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Skiing switch help!

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Bangerama
Posts: 20 - Karma: 243
So I'm just learning how to ski switch. I'm comfortable skiing switch but then when it comes time to turn I always seem to get my edges caught up right away and fall awkwardly to the ground. It almost seems like it is impossible for me to turn my skis...

Help me out and save me from the future embarrassment!
Jan 14 2014 7:30PM
15 0
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ThePierceStudios
Posts: 86 - Karma: 526
Start out like you did when you were learning how to ski forwards. Find a bunny hill and practice the pizza and french fry and, big s turns. Next thing you know, you will be carving it up.
Jan 14 2014 7:37PM
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ny300z
Posts: 1299 - Karma: 1,708
repetition man

whenever im on a blue or green trail i ski switch. You get better and better the more you do it. Get out there.
Jan 14 2014 7:43PM
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COMBO*
Posts: 3 - Karma: 12
I find it helps to put one ski slightly more forward of the the other when turning (usually the more downhill ski forward) basically stagger your stance
Jan 14 2014 8:19PM
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Mister.F
Posts: 1206 - Karma: 169
Pick a shoulder you're more comfortable looking over, I get better sight range over my right.
Keep looking over that shoulder and go back and forth scissoring your skis from front binding to rear.
Take wide turns on a wide trail where there's no obstacles (other people).
Keep at it and you'll get it
Jan 14 2014 8:22PM
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Pinak
Posts: 28 - Karma: 12
I find it helps to change which shoulder i look over after each turn. so when i'm turning switch right, i have my left foot a bit more forward than my right foot and look over my right sholder, and when i turn left, i look over my left shoulder and keep my right foot a bit more forward than my left. basically look in the direction of your turn because if you look over the other shoulder you won't be able to see where you're going very well and probably crash or not be able to link turns very well.

start on almost flat and work you're way to steeper terrain.

if you are just starting out, it can help to make switch pizza/wedge turns before moving into parallel turns.
you can do wedge and bring your skis parallel at the end of each turn until you're confident enough to ditch the wedge and turn only parallel.

hope this helps. good luck
Feb 5 2014 2:28PM
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MAWman
Posts: 142 - Karma: 49
^Everyones talking about movement which is key, but whats your setup like?

When i learned to ski switch i had just gotten my skis tuned and i found that was most of my issue, once my edges dulled down a bit from riding i stopped catching edge so hard when i would whirly bird....
Just a thought
Feb 5 2014 2:40PM
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busterburns
Posts: 485 - Karma: 539
In addition to a lot of this advice try and find a hill that levels out kinda quick, it helped me when I learned to get comfortable bombing hills and actually picking up some speed if I knew I had a solid runout
Feb 5 2014 4:25PM
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Slush
Posts: 1916 - Karma: 12,960
When you are going to ski switch, first practice a little bit of doing this:

Turn with one ski forward more, and put a slight angle on your skis to the snow.
like this
Click for larger image
Here, we would be turning left.

This is how your supposed to turn on skis facing forwards, but with Twin Tips, it works just as good going backwards. It's a little strange to get used to, but you'l get it

Look over your shoulder and open up your body. Ski switch more and more, it takes a long time to learn
Feb 5 2014 4:46PM
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