Performing Step Turns with Your Cross-Country Skis
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- Опубліковано 2 лис 2024
- Step turns aren't the sexiest cross-country techniques to perform, but they are critical to experiencing flow while skiing. They're an in-between type of a technique that enables you to seamlessly transition from various terrain features, as well as to avoid objects and people on the trail.
I also find that working on step turns is a great way in which to practice being light and quick on your feet. This is something that we can all benefit from. Additionally, step turns provide us endless opportunities to work on angulation, edge control, push-off, weight transfer, and glide.
There are a couple of technical aspects that you have to understand in order to effectively perform step turns (so you don't go skidding around corners!). So, check out the video for my thoughts on step turns.
In this video, I was skiing on a set of Fischer S-Bound 98mm with Rottefella 3-pin bindings. And I was wearing Alpina Alaska 75mm boots.
Please note that I include accurate subtitles/closed captions for all of my videos, so if you're having a difficult time hearing me enable the "CC" option (bottom right of video player).
** You can change the speed of the video (slower/faster) by accessing the "Playback Speed" option via the settings gear icon (bottom right corner of the video player).
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Please note that I produced my series of articles and videos tagged “Cross-Country Skiing Explained” with the beginner or intermediate cross-country skier in mind. Therefore, I don’t intend to address racing-oriented philosophy, technique, or gear selection.
Classic Cross-Country Ski Components:
Introduction to Classic Cross-Country Skis (Part 1)
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Geometry of Classic Cross-Country Skis (Part 2)
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The Grip Zone of Classic Cross-Country Skis (Part 3)
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Types of Bindings for Classic Cross-Country Skiing (Part 4)
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Ski Boots for Classic Cross-Country Skiing (Part 5)
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Classic Cross-Country Ski Poles (Part 6)
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FAQs about Classic Cross-Country Skiing
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Waxing Your “Waxless” Cross-Country Skis (for beginner and intermediate xc skiers):
Introduction to Waxing Your Waxless XC Skis
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Step-by-Step Waxing Tutorial
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FAQs About Waxing Your Waxless XC Skis
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Considerations for buying cross-country ski gear (new and beginner xc skiers):
Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1)
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Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 2)
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I've produced this collection of articles and videos about backcountry travel and exploration with the beginner and intermediate adventurer in mind. This is the demographic for whom I most often served while working in the Lake Tahoe outdoor recreation industry. In essence, these informational projects I create and publish are extensions of the many conversations we've had over the years.
Please note that, although I encourage you to venture out of your comfort zone, you need to know your limits and when to turn back. Tahoe Trail Guide and its contributors are not liable for property loss or damage, personal injury, or death. Always consult multiple sources when venturing into the backcountry. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario. Your safety is your responsibility.
Copyright © 2022 Jared Manninen
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Thanks for your tips! I like your relaxed and sober way of teaching.
You're welcome, Thomas! Thanks for the positive feedback. I appreciate it 🤗
This is extremely helpful! Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words. Glad I could be of service :)
can't wait to try these out on my next outing.
Excellent! Let me know how it goes :)
Love these videos. Its very re-asuring to hear that some of these maneuvers aren't supposed to be 'sexy'. I guess we all want to look good as a subconscious goal and that onto itself can be a distraction from safety and learning. BTW: I saw the caption that this video has staged elements. I was wondering how you look like you have some good momentum on what appears to be flat terrain. Were you coming into the camera from a slope or just using uber wax on slick snow?
Thanks so much for the nice feedback! Yes, safety is paramount :)
As far as the "staged" elements go, mostly I was just trying to express the idea that I don't just ski around randomly performing step turns (although it's good practice). I am, however, on a slight downhill in spite of it looking flat. GoPro cameras tend to flatten everything so that hills don't look steep at all. But I like to practice the step turns on small hills to get comfortable with making those changes in directions at a higher speed. And, it's much easier to do them when you have momentum on your side.
Again, thanks for tuning back in and for contributing to the conversation!
Thanks, perfect info. I’m a beginner but now I know how to lift my skis on the run, tips up and tails down😊
Glad I could be of service :) Thanks for the kind words, and for tuning in! Let me know if you ever have any questions.
All clear, thank you very much
Thank you for the feedback! I appreciate it :)
Favorite XC turn.
Excellent! I find sharp turns to be particularly exhilarating 🤗
that's a lot of very important information
Thanks, Alex! Glad I could be of service :)
Howdy and thanks for the informative videos. I'm curious about the locations in your videos. mostly they seem relatively flat and wide open and perfect for practice. can you recommend any areas along 80 and/or 50?
Hey Vince!
Thanks for watching, and the kind words :)
I tend to do the vast majority of my off-trail/backcountry xc skiing on the south shore, where I live.
- South Lake Tahoe (tahoetrailguide.com/cross-country-skiing-and-snowshoeing-at-washoe-meadows-state-park/)
- Luther Pass (tahoetrailguide.com/cross-country-skiing-and-snowshoeing-at-luther-pass-grass-lake/)
- Hope Valley (tahoetrailguide.com/cross-country-skiing-and-snowshoeing-in-hope-valley-via-hope-valley-sno-park/)
- Carson Pass (tahoetrailguide.com/cross-country-skiing-and-snowshoeing-to-winnemucca-lake/)
Many of those locations are along SR 89 and SR 88 in South Tahoe. Some of the flat areas are obvious, such as Grass Lake on Luther Pass and the huge meadows in Hope Valley. But some of the other locations just happen to be flat in-between more mountainous terrain. For example, you have to navigate some steeper terrain to get to Big Meadow (tahoetrailguide.com/cross-country-skiing-and-snowshoeing-at-big-meadow/). And Meiss Meadow (tahoetrailguide.com/overnight-xc-skiing-excursion-to-little-round-top-mountain/) is super flat for a couple of miles, but the access to it can be challenging.
As I said above, I'm not super familiar with off-trail/backcountry terrain along the HWY 80 corridor as I just don't xc ski there often. I do work at Tahoe Donner Cross Country (Truckee) every Sunday, but I'm just at the resort when I go up there. And, there are a number of groomed cross-country ski areas/resorts in North Tahoe that I would utilize if I was on the north shore. But Kirkwood XC (I also work there mid-week) is about the only real groomed xc ski area on the south shore which is why I tend to ski in the backcountry down here. Basically, I don't want to go to work when I'm not working :) haha.
Anyway, hope that helps! Let me know if you have other questions :)
@@JaredManninen thanks for the quick and detailed response. great tips. thank you. it's a rare youtuber that actual replies to comments. I'm roughly familiar with many of the places you mentioned. just not from a xc ski perspective. so, now I have some places to go checkout. best friend lives in meyer's and I used to board kirkwood all the time before vail bought it and my friend was surplused. had many a good time in the apartment over the Kirwood XC center. cheers
@@vincecheema1615 You're welcome, Vince :)
I agree that it's pretty uncommon for people to respond. I can understand celebrities who get thousands of comments every day not writing back, but I find it kinda weird that most UA-camrs (who don't have massive followings) just don't reply. I mean, if a person is going to go through the trouble to make videos, why not have the short conversation afterwards?
Anyway, it sounds like you're well-versed in most of the locations at which I xc ski off-trail. They're all pretty easy to access, although some require sno-park permits/land passes. But in those are easy to obtain online and it doesn't take much to get you money's worth. But, yeah, a lot of the flat spots are just in-between steeper terrain. And often when I find those locations, I'll do some filming :)
Take care, and I hope you're able to do some fun xc skiing this season (in spite of the lower snow!).
thanks Jared. now we just need it to get a little colder. I need the practice so I can get to the point i can safely handle intermediate trails. Your videos are super helpful. but not as helpful as actual time on skis. Hoping for a miracle march as Im going to ski the major cascade peaks from here to Seattle.
@@vincecheema1615 I wish it was colder, too. The snow that fell last night was wet slop (at 32 degrees). And I agree that nothing can replace time on skis :) Good luck with the training. Sounds like a great adventure!
Hey Jared, I noticed in this video that the snow you’re on appears to be frozen crust. Are step turns more effective (easier to perform) on crust rather than parallel turns? Im trying to spend more time this season on downhill turns, and want to better understand if snow conditions do effectively influence what turn technique I should use.
Hey Andrew!
Great to hear from you :) Yes, I'm always adapting my technique (particularly on the downhill) based on snow conditions.
But I shy away from making traditional downhill turns in icy and crusty conditions. It's just so easy to catch an edge if you don't have the right edge angle when turning on hard-packed stuff. So I'll do some hockey stops (i.e. one quick turn) to slow down, but that's usually about it. But when that snow warms up a bit and there's a nice layer of slush on top - well, that's a great time to work on any downhill turn.
Step turns are relatively easy to perform in firm snow conditions when you become proficient with the proper angulation for cornering. I don't do them in steep terrain, however, since step turns are used for changing direction without losing speed (not for slowing down). That said, I step turn in any condition because it's natural for me and it's usually all that's required to change my direction in most terrain.
In softer conditions I like to use the Telemark Turn. In firm snow but with a little give, like a top layer of slush, I like to work on parallel and stem Christie turns. Snowplows are always on the menu no matter the conditions even though they may be difficult to pull off in certain types of snow.
I just try to learn as menu different techniques so that I have some options to draw upon in variable terrain.
Hope that helps. Let me know if you have other questions :)
@@JaredManninen thanks Jared,
I have a few more turn-related questions, but I’ll send them to you via patreon tomorrow when Im at my computer. Tonight we’re getting 6-8”, on top of the 5.5” we got earlier this week (which turned into crust real quick). I’ll tell you more about it soon
Excellent! And that sounds like a good snowstorm ❄️😊
Oh, one otherthing. Your Paypal and patreon links on this video caption appear dead. Sorry if you mentioned it in a more recent video. I have a lot to catch up.
Thanks for the heads-up about the links. I just checked and there were a couple of weird characters at the end, but not actually in the text editor box so I'm not sure what that was about. I'll have to do some random checks on my other videos!
Yeah, all of those Patreon and PayPal links are broken, so I'm going through and fixing them now. So weird. But I totally appreciate you pointing that out!
Maybe put a link on your website (if its not already there), under the about section or near the store link?
@@ecphotographer Yeah, I have them everywhere (UA-cam, TahoeTrailGuide, and my personal website JaredManninen). So, now I'm checking them all :) I have a feeling they're not all broken simply for the fact that I still have been getting Patreon subscribers and the occasion PayPal tip. So, who knows.
@@ecphotographer Just wanted to say thanks for the support, btw. I just saw the PayPal :) Let me know if you ever have any other questions!