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May, 2025

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Staggering while riding switch

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owned
Posts: 345 - Karma: 10
i see so many people in videos staggering their skis while riding switch and turning. maybe this makes me a noob but i can't seem to understand why they do this. i searchbared and people have said that it helps you turn but i don't really buy this. when i ride switch i can carve easily without staggering and just keeping both skis parallel. same way i carve when i ride normally. so the easier turns reason don't make sense. another reason people gave was that it allows you to twist more so you can have a larger visual when riding switch. this i can understand.

so my question is what is/are the main reason(s) to staggering your skis while riding switch.
15 years ago
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hellomynameisjef
Posts: 5794 - Karma: 167
ya answered yah own question dood
15 years ago
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Kirsakid
Posts: 1793 - Karma: 126
well you answered your own question, read your last point
15 years ago
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i.ski.troll.
Posts: 4692 - Karma: 248
You cant carve with your skis completely parallel.  your always staggering while riding regular or switch if your carving.  and yes it does help you turn, a lot.
15 years ago
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Dirac
Posts: 1304 - Karma: 335
You probably do a lead change when carving normally too. Pretty much the only turns that don't have a lead change are like mogul turns where you don't have time. The vision thing is also huge. I have a huge problem because I can stagger super well looking over my unnatural spinning shoulder, but suck at it with my natural one, so I can see way less. It really kills me on rails like a switch 270 on is so tough for me.
15 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61955 - Karma: 126,717
This, you definitely stagger your feet while carving forward, if you don't, then you have no idea how to ski and probably suck at skiing.
15 years ago
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owned
Posts: 345 - Karma: 10
you're right. i do stagger the skis when i carve normally but only a few inches. when people ride switch its more like half a foot to a foot stagger. but like people said, i answered my own question and that is due to them wanting a larger visual when turning their body.

thanks, i learned something new and will try this next time im skiing.
15 years ago
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
people do lead with the uphill ski in a carve, but its not desirable.  if you match your inside with your outside ski (with your shins, not your your toes-stay front seat), you'll find that you can turn much more aggressively
15 years ago
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,899
you always stagger a little bit
15 years ago
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Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,340
more stagger=more steeze
15 years ago
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quixotic
Posts: 6937 - Karma: 2,980
staggering while switch helps you turn much sharper and keeps you balanced on your turns. you should buy it.
15 years ago
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Mr_FreshShirt
Posts: 992 - Karma: 41
to my adhd positive friend this is known as the "ignant stagger"
15 years ago
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Canuker
Posts: 4730 - Karma: 165

^this, i already bought it myself, not regrets.

15 years ago
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Pman13a
Posts: 3800 - Karma: 452
its for vision

when you are skiing forward, you always have a view of everything. however when skiing switch your vision is very limited.   If you dont stagger, then your shoulders are square to the hill, you cant see anything, and its just plain dangerous to ski switch.  Staggering makes you able to point your shoulders downhill and see as well as you can
15 years ago
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mezzy
Posts: 298 - Karma: 15
this. it helps you see better
15 years ago
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TTSwitchrider674
Posts: 179 - Karma: 26
when i try to stagger my stance, its hard and uncomfortable to do, do i just need to get over it or what?
15 years ago
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306


its definitely pretty minimal
15 years ago
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Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9096 - Karma: 3,071
they staggered like 4 inches haha
15 years ago
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colin13
Posts: 2201 - Karma: 216
the main reason is to allow your shoulders to open up and give you a chance to know where you're going. just like you said in your post
15 years ago
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Malcolm
Posts: 15953 - Karma: 9,501
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQKVUBXVSkU
15 years ago
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Malcolm
Posts: 15953 - Karma: 9,501

15 years ago
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
I think this whole edit is done switch. The guy kills it


15 years ago
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
Not to mention it's a lot easier to see where you're going when staggered to one side.
15 years ago
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crazy_karl
Posts: 774 - Karma: 5,046
Hahah my mom skis like that with her knees perfectly together. So funny to watch! oldschool as fuck
15 years ago
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Dan-Man
Posts: 7488 - Karma: 3,630
haggarding while switch= i am a pro. haha, but yea it is good to stagger a lil bit.
15 years ago
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aflightlessbird
Posts: 516 - Karma: 518
i would be nothing out staggering.
15 years ago
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h_bar
Posts: 1611 - Karma: 506
Click for larger image
15 years ago
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owned
Posts: 345 - Karma: 10
thanks asshole. i don't remember there being a skill requirement to post on ns.
15 years ago
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asapCferg
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 358
Staggering helps with balance. It doesn't to be done but some have a tendency to do so
15 years ago
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technique.
Posts: 1538 - Karma: 308
Click for larger imageClick for larger image
15 years ago
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,355
wait.
Riding switch is different then riding straight????
15 years ago
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The_Future
Posts: 1418 - Karma: 607
Good skiers know that when carving (forward) that when you bring your down hill ski (the ski that is usually slightly behind your uphill ski) forward and closer to having your ski tips equal, you will carve at a much sharper arch.   I hope that made sense. Basically, when you're laying down a fatty carve if you power your downhill ski forward, you will turn sharper.  I would think that the same concept could apply to skiing switch.  So the kid could have a point, but it is very true that being able to see where you're going when going switch is very important.
15 years ago
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Mike.Steezze
Posts: 407 - Karma: 17
I find that when im not turning that it also allows me to put more weight on my dominant leg more easily.
15 years ago
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