Switch Turns?

HomerPimpinSo I've been screwing around with skiing switch cause cruising down greens after merging from a more difficult run gets boring sometimes, but I can't seem to exactly turn like they do in videos where they can control where they want to go. I can stagger my feet and feel decently comfortable just riding down but I can't seem to actually get my edges in and go anywhere other than straight. I can carve just fine normally but I can't seem to even turn when I'm riding switch. Do I just need to roll my ankles more or does anyone have any tips? Thanks in advance.

Yea i had the same problem for a while, especially with carving the way opposite my staggered stance wanted me to go. I dont know if this is the correct way but i just figured out that i had use my body alot more by leaning into the carve and trusting the skis.

doing 'falling leaf' turns can help. Hockey stop, but end up switch while still looking down the fall line, then revert. Do it on both sides for a while, you'll get the feel for how to initiate the turn switch.

cakattackYea i had the same problem for a while, especially with carving the way opposite my staggered stance wanted me to go. I dont know if this is the correct way but i just figured out that i had use my body alot more by leaning into the carve and trusting the skis.

This. Trust your gear. Really feel the edge and lean into it with your knees and hips just like forward carving. Your stagger should be very dynamic. Lately my ankle has been hurting a lot so I have been side hitting less and just carving around switch as much as I can. It's so much fun!

Jake mueller (empire ski tutorials in think?) has a great video on it

Staggered stance to open the hips and shoulders so that you can look downhill without craning your neck.
You will naturally be stronger on one side, that’s the side you will probably return to most and learn to carve first on. On that comfortable side just seek the feeling of switching from flat base to edge, and try little by little to get up on each edge, and just like carving forwards: flat base -> one edge -> back to flat base -> next edge.

you will definitely feel awkward, hook up, and scare yourself from time to time.

once you have a very basic feeling of edge to edge, start working looking over both shoulders. Work on switching the staggered stance with flat bases, and then try to play with the edges a little.

start on your dominant side, look uphill, point straight up fall-line with the uphill arm and start bringing it down the hill, opening your shoulders, hips, and vision to the next side, making that the downhill ski/hip/shoulder/side.

hope this helps!! I LOVE skiing backwards and it’s some of the most fun you can have on piste and it opens up a whole other realm of tricks and feelings, and you can practice it on any trail on the hill!

I found when riding switch the trick is to swing your hips back and forth like a pendulum to initiate the turns. It sounds weird but you kind of guide your body with your butt. I bombed a NASTAR course switch once, it was one of my favorite moments of random skiing shenanigans.

A good way to practice is to start riding switch then push your hips to the left and feel your skis go on edge to carve then slowly swing your hips back to your right to carve the other way. Keep your head over one shoulder to start, moving your head back in forth will confuse the mechanics of it.

The switch progression is the same as forward.
1.straight wedge 2.straight wedge parallel varying wedge size 3. Straight parallel with stepping, pick one foot up at a time 4. Straight wedge shifting balance left and right. 5. Wedge j turn wuth pressure/balance on outside foot 6. Step 5 lookingover outside shoulder 7. Wedge j turn hockey stop, turn leg to pressure outside foot pinky toe against boot 8. Link wedge turns 9. Link wedge parallel turns 10. Parallel after fall line and earlier as you get confortable 11. Step 10 but jump at the apex to find for/aft balance while turning, if you cant, switch bunny hops while going straight 12. Link turns parallel look over outside or inside shoulder situationaly, maintain balance/pressure on outside/downhill ski.

Switch carving:
1. Switch traverse 2. Switch traverse shuffle feet back and forth find good ankle flexion 3. Switch traverse hip shuffle, find hip position that stops downhill toe oversteer, ribs may touch hips if overdone 4. Railroad tracks rolling ankles to slightly tip tibia 5. Railroad tracks with widening and narrowing stance 6. J turn with ankle initiation 7. Cross inside hand to outside foot to achieve angulation 8. Link turns stupid fast roll ankle, use angulation

Im no expert but this got me started.

as mentioned before really stagger your legs so you can naturally see behind you. thats the biggest thing. force yourself to, it feels awkward at first but then it just becomes natural. the more you do it the better youll get (obviously). but yeah skiing backwards is fun. i think my switch skiing at this point makes me look like a much better skier than i actually am haha

Just do a normal turn but make sure you’re backwards.

Dont forget your lead change! Thats maybe what you are missing

freestyler540Dont forget your lead change! Thats maybe what you are missing

Yeah this helps me to transition into the next turn the other way, it kind of kicks you over onto your other edges starting the turn. That and as others have said earlier, really leaning into the turns to set your edge hard

ski switch all the time as much as you can and it will get better, takes time

Does your guys' neck get sore from looking over your shoulder so much?

BigPurpleSkiSuitDoes your guys' neck get sore from looking over your shoulder so much?

My lats always cramp up.

BigPurpleSkiSuitDoes your guys' neck get sore from looking over your shoulder so much?

Nah I twist more with my whole body so I don't have to twist with my head as much.

Find yourself a mellow open trail and pick out a few spots on the hill you want to turn around. Learning to ride switch is essentially the same (in your head) as learning to ride forward. You need to teach your brain and body how to react in certain situations.

You could also be dealing with an equipment issue. If your skis have a set back sidecut or binding placement you won't be able to engage turns the same at no fault of your own.

Best advice I can think of is just take a few runs each time you ski and try to do different circumference turns. Pay attention to how you need to move your body to engage those types of turns.