Master Making Those Modern Arcs.

Ski instructor Paul Lorenz has a great instructional series on You Tube showing how to carve on skis.  To properly execute this type of turn, it is important to consider the basics of balance. 

Those of us who have skied for a while know that it is most important to stand on the new downhill ski during a turn and make sure that most of your weight powers that ski through the radius of the turn.  For some of us coming from a traditional background with longer skis, that also meant lifting the inside ski a little  to aid in the execution of the turn and to make sure that most of the weight was on that downhill ski. 

With the advent of the modern ski with shorter lengths and more dramatic side cut, the up-unweighting that we all utilized is not that necessary any more.  Sure there are times when you need to up- unweight ( powder, crud, etc).  But for the most part, the modern turn is executed by moving the center of mass across the skis and towards the next turn.  Think of it as moving your belly button towards the next turn.  This way, the turn is more lateral than vertical. 

Look at the video and you will see a balanced, wider track stance, with lateral movement and flexion to execute the modern turn on groomed conditions.  If you watch the World Cup on the Olympic Channel or NBC Peacock, watch the racers and their stance.  GS turns today are very much like Paul’s.  Lateral movement with very little vertical movement.  Downhill and Super G are similar with the exception being slalom, where sometimes vertical movement is crucial to get the skis in position for a tight turn. 

At the beginning of each season, I try to make my first turns rounded and executed with both feet on the ground throughout the turn.  I make a conscious effort to be flexed, in a lower position (I cut my pole length this season to accommodate), and move across the skis instead of utilizing vertical movement.    We are not skiing on longer skis anymore and to really appreciate the value of the modern ski, we need to study and practice the modern turn.  Try it on your first outing.  Nice rounded turns.