You're one of the best teachers I've ever seen. You break up the process very clearly and into logical steps to acquire the skills you're teaching. I'm up at Mammoth Mtn. this week, switching back to skiing after years of snowboarding so I can ski w/the kids. These are all great tips for me to get back up to speed again. Thank you.
Great Video Klaus, very inspiring! I'm looking forward to applying your techniques on the slopes this year after taking over a decade break from the sport.
Thanks a lot. The best carving lesson I have ever seen! It is very importand the comments that before lean you knees you have a little bit your inside ski in frond. For me was the key for starting carving. I have seen too many videos for carving and nobody mention it. Thanks again.
Thank you. :) Don't overdo the inside ski lead though. Moving the inside ski forward is just part of the drill to discover the edge easier. Once linking turns look for the same feeling of putting the ski on the edge that you got there but without moving the inside ski forward at the start. The inside ski lead will then be created naturally by you balancing over the outside ski. For the full lessons please see vimeo.com/sofaskischool/vod_pages or www.sofaski.com
@@KlausMair Thanks for your answer. I have noticed this, reading some of your answer on some other comments after I wrote mine, but I have to say that by doing this drill, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I FELT THAT I AM CARVING WITH MY SKI and it was realy exchiting. Since ski season is over now in Cyprus, I am realy anctious for the for next. Klaus since the most laptop havent the option of DVD any more, why dont you offer your lesson online. Best regards.
:) That's great! I am happy I could help. You can purchase all videos for ondemand and download through my website www.sofaski.com videos can be watch on and offline on smartphone, smart TV, tablet,... Greets to Cyprus! Stay safe! Klaus
I dunno Klaus. I'm looking for more flex at the ankles and a more aggressive athletic stance: closer angle at the angles and greater reach forward with the upper body. Plus constant pressure to the boot cuffs and pulling the top ski back to initiate the turn, then sliding the bottom ski from the hip through the turn. Hmm American technique looks pretty good right now, and I'm Eurotrash.
Hi Klaus, you ski and teach well! I thought I knew how to carve until recently when a high level guide told me I shouldn't be leading a turn with my inside ski, he also said that I was poking my butt out towards the inside of the turn instead of starting with my knees. 1) is it true I shouldn't lead with my inside ski? 2) are the 2 problems connected? Thanks!!
Thanks for your question. It is correct that you should not lead the turn with your inside ski or actively push your inside ski forward at the start of the turn. In the Carving Lesson I show an exercise where I move the inside ski forward to increase the chance that the student can discover carving, that he gets the skis on the edge and does not turn his feet. Once the turns are linked this is not done actively any more. You can find more info in the description of the clip and other answers to comments. I hope this answers your question.
Thank you Klaus! What a nice guy to spend time with such thoughtful replies. You really helped me with this point. Now to my next questions: a) When carving some poeple say to extend when transitioning. Some say flex and release. What is the correct method? I noticed most races do not extend when racing b) I noticed racers have 'coil' and 'counter rotation'. Should I try to replicate this? On the other hand my instructor told me to rotate my upper body and hips in the direction of the turn. Are these not contradictory? Which is best?
You are welcome. Thank you for your feedback. To your questions: a) There are two main techniques to create release to initiate the next turn. One is by "flex and release" or "retract and extend", pulling the knees up to then turn the skis underneath the body, the other one is to extend go up and mainly forward. In the Austrian teaching system the latter is the main mechanism that is used from the beginner to the expert level and is often reffered to as the Grundschwung or Basic Turn. The bigger the forces get the more the up gets reduced to a minimum but you will still see the same skiers' length as he lets himself fall forward more. You can see that also with ski racers and especially in the passages of a race where the course has a bigger offset, or where they need to prepare more for a crucial turn you will see them move more. In the straighter passages where the forces are smaller you will see them stay back and just retract and extend trying to create as little friction as possible. If you have a close look at Hirscher and Shiffrin you will see that the one element they are doing better than many others is how dynamic and active they move forward and extend into the bigger, most decisice turns of a race where many others stay more passive. b) you need to change your coach. you don't want to rotate in the direction you are going. Copying racers that ski at full speed might not be the solution either as they are dealing with much bigger forces and therefore get to angles that you won't need to copy. The goal for you should be to get a good understanding how you can increase outside ski pressure when necessary, which will give you more control and performance but you certainly don't want to swing your body around. Where did you get the lesson?
Thank you Klaus. Again a thoughtful and comprehensive answer. a) That makes sense - I think I will try to master both. Interesting about Hirscher and Shiffrin extending more on the decisive turns. Flex and release seems to benefit in the form of lower friction. What is the benefit of retract/extending over flex & release in certain situations like as you said, bigger more decisive turns? b) I got my lesson in Japan from a Slovenian race coach but to be honest it seems I was the one miss-understanding him! Back when I was intermediate level it was always 'upper body facing fall line' but I've noticed all expert skiiers and racers (when they are free skiing only) when making longer turns have shoulders facing the way they are going. Outside arm even slightly moves across the body, maybe a modern day pole plant..I guess my question is, while free skiing larger turns is this correct to have upper body facing the direction of turn or down the fall line? When do I have to think about 'coiling' and 'counter' ?
Hi Ross, just a short answer before i forget to reply. a) I assume you mean what is the benefit of retract/extend vs up&fw? The benefit is that it is quicker, you get immediate release. The con that you don't recenter and don't get on the front of the ski as much early in the turn. b) The bigger the force the more i need to face it, the more i need to be able to create outside ski pressure. See dowhnhill racers on tighter turns. If i ski bigger turns on easier terrain or on super grippy snow,... i can reduce that and carve a clean turn with my body being square or even leaning in. I just need to be able to create as much os ski pressure as necessary to make the skis carve and not slide. A talented racer can swing his arms around on a flat slope and it might even help his momentum and speed but he will have to stop that and do the opposite once the forces get bigger or he will spin out... long answer anyway. ;) This is also covered in the Blue to Powder chapters Control Black and Red. Greets, Klaus vimeo.com/ondemand/bluetopowder
Is the pressure on the edges of the skis equal on both skis when carving? Or should we have most of the pressure on the outside ski (i.e. the left ski when turning right)?
+Quinn Tai You want to get as much pressure on your outside ski so you can make enough direction without the skis starting to slide. If the force working on you is bigger this needs to be more, if it is less it gets closer to 50/50. If you have more outside ski pressure than necessary you will create more friction and lose speed, with not enough the skis will start to slide or stem out.
Start on an easy blue run. If you fall down you probably were too much over your inside/uphill ski. Balance over your outside ski and then start to edge the skis more.
If you do it right you should also be able to carve on a more icy surface. Sometimes when it gets very icy all you can do is try to stay in balance and slide over it.
Hi thanks i will try this weekend. Another issue i have is when its a semi steep long run, i start out fine with the carving, then by the middle im picking up too much speed and cant carve anymore lol. I see lots of people do this good for the first few turns and then picks up speed and just go straight hoping there's not alot of people.
Thanks for pointing this out. I also see this a lot and try to get out of their way. ;) It is really important to be able to control the speed. Make sure to work on your ski basics and also your sliding skills. If you realize that you cannot control the speed on a certain run while carving the turns then try to slide the turns and finish them more. Make sure you don't get pushed in the back and that you decide how fast you go and not your skis. More info on the basics can be found in my online videos. I hope this helps a bit. Greets, Klaus www.sofaskischool.com
Klaus Mair hey Klaus, how to get as low as you did at4:13, hand touching the ground? Still weighted on the downhill skis? What’s the slope condition for doing that? Any Speed requirements? How do you manage the bouncing force that comes from the highly pressured skis while increasing the edge angle? Sometime when I try to do the same, the skis bounced me up too early while I increasing the edge angle. So it’s hard to get as low and hands touching the ground as you did.
You're one of the best teachers I've ever seen. You break up the process very clearly and into logical steps to acquire the skills you're teaching. I'm up at Mammoth Mtn. this week, switching back to skiing after years of snowboarding so I can ski w/the kids. These are all great tips for me to get back up to speed again. Thank you.
+MikeLightHawaii Thank you! I hope you had a great time at Mammoth. Such a great place and definitely one of my favourite mountains!
Awesome video. He covers all the major fundamentals in 5 minutes.
The best carving lesson I've seen yet!
three words.. wow what a skier!! thanks for great tips! cheers from norway☺☺
Great Video Klaus, very inspiring! I'm looking forward to applying your techniques on the slopes this year after taking over a decade break from the sport.
Thanks a lot. The best carving lesson I have ever seen!
Thank you. :)
Thanks a lot. The best carving lesson I have ever seen! It is very importand the comments that before lean you knees you have a little bit your inside ski in frond. For me was the key for starting carving. I have seen too many videos for carving and nobody mention it. Thanks again.
Thank you. :) Don't overdo the inside ski lead though. Moving the inside ski forward is just part of the drill to discover the edge easier. Once linking turns look for the same feeling of putting the ski on the edge that you got there but without moving the inside ski forward at the start. The inside ski lead will then be created naturally by you balancing over the outside ski. For the full lessons please see vimeo.com/sofaskischool/vod_pages or www.sofaski.com
@@KlausMair Thanks for your answer. I have noticed this, reading some of your answer on some other comments after I wrote mine, but I have to say that by doing this drill, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I FELT THAT I AM CARVING WITH MY SKI and it was realy exchiting. Since ski season is over now in Cyprus, I am realy anctious for the for next. Klaus since the most laptop havent the option of DVD any more, why dont you offer your lesson online.
Best regards.
:) That's great! I am happy I could help. You can purchase all videos for ondemand and download through my website www.sofaski.com videos can be watch on and offline on smartphone, smart TV, tablet,... Greets to Cyprus! Stay safe! Klaus
Very nice. The control is stellar.
I dunno Klaus. I'm looking for more flex at the ankles and a more aggressive athletic stance: closer angle at the angles and greater reach forward with the upper body. Plus constant pressure to the boot cuffs and pulling the top ski back to initiate the turn, then sliding the bottom ski from the hip through the turn. Hmm American technique looks pretty good right now, and I'm Eurotrash.
Excellent video! Thank you!
It's amazing when a skier can keep their skis that close together. I can't get them that close, so I really suck skiing in powder.
I think of the feet most of the time on skis and roll the feet, the knees follow. Still, good video.
Great video!
Thanks for your job Klaus! Your lessons is simple and magic!
Thank you Roman! Have fun skiing! :)
Well done Klaus
Thank you :)
Top Quality!
Hi Klaus, you ski and teach well! I thought I knew how to carve until recently when a high level guide told me I shouldn't be leading a turn with my inside ski, he also said that I was poking my butt out towards the inside of the turn instead of starting with my knees. 1) is it true I shouldn't lead with my inside ski? 2) are the 2 problems connected? Thanks!!
Thanks for your question. It is correct that you should not lead the turn with your inside ski or actively push your inside ski forward at the start of the turn. In the Carving Lesson I show an exercise where I move the inside ski forward to increase the chance that the student can discover carving, that he gets the skis on the edge and does not turn his feet. Once the turns are linked this is not done actively any more. You can find more info in the description of the clip and other answers to comments. I hope this answers your question.
Thank you Klaus! What a nice guy to spend time with such thoughtful replies. You really helped me with this point. Now to my next questions:
a) When carving some poeple say to extend when transitioning. Some say flex and release. What is the correct method? I noticed most races do not extend when racing
b) I noticed racers have 'coil' and 'counter rotation'. Should I try to replicate this? On the other hand my instructor told me to rotate my upper body and hips in the direction of the turn. Are these not contradictory? Which is best?
You are welcome. Thank you for your feedback. To your questions:
a) There are two main techniques to create release to initiate the next turn. One is by "flex and release" or "retract and extend", pulling the knees up to then turn the skis underneath the body, the other one is to extend go up and mainly forward. In the Austrian teaching system the latter is the main mechanism that is used from the beginner to the expert level and is often reffered to as the Grundschwung or Basic Turn. The bigger the forces get the more the up gets reduced to a minimum but you will still see the same skiers' length as he lets himself fall forward more. You can see that also with ski racers and especially in the passages of a race where the course has a bigger offset, or where they need to prepare more for a crucial turn you will see them move more. In the straighter passages where the forces are smaller you will see them stay back and just retract and extend trying to create as little friction as possible. If you have a close look at Hirscher and Shiffrin you will see that the one element they are doing better than many others is how dynamic and active they move forward and extend into the bigger, most decisice turns of a race where many others stay more passive.
b) you need to change your coach. you don't want to rotate in the direction you are going. Copying racers that ski at full speed might not be the solution either as they are dealing with much bigger forces and therefore get to angles that you won't need to copy. The goal for you should be to get a good understanding how you can increase outside ski pressure when necessary, which will give you more control and performance but you certainly don't want to swing your body around. Where did you get the lesson?
Thank you Klaus. Again a thoughtful and comprehensive answer.
a) That makes sense - I think I will try to master both. Interesting about Hirscher and Shiffrin extending more on the decisive turns. Flex and release seems to benefit in the form of lower friction. What is the benefit of retract/extending over flex & release in certain situations like as you said, bigger more decisive turns?
b) I got my lesson in Japan from a Slovenian race coach but to be honest it seems I was the one miss-understanding him! Back when I was intermediate level it was always 'upper body facing fall line' but I've noticed all expert skiiers and racers (when they are free skiing only) when making longer turns have shoulders facing the way they are going. Outside arm even slightly moves across the body, maybe a modern day pole plant..I guess my question is, while free skiing larger turns is this correct to have upper body facing the direction of turn or down the fall line? When do I have to think about 'coiling' and 'counter' ?
Hi Ross, just a short answer before i forget to reply.
a) I assume you mean what is the benefit of retract/extend vs up&fw? The benefit is that it is quicker, you get immediate release. The con that you don't recenter and don't get on the front of the ski as much early in the turn.
b) The bigger the force the more i need to face it, the more i need to be able to create outside ski pressure. See dowhnhill racers on tighter turns. If i ski bigger turns on easier terrain or on super grippy snow,... i can reduce that and carve a clean turn with my body being square or even leaning in. I just need to be able to create as much os ski pressure as necessary to make the skis carve and not slide. A talented racer can swing his arms around on a flat slope and it might even help his momentum and speed but he will have to stop that and do the opposite once the forces get bigger or he will spin out... long answer anyway. ;) This is also covered in the Blue to Powder chapters Control Black and Red. Greets, Klaus vimeo.com/ondemand/bluetopowder
Very fine. Lift your outer ski up and show us extreme white pass turn pushed to the bodycarve :)
+In Crease Thanks. It says bysHighlight when i right click it.
Is the pressure on the edges of the skis equal on both skis when carving? Or should we have most of the pressure on the outside ski (i.e. the left ski when turning right)?
+Quinn Tai You want to get as much pressure on your outside ski so you can make enough direction without the skis starting to slide. If the force working on you is bigger this needs to be more, if it is less it gets closer to 50/50. If you have more outside ski pressure than necessary you will create more friction and lose speed, with not enough the skis will start to slide or stem out.
Classic Austrian system is 50outside\50inside, but in profi sport 95outside\05inside
@@rvinogradoff That is NOT correct. Always much more pressure on the outside ski, ALWAYS!
Amazing!
youre amazing, thank you!
Thank you Liam!
The only problem that I just figured out literally right now is that I can’t roll both my knees together and in a rhythm
4:15 magnifique !!
When i tried this, i just fell right down :P Maybe i did something wrong? Especially in red area, i just loose control, any tips?
Start on an easy blue run. If you fall down you probably were too much over your inside/uphill ski. Balance over your outside ski and then start to edge the skis more.
Or you can help the guy behind you. He needs your lessons more that ever 1:08
Classic! Klaus, that man needs your help! I second that opinion!
Nice.
When i turn and try to carve with speed (intermediate slope), sometimes i slide and its hard for me to make the next turn. Maybe its too icy?
If you do it right you should also be able to carve on a more icy surface. Sometimes when it gets very icy all you can do is try to stay in balance and slide over it.
Hi thanks i will try this weekend. Another issue i have is when its a semi steep long run, i start out fine with the carving, then by the middle im picking up too much speed and cant carve anymore lol. I see lots of people do this good for the first few turns and then picks up speed and just go straight hoping there's not alot of people.
Thanks for pointing this out. I also see this a lot and try to get out of their way. ;) It is really important to be able to control the speed. Make sure to work on your ski basics and also your sliding skills. If you realize that you cannot control the speed on a certain run while carving the turns then try to slide the turns and finish them more. Make sure you don't get pushed in the back and that you decide how fast you go and not your skis. More info on the basics can be found in my online videos. I hope this helps a bit. Greets, Klaus www.sofaskischool.com
Thanks Klaus! Subscribed!
Klaus Mair hey Klaus, how to get as low as you did at4:13, hand touching the ground? Still weighted on the downhill skis? What’s the slope condition for doing that? Any Speed requirements? How do you manage the bouncing force that comes from the highly pressured skis while increasing the edge angle? Sometime when I try to do the same, the skis bounced me up too early while I increasing the edge angle. So it’s hard to get as low and hands touching the ground as you did.
Anyone else see the person fall over at 1:08 xDDD
I can't work out if he is trying to get in the shot or just wants a free lesson!
Yeah I'm pretty sure he did it on purpose to be on the shot
He literally lost control for asec
1:08 Se non cadi non stai sciando