How to keep CARVING on steeper terrain

When you increase your turn size in high speed, you will also keep slowing by hitting all the people who don't expect you to pull such a wide turn :)

The timing of this is just so perfect!! I always go into defensive when getting into steeper runs and start doing slide turns which is not carving obviously. Then I lose my rhythm and find it hard to get back into carving again which frustrates the hell out of me. So thank you so much for how to maintain carving with getting into steeper runs! I will practice this tomorrow!

Over 50 years of skiing and still passionately anticipating many more years!

I call it skiing with your down hill fist. I find that if you steer with your hands, or fists, it helps to stabilise the turn. For some extraordinary reason , call it magic, the initiation of the turn starts with the uphill fist “talking to “ the uphill ski and directing the turn, and in no time the uphill fist has become the downhill fist. The final session of video shows this very well. He is a very “fisty” skier. It is lovely to watch. Thank you.

The hard part of method 2 is on an even moderately crowded day you take up a lot more of the mountain. It becomes difficult on narrow pitches and on wide runs it dramatically increase risk of collision. I've had a couple close calls and am very careful before using technique 2. It's fun but I've been working on using more of technique 3 to stay closer to the fall line.

Very clear exposition. I too end up skidding turns once the slope gets steep. I love the simplicity of the "fast line slow" vs the "slow line fast" and I'm looking forward to trying the latter (safely) on my next ski trip.

There are many tips for beginners online but very few useful tips for advanced skiers who want to polish their skills. You do a great job by filling this gap. Keep up the good work!

As a beginner skier learning how to carve and be able to carve down steeper slopes, I found this video very helpful!! Thank you!!!

I been skiing for 16 years, 4 years of racing, and since then been a combination from skiing in resort to backcountry, randonnee, etc. And you´ve accomplished explaining what most instructors (who love the snow same way as I do) can´t. Thank you for such a useful video!

I have been skiing a long time, but trying to ski fast, I often go into the defensive mode when I hit a steeper pitch. It is so good to hear you articulate that problem, showing how you can keep good turn shape and control speed at the same time. It is such a mental thing, and it is so good to hear is said so I can keep it in mind and hold my confidence when things get too fast. Thanks.

I watched this video before going skiing in Colorado. It had been almost 35 years since I skied really steep runs. Once there, I practiced the techniques on a few steeper blue runs first then took them to the groomed black runs. I am so glad I watched this video before I went. I found that my confidence built as the day went on and I was able to handle the steeps with improving skills. I found that I progressed to being able to ski the slow line fast. I also found, as another comment mentioned, that at times I could actually maintain the arc and go slightly up the slope to slow even further If I desired. I will continue to practice these techniques. Thanks for the great video!!

Thank you for this unique explanation. Skiing the slow line fast concept has improved my skill significantly and I can do slopes with more confidence now. You’re a great teacher 🙏

Thanks for your comment on pivoting: I'm always disagreeing with coaches saying you have to maintain contact with the snow all the time, while my experience and watching FIS slalom says otherwise, especially on steep slopes. Skiing is dynamic and never say never. Also all bodies are different and styles differ

Great content and tips! Thanks for posting! It is greatly appreciated as we know what it takes to keep on making new content as well as being very instructive.

another year, another major advancement in Triggerboy62's video technology. Cheers, mate, looking forward to more!

Great instructional video. Can't wait to try this out this weekend. Thank you, Tom!

Nice one, Tom. One of the demos we had to do for full cert was transitioning from fast line slow to fast line fast. I personally don’t find the racers’ pivot, skid, edge particularly beautiful to watch but goddamn it is ruthlessly effective on the steep bulletproof ice they travel over. So I guess in its own way it is beautiful.

Tom, congratulations on your Youtube success. 23 thousand subscribers. Very well deserved, some of the best ski instruction content on Youtube.

Hi Tom, thanks for all your videos… I want to let you know I will be competing in my regional Master’s racing league this winter and also get trained for ski racing. You video really inspired me into ski racing and get better at skiing. All the best! James

I've been working on controlling my speed and technique on steeper terrain this past week. The video helped a lot. I still struggle controlling the shape of my turn and speed on steep terrain that's also skied out and bumpy. Adding an actual carving ski to my quiver was a game changer. Now I can feel how flexing the ski and foot pressure changes the shape of the turn. Thank you for the tips!