen anyone carve yet. And the off piste thing? Dude! Every time I see them come out from somewherr... i'm like " what trail did you take to exit from there?" :))))
Excellent break down of the drills! Good points about looking back at the tracks…. Aiden really improves and probably feels more in control while carving
Thanks so much for the feedback Catherine.
We're glad you enjoyed the video 🎿
Great video giving really clear advices to put in practice !
Thanks!
I like very much that you show the exercise on students.
I tried following your advices and I think I managed to do nice narrow tracks on blue slopes but not on red ones. On the red I pick up speed very fast, I don't feel secure and confident at fast speed and forced to turn the ski sharper that way starting going in sliding mode.
Turn across the hill more to slow down keep practising on blue slopes until you can get edge to edge fairly quickly, comfortably and confidently.
Hello Coach. Overall an excellent video and very nice improvement of the athlete. In my humble opinion, his skiing can never really improve until he understands what it is like to have his CM over his base of support. ie: knees go in but hips can't move in and create a little counter at the same time because of the aft stance. When I compare your stance to that of the athlete when doing garlands, it is really obvious. The shin to the front of the boot helped. All parts: the ankle, knees and HIPS must flex in harmony to maintain a well balanced stance over the ski. Thanks for sharing the video.
Thanks so much for the insightful comment Rick.
Let's hope that Aidan reads this one and can get back out there to keep practicing.
Have a good winter ⛷
One of the best I’ve come across
Thank you ⛷⛷
Nice to see pics from Stubai Gletcher.♥️. Thank U. Good memories prevail.
problem is, most intermediate skiers ski 5 days per year, then you are back to the cubicle.
This is exactly what I need to learn, making the same mistakes, this video helps a lot 🙏
Probably the best ski video I've seen. Thanks
Wow, thanks so much for the awesome feedback Michael!
All the more motivation to keep the good content coming 👍
great lesson! thanks. Can't wait to try this.
Thanks for watching!
Don't hesitate to let us know if these tips are useful in your progression ⛷
Thanks for the great instructions and videos. I have a suggestion for another video: Mastering Le Tunnel. Which would be about how to master the Piste behind Le Tunnel. Cheers.
A huge part (really the main problem) of it as a beginner is not knowing how hard you can sink into the turns without sliding off. Once you get to feel that you are actually safer than one thinks then it gets a lot easier to progress.
I’m skiing right now and watching this video. Can’t even stop on a tract with a bigger so I’ll try this , thank you 😊
Great video !
Good progression with a lot of confidence !!
Also great to link Javelin Turns with Royale Christie''s . . .
Glad you enjoyed it Arden!
Thanks for watching and we hope this progression helps you with your own skiing 👍
@@CarvSki Thank you . I will use it as an aid for one of my fellow instructors.
"wow" - love this! Being a total beginner I learn a lot from watching Adrian improve in just one day ⛷ just imagine a lesson like that in Austria, Tyrol, what a beautiful place 🌁
Thank you so much! I'm older, out of shape and only get to ski 1-2 weeks per year. These instructive videos really help me to learn the proper way to ski and to get some mental practice in, before I get out there.
Great vid. Showing progression from morning (both visual of how Aiden ski's, along with his Carv stats. Then comparison to end of day visual (side by side was excellent to see), along with showing ski stats (thank-you for showing what stats were at beginning of day). Video of Aiden at beginning of day, my thought was "that's what I look like." Aim is to look like Aiden at end of day. Now have some drills to work on.
Great video and great exercises! Thanks so much for your dedication. I'll try to implement
superb video and teaching, thanks!
Around the 10 minutes mark in Aiden’s javelin turn there is no mention of his hands positioning. This is another tell-tell sign. If you hands drop to your hips or your pockets you’ll drop into the back seat. Keeping the hands in front of you will help put your body in an athletic stance which will be easier to put pressure on the front on your boots and keeping it there, it’ll make you lean forward instead of back. Also, instead of javelin turns just bring the tail of your ski up while the spatula (front) keeps contact with the snow, it’s an easier drill to do before jumping in javelin turn which you’re now introducing a hip rotation on top of lifting the ski.
Very nice Tom. Cool videos. Keep up!
Regards from Flachau.
Thanks a lot!
More content is on the way 🎿
just watched some super g riders they almost have 90 degree edge angle atleast very close, but carving looks efort less and smooth great video and im learning carving on board
Great tips and drills there Tom and thanks so much for posting Tom. Much appreciated.
You should try garlands, one of the best drills ever. It looks very easy, but its much harder than it looks to get right. It's at slow speed, and the tracks don't lie about your improvement - you know when you've got it. Makes a huge huge difference to your skiing at all speeds. I also learn a lot by following, but with this drill you find out, or get found out. You can be lulled into thinking you're following every move and have good position, balance, on your edges etc, but as you're following there's not much chance to look back and see the quality of your efforts, particularly if your lead has a bit of a lick on. I get at least one, sometimes three trips a year - I always start with doing some garlands, sharpens you up and gets you back in the skill space to have a great trip rather than just think that you've remembered from last season and still got it 🙂.
Brilliant. That's pretty much where I was at years ago now. Where are you filming mate? Looks nice and and quiet. I might see if I can sneak a week towards end of season
We filmed this up on the beautiful Stubai Glacier in Tirol, Austria.
Definitely worth the visit if you ever get the chance!
Great to see the progress, well done both of you. There is nothing like attacking a slope and owning it, carving all the way, it’s bliss.
Well said!
I NEVER did any of those two exercises and I have Ski: IQ 151
But I will try and see if that will improve my score and skiing overall.
Great improvement. Those drills are great. If he just positioned himself a bit more forward and out of the backseat, he could really take advantage of that carve.
How do I get an lesson with Tom Waddington? Please advise how I can organise this with Tom privately, would this possible as I think he’s a great teacher.
Many thanks
Rob
Очень грамотные и полезные советы вы даете начинающим лыжникам! Доходчиво и убедительно осмысленно понятными всем словами.Вы настоящий "волшебник"!!!
The thought of javelins terrifies me! Would love to master them!
Bold move to have crossing your skis in an instructional video
This is really clear explanation!!!!
you have to be facing your upper body down the fall-line as much as possible in order to angulate a sharp turn. As you look down, it is tempting to be passive, but keep that mind active - eg, noting the terrain of the changing slope, ahead. This takes energy and focus, but can be done at any level.
Excellent instructions. One critique. I think correcting first his sitting back habit is most important.
Thanks for your feedback!
If done correctly Javelin turns should help a skier with their basic position. It seems Aidan still has some work to do in this regard.
Have a great winter ⛷
Это потрясающий урок!🎉🎉🎉 Благодарю ❤!!!
Pretty good improvement in just one day!
Great vid I'm the same comfortable skiing but more skiding no carv 😔I've got carv going to France in 3 weeks from🏴 I've had problems with my carv but, honestly @carv have been fantastic not had replacement yet but I believe they doing they best to sort out, great vid thanks mark
This was a really informative video to watch. I feel like I don't weigh enough to carve really well on my skis, but I'm still a beginner. Maybe trying these drills myself would help out. I appreciate the content!
The pressure doesn't necessarily come from your weight but more from your momentum, where speed is a bigger factor than your weight.
Really enjoyed that and very informative will definitely work on that next week 🤘🏻
Great, great and great tips. The best!
I really enjoy and learn a lot of things about skiing
Thanks so much for watching.
Don't hesitate to check out some more of our content if you'd like to learn some more 😉
Great video, thanks lads.
Glad you enjoyed it Dave.
Have a great winter ❄️
@@CarvSki Thanks, Mayerhofen on Sat, will be trying out these drills. 👍
wow! that was getting better at it.
Thanks for watching Martin,
We hope you enjoyed watching this progression!
Очень хороший пример исправления ошибок с минимальными затратами времени и сил. Качественный тренинг и хороший инструктор!
This is great. I just started using Carv recently and I am pretty similar to Aidan at the beginning of this video. My current ski IQ is 130. I am going to work on these drills. HopefullyI can see some of same improvements as he did. #goals!!!
Thanks @Carv! Hope you can get me to the next level in my skiing!!!
Thanks!
Did your scores and skiing improve after doing these drills D surick?
@@patrickpurcell3671 this is a good question, however not as simple for me to answer as it should be....
My score this season (my first season of using carv) did not improve much at all. My first day out I scored a 130 and my season high was a 131, however, I spent the vast majority of the season on bunny slopes teaching my wife to ski, from the basics.
Toward the end of the season I started feeling changes that I needed to make and noticed higher scores in various turns. More turns in the 140s and a few 150s. Unfortunately, by the time these adjustments started to "click" for me it was the last few days of the season and poor conditions.
Ultimately, yes these exercises will absolutely help your scores and your skiing. Most importantly is repetition and noticing the feel of the adjustments, some if which subtle, then building confidence and comfort with these adjustments.
On a side note, and sorry to ramble, I have an indoor ski facility close by and a aki instructor there has told me that my weight is too far back. Im not really in the back seat per say but he told me i need to be more forward. This is 30 years of a bad habit that I will need to break. So far trying to stay forward feels a little awkward. I'm committed to improving though!
Very helpful video. Do you mind sharing where is this at?
Is there any good ski teacher out there who could comment on how folks are told to face down the mountain, but in mid and longer turns good skiers torsos actually face the direction of the skis across the slope and they round the bottom of the turn with the downhill/outside hand/arm punching across the torso in the direction of the skis (not down hill). It is kind of like a fake pole plant, but functions to kind of pull you out of the bottom (and lowest body position) of the turn. These are very obvious in at the 14 second mark where Tom is skiing (and any video of an advanced skier ). In addition to being in his back seat, Aiden never brings outside arm through the turn as noted at 14 sec with Tom, and Aiden's torso always faces down the hill. When your outer hip (and torso) drives forward in the direction of the turn, it has the effect of driving the shin forward and flexing the outside ankle and loading the outer ski. I would love to hear an advanced skier provide some details here for us learning. Most folks are taught to separate the torso from the legs (very important) and to face down the hill (maybe important in the beginning... but not later). It is not how good skiers actually do longer turns (yes for very short ones). Love some helpful commentary here.
@@G3FORC3 A bit too complex for my understanding. here is an example of what i am talking about being square to the hill and torso following the line of the skis. th-cam.com/video/KwYqjx8cXHU/w-d-xo.html Tom does more hand punch than McGlashan but it is still clear to me that his outside hand cuts across his body and his shoulders are actually facing the across the hill. I agree that is does not have to be much of a punch but drawing the outer (downhill) hand up to initiate the exit of the turn is what i am seeing. th-cam.com/video/KwYqjx8cXHU/w-d-xo.html here is another with JF Beaulieu th-cam.com/video/kE4FBPi9-sQ/w-d-xo.html Just my observations. To add another one. Folks often say keep your feet apart but in fact good skiers keep their feet together or more accurately their legs parallel. The feet and skis separate because you go on angle and the inner leg bends and moves forward and up as you lay over. The entire time the legs are parallel, more or less. This is not the same as a wide or shoulder width stance.
Good skiers face the direction of momentum, not necessarily the direction of the skis.
@@DavidSkisMy point is that folks are told to face down the mountain when in fact on mid to long turns they do not. Fine to say face the direction of the momentum. I am good with that, but it is also true that on mid to long turns the two merge and you are only facing down the mountain for a brief portion of the turn. Short turns are very different, so facing down the mountain or as you say facing your momentum makes complete sense, especially because your momentum is fairly constrained with short turns. I see lots of mid level to fairly strong skiers facing down the mountain on mid to long turns. I think this is a legacy of "face down the mountain" advice (like turning while holding your poles across in front of you while keeping your poles square to the mountain. All the kids i have skied with have been taught this drill. My two scents.
My instructor used to have me do garlands and javlins for days. "More body angulation! CARVE!" he'd shout at me. Miss that old guy
Great work!
Where is this brilliant ski track?
Thank you. I really practice these as much as I can.
You got this Adam!
We hope these drills make a difference.
Thanks for watching ⛷
Where is this mountain. So good!
great video! what is that application that they are using?
Thanks for watching!
In this video we were using Carv,
Find out more here: getcarv.com/
And just reach out if you have any questions as we'd be happy to help ⛷
Muchas gracias, excelentes ejercicios y explicación. Thanks
I'm liking these videos, and I think they're good marketing for the product.
A different Carv video emphasized early weighting of the inside ski, and I worked on that the last couple of days. It's a powerful technique.
My question: All of the Carv videos that I've seen so far have been shot on velvet corduroy intermediate slopes. Maybe that works, maybe the concepts are communicated just fine on those easy slopes, but things happen a lot faster on a steep crud run, and depending on the snow, turn initiation can happen in a different way.
Or maybe I'm wrong and all of that velvet corduroy skiing transfers to the steeps.
easy corduroy is the best place to learn these techniques that need to happen faster on steeps. in rougher terrain your technique gaps unravel faster, so we demonstrate a lot on moderate terrain. However this year Carv also scores the terrain steepness and surface.
Love these demonstrations and training videos. What I need is to find the right mountain and run to practice these drills on in the USA. Can you please make some recommendations of mountains and runs that offer enough space and angle to practice the recommended drills?
One of the difficulties I have with these videos is that they are filmed on groomed, very wide open terrain with few obvious bumps/moguls. The only place I have to ski has much, much narrower runs, with often not-great grooming and plenty of bumps and piles of snow. It would be good to demonstrate various skiing skills on that type of more challenging terrain as well. Beyond that, these videos are very helpful.
Outstanding video. Thank you!!
Glad you enjoyed it Raul!
All the best putting these tips into practice ⛷⛷⛷
Super clear video tutorial thanks guys, really helps intermediates with potential to take it to the next level 👍✔🚀🚀🚀
Very useful - as I kind of 'grew-up' on skis without lessons, I found my own way to it. I used these drills with my family last few weeks and now they look so much smoother and in control - also catching up with me - not sure how I feel about the latter! People in comments saying Aidan still has lots to work on - yes of course but look at the difference in one day! I know people who ski just as badly as they did 10 seasons ago.
Thanks for sharing Harrison!
Really happy to hear that you have put these drills into practice and experienced good results.
Have an awesome winter ⛷⛷
Excellente leçon de carving.
Very good. great drills Tom.
Very impressive from both of you. Thanks again Carv for the tips and drills. 😊😊