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How the fuck to ski switch

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gnarRat
Posts: 106 - Karma: 993
it is the most awkward feeling for me, I can Never stagger a ski, have looked up vids and still can't get down the starting technique help!
Nov 27 2017 2:14PM
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.FRY.
Posts: 5620 - Karma: 22,861
I find it helps when I clip into my bindings backwards. To experience the full effect of the switch put your boots on backwards too.
Nov 27 2017 2:19PM
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cozzey
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 1,814
Youve just got to find an empty run and commit to it. Dont attempt to stagger a ski on your first try, just slide backwards slowly and you will improve after that, its just like relearning to ski but backwards...
Nov 27 2017 2:44PM
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.CJ.
Posts: 1509 - Karma: 3,669
its like regular skiing... but backwards
Nov 27 2017 2:59PM
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mr-mcsteeze
Posts: 487 - Karma: 1,103
A lot of it is practice.You are almost learning how to ski again.

Find your bunny hill and start there. Start with simple wedge turns. While making turns, start with looking over your downhill shoulder and as you go through the turn, turn your head to your other shoulder to give yourself a better visual of whats down the hill. Dont try to go straight to parallel turns right of the bat because the biggest part of skiing switch isnt how you're turning, its how you are looking down the hill.

Dont let yourself get to discouraged. keep practicing and you will feel that switch parallel will come faster than you thought.
Nov 27 2017 3:03PM
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bquick222
Posts: 124 - Karma: 363
Just ski switch more. Start on a green, try to make a turn or two before you turn around. Just like when you learned to ski if you go to fast, turn up the hill, and boom now you are going forwards. Just keep trying to make more turns and you will get used to it eventually. Once you get better you will naturally stagger your skis so you can see over your shoulder easier. Let me tell ya theres nothing better than bombing down a run switch passing a jerry who's struggling to pizza down it.
Nov 27 2017 3:05PM
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JmckR
Posts: 1279 - Karma: 5,871
Can you do on-snow 360s? (ie spinning around in circles going downhill)

I found learning to ski switch much easier when I could do on-snow 360s both ways.
Nov 27 2017 3:08PM
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Psullivan
Posts: 43 - Karma: 175
just spend an entire day skiing switch and try to feel it out
Nov 27 2017 3:12PM
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BagOTricks
Posts: 815 - Karma: 3,351
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/883571/How-To-Ski-Switch--Backwards-
Nov 27 2017 4:15PM
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ponchodaddy
Posts: 43 - Karma: 245
I learned off a tip my bro gave me, pick a good intermediate run, and just force yourself to ski switch down the whole thing. It can be kind of frustrating, and the first few times you just kinda slide and fall down the whole thing, but you'll see after a few times it gets a lot easier. And don't try to switch lead leg until you feel comfortable skiing with your dominant leg staggered. I think that switching your lead foot is the hardest part.
Nov 27 2017 4:22PM
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SKIINGISEASY
Posts: 1552 - Karma: 2,198
I can ski pretty well switch but when it comes to features, I have lot of trouble checking speed and turning against my staggered foot. I'm wondering the trick to turning without turning your head to the other side? I'm sure practice has a lot to do with it.
Nov 27 2017 4:46PM
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Deepskier
Posts: 3267 - Karma: 4,829
I couldn't ski switch for shit until I slide my foot back farther and moved my hips to make turns more surfy and pivoty. It all clicked within like 5 minutes and after that its just practice practice practice.
Nov 27 2017 4:55PM
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TheDoughAbides
Posts: 1319 - Karma: 4,036
i feel like staggering is the easy part. i hate being momentarily blind when linking turns. ill never get used to it.
Nov 27 2017 5:18PM
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iced
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 17,965
I learned from ski instructing. at the flat areas of runs, I practiced shifting my weight and looking over my shoulders/staggering my skis. I think Jake muller had a decent vid on it
Nov 27 2017 7:09PM
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jjams
Posts: 81 - Karma: 352
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoMXu-vHmY0
Video quality isn't great, but it explains the basics, and then... practice.
Nov 27 2017 7:57PM
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oxiclean
Posts: 615 - Karma: 687
ponchodaddyI learned off a tip my bro gave me, pick a good intermediate run, and just force yourself to ski switch down the whole thing. It can be kind of frustrating, and the first few times you just kinda slide and fall down the whole thing, but you'll see after a few times it gets a lot easier. And don't try to switch lead leg until you feel comfortable skiing with your dominant leg staggered. I think that switching your lead foot is the hardest part.


On anything steeper than flat it's just unnatural to not switch your feet when making turns. Try skiing forwards with the same foot forwards the whole time. It doesn't work.
Nov 27 2017 9:52PM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,176
Psullivanjust spend an entire day skiing switch and try to feel it out

This is what I did. After a few hours it will be almost second nature.
Nov 27 2017 9:58PM
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ponchodaddy
Posts: 43 - Karma: 245
oxicleanOn anything steeper than flat it's just unnatural to not switch your feet when making turns. Try skiing forwards with the same foot forwards the whole time. It doesn't work.


and? it worked for me, plus its just a suggestion. OP should do what works for them.
Nov 27 2017 10:00PM
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losh
Posts: 1126 - Karma: 4,695
I got ok at skiing switch, and then i taught my friend how to ski one day and spent the whole entire day skiing switch. I was mainly doing at first to kinda check on him to see how he was doing and then I realized it was really starting to click and by the end of the day I was easily carving blacks switch.
Nov 27 2017 11:39PM
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.butterz.
Posts: 75 - Karma: 153
You just gotta go for it bro
Nov 28 2017 12:11AM
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270on420out
Posts: 7508 - Karma: 51,054
Spend like a full day and a half just skiing switch.
Nov 28 2017 1:48AM
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csdavidson18
Posts: 97 - Karma: 411
backwards*
Nov 28 2017 2:11PM
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stokedelic
Posts: 1525 - Karma: 3,991
DeepskierI couldn't ski switch for shit until I slide my foot back farther and moved my hips to make turns more surfy and pivoty. It all clicked within like 5 minutes and after that its just practice practice practice.


^this, surf the earth!
Nov 28 2017 8:45PM
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Casey
Posts: 7849 - Karma: 24,317
Center mount. The tip drag of a traditional mount can be kind if an obstacle even when you are comfortable riding switch. having a lot of tail helps initiate switch carves and you can learn to speed check switch on the fly to control speed.
Nov 28 2017 8:56PM
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whiteboi
Posts: 477 - Karma: 1,228
I can rip groomers switch at 30mph+ but I still can't hit jumps switch to save my life, it's wack
Nov 29 2017 4:00AM
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lilgapaboi
Posts: 260 - Karma: 580
It's easier to go faster but scarier when starting out
Nov 29 2017 9:17AM
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TripleXLHoodies
Posts: 348 - Karma: 1,280
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/883791/H-O-W-T-O-S-K-I-S-W-I-T-C-H
This video explains it so well, its like having your eyes opened for the first time
Nov 29 2017 10:34AM
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3652 - Karma: 8,888
Practice. Practice.

It will always be awkward and a bit dangerous until you just get used to it. You can only see ~40% of what is down there depending on which way you are carving. You need to develop your spacial awareness
Nov 29 2017 5:01PM
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saskyskier71
Posts: 123 - Karma: 434
just dedicate to riding switch down a couple of groomers. just get comfortable with the feeling whatever it takes.
Nov 29 2017 8:36PM
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nroc13
Posts: 53 - Karma: 67
Psullivanjust spend an entire day skiing switch and try to feel it out


Yup, find an empty run and go for it. If you feel yourself start to get shaky, wedge backwards to stop, and just start again
Nov 29 2017 11:25PM
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JmckR
Posts: 1279 - Karma: 5,871
jmckay7Can you do on-snow 360s? (ie spinning around in circles going downhill)

I found learning to ski switch much easier when I could do on-snow 360s both ways.


literally no idea why my comment got 5 dislikes... haterz gonna hate
Nov 30 2017 4:03AM
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