How to Improve Your Ski Carving Technique: Simple Exercises on the Slopes

Carving, the skiing technique that allows you to carve precise and fluid curves on the snow, is the goal of many intermediate and advanced skiers. Mastering carving will not only improve your style, but also increase your speed and control on the slopes. Here are a series of simple exercises you can practice on the slopes to perfect your carving technique.

Understanding the basics of carving

Before we get into the exercises, it is important to understand the principle of carving. Unlike traditional skiing where the skis drift, in carving, the skis stay on their edge throughout the turn, tracing a clean line in the snow. This requires a good body lean, constant pressure on the inside edges of the skis and good timing in transferring weight from one ski to the other.

Exercise 1: Crossings in squares

Objective: Develop edge feel and balance.

1. Choose a wide, uncrowded trail with a gentle slope.
2. Go down in a traverse, leaning heavily on the upstream edge of your skis.
3. Lean your body towards the mountain to increase the support angle.
4. Maintain this position throughout the entire traverse, feeling the edge “bite” the snow.
5. Repeat in the other direction.

This exercise will help you develop the feel for edge pressure, which is essential for carving.

Exercise 2: “J” turns

Objective: Work on turn initiation and edging.

1. Go straight up the slope.
2. Initiate a turn by gently leaning your body toward the inside of the turn.
3. Let the skis engage naturally into the curve.
4. Hold the position until your skis move slightly up the slope, forming a "J".
5. Repeat on the other side.

This exercise will allow you to feel how the lean of the body naturally engages the skis in the turn.

Exercise 3: Short turns in a row

Objective: Work on timing and fluidity in changing edges.

1. Start with short carving turns.
2. Focus on quickly transferring weight from one ski to the other.
3. Keep a steady pace in your changes of direction.
4. Try to maintain a constant speed.

This exercise will improve your responsiveness and your ability to chain carving turns smoothly.

Exercise 4: The “hands on knees” carving

Objective: Improve upper body position and angulation.

1. Place your hands on your knees.
2. Perform carving turns while maintaining this position.
3. Focus on leaning your entire body toward the inside of the turn.
4. Feel how your knees guide the movement.

This position will force you to keep your upper body stable and aligned, promoting better carving technique.

Exercise 5: Carving “one ski”

Objective: Improve balance and pressure on the edge.

1. On an easy slope, lift one ski slightly off the ground.
2. Perform a complete turn on one ski.
3. Change skis at every turn.
4. Focus on the pressure exerted on the edge of the ski on the ground.

This exercise, although difficult, will greatly improve your balance and edge feel.

Tips for progress

• Always start by warming up before practicing these exercises.
• Choose trails that are suitable for your level, wide and not very busy.
• Gradually increase speed and lean angle as you gain confidence.
• Don't hesitate to ask a friend to film you to analyze your technique.
• Regular practice is the key to progress. Incorporate these exercises into every ski outing.

Conclusion

Improving your carving technique requires patience and practice. These simple exercises, which can be done on any suitable slope, will allow you to make significant progress. Remember that the key to carving lies in balance, body lean and pressure on the edges. With perseverance, you will quickly feel an improvement in your fluidity and control on the slopes. Happy skiing and happy carving!