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December, 2024

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Switch Confidence

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webuh
Posts: 46 - Karma: 169
i had a day at a small mountain today so i decided to work on my shitty switch. ive gotten pretty good with switch carving (look at over the opposite shoulder of which way to you want to turn, "point" to the trees on the side that you want to turn), but i get nervous at higher speeds, and haven't yet been able to complete an entire green while switch. I'm crouching a little, sorta like normal carving, but in backwards. Is this just a confidence issue that I should work out with practice, or something else (dont have a video sorry, i ski solo usually)

also, if anybody could well describe "good" switch skiing technique, it would be appreciated

thx
Dec 29 2024 11:30PM
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SurfinCow
Posts: 313 - Karma: 2,488
Sounds like you understand the basics, it’s just practice/exposure at this point. The first few days out I’m always sketched going switch fast but after a few times going fast it gets better. Keep going until you can do the whole run switch you’ll be chillin
Dec 30 2024 1:15AM
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3235 - Karma: 30,968
Stagger ur feet more so that u can get ur shoulder and hips more open. It shouldn’t feel like skiing “backwards”.. it feels more sideways sorta how snowboarders have their upper body. Hard to explain in text lol
Dec 30 2024 2:07AM
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2734 - Karma: 12,513
Hell yeah, working on switch skiing can be a blast dude. Trying to carve standing more upright helped me a lot, and as mentioned above trying to almost stand sideways. I worked a lot on carving without switching shoulders, made me a lot more confident and didn’t slash as much during carves. Something clicked for me when i was demoing the salomon qst 118. The wide platform of the ski slowed down the response a lot and let me take my time getting into the carve and the long turn radius let me go faster than i did as well.
keep pointing those tips uphill and you will master switch skiing like a pro.
Dec 30 2024 3:18AM
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GorillaMarketGMK
Posts: 180 - Karma: 787
KilaTsunamiStagger ur feet more so that u can get ur shoulder and hips more open. It shouldn’t feel like skiing “backwards”.. it feels more sideways sorta how snowboarders have their upper body. Hard to explain in text lol


This is 100% the best way to think about it. I also suggest trying to keep look over the same shoulder as much as possible, unless you’re really carving hard in the opposite direction of your shoulder. Switching shoulders can create a blind spot even if just for a second. But that’s definitely just personal preference.
Dec 30 2024 11:36AM
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elm.
Posts: 1510 - Karma: 13,602
I’ve always found that patience is the key to skiing switch fast. Always know what is around you and when switching shoulders/turning, don’t rush it. Also plan to turn on a good patch of snow. If you’re going through a rough patch while turning, just be patient and don’t rush. You may be blind for a few seconds, but as long as you’re confident in knowing your surroundings and don’t panic you will be fine.
Dec 30 2024 12:23PM
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bradwalters
Posts: 389 - Karma: 3,137
Maude Raymond is damn good at carving switch. There's a video at the link below from her instagram that has some pretty good turns in there. Someone mentioned it already, but you can see that she staggers her feet while carving and it really helps spot where you're going so things aren't so blind.

https://www.instagram.com/maadmaude/reel/CkNuZWcp0OD/
Dec 30 2024 2:37PM
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webuh
Posts: 46 - Karma: 169
bradwaltersMaude Raymond is damn good at carving switch. There's a video at the link below from her instagram that has some pretty good turns in there. Someone mentioned it already, but you can see that she staggers her feet while carving and it really helps spot where you're going so things aren't so blind.

https://www.instagram.com/maadmaude/reel/CkNuZWcp0OD/


cool vid, but all dopeness is eliminated by that corny ass prada beanie instead of a lid
Dec 30 2024 3:19PM
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GorillaMarketGMK
Posts: 180 - Karma: 787
webuhcool vid, but all dopeness is eliminated by that corny ass prada beanie instead of a lid


Maybe it’s because she doesn’t lack confidence, I get that wearing a helmet is the smarter path but it’s still a personal preference. It’s not like it physically affects you.
Dec 30 2024 3:54PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52034 - Karma: 167,205
Pro skiers don't want you to know this hack. But most put a small mirror on their ski pole. That's how they line things up going switch at hogh speeds.

I was skeptical at first but it changed my life.

http://www.skipolemirror.com enter save20abortionator for 20% off your first order.
Dec 30 2024 4:13PM
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KungKalmar
Posts: 1933 - Karma: 16,206
webuhcool vid, but all dopeness is eliminated by that corny ass prada beanie instead of a lid


This is some poor people propaganda. Prada is swag af like her turns. I wish I could ski like that.

Seriously tho why is Prada sponsoring action sport athletes? I have seen lot of Prada lately especially in vids sponsored by Redbull.
Dec 30 2024 4:37PM
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bradwalters
Posts: 389 - Karma: 3,137
KungKalmarThis is some poor people propaganda. Prada is swag af like her turns. I wish I could ski like that.

Seriously tho why is Prada sponsoring action sport athletes? I have seen lot of Prada lately especially in vids sponsored by Redbull.


She’s not wearing a Prada beanie lol. It clearly says MAAD which is how she brands her products.
Dec 30 2024 5:05PM
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Static
Posts: 8575 - Karma: 3,991
webuhcool vid, but all dopeness is eliminated by that corny ass prada beanie instead of a lid

Bro, you know skiing ass first is dangerous too right? Maybe try the xc trails if you are so concerned with saftey.
Dec 30 2024 5:18PM
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KungKalmar
Posts: 1933 - Karma: 16,206
bradwaltersShe’s not wearing a Prada beanie lol. It clearly says MAAD which is how she brands her products.

lol. I got pranked by that dude. Maybe next time I'll watch with my own eyes first.
Dec 30 2024 5:35PM
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3235 - Karma: 30,968
GorillaMarketGMKThis is 100% the best way to think about it. I also suggest trying to keep look over the same shoulder as much as possible, unless you’re really carving hard in the opposite direction of your shoulder. Switching shoulders can create a blind spot even if just for a second. But that’s definitely just personal preference.


I actually suggest spending equal time on both sides while learning, that way one side doesn’t become overly dominant… like me and my left side lol
Dec 30 2024 8:44PM
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GorillaMarketGMK
Posts: 180 - Karma: 787
Fair I guess what I was trying to say is as you’re cruising to try and not be switched shoulders, I do agree that practicing both ways is optimal just that as you ride down a run switch to try and pick one shoulder to use as your main anchor point and as long as it’s not to gnarly a carve to try and keep using the same shoulder. In the park that’s a different story though sometimes
Dec 30 2024 9:30PM
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6434 - Karma: 69,946
KilaTsunamiI actually suggest spending equal time on both sides while learning, that way one side doesn’t become overly dominant… like me and my left side lol

I try to work on both sides but looking over my left shoulder, I definitely feel how much tighter my back is and it kinda hurts lol. The main reason I'm an over-the-right-shoulder switch skier.
Dec 30 2024 11:40PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14527 - Karma: 10,970
Like most people are saying, get comfortable looking over both shoulders but stick to one. Switching your “looking” shoulder isn’t really possible when going fast. Stagger your feet and let’r rip
Dec 31 2024 7:16AM
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bennwithtwons
Posts: 1528 - Karma: 13,843
here is a quick video showing how you can link turns together from one side to the other. it is a moderate pitch trail- kirkwood calls it a blue-rated trail, so speeds might be a bit higher than what you're going for at the moment but the fundamentals are the same. you can actually see quite far in both directions when you've got a good amount of upper body rotation, so don't worry about that. as for switching from one side to the other, i will often take a brief second to look uphill as i alternate my stance to just make sure someone isn't bombing down into the spot i am about to occupy.
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1102980/IMG-4625-MOV
Jan 1 2025 2:20PM
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webuh
Posts: 46 - Karma: 169
bennwithtwonshere is a quick video showing how you can link turns together from one side to the other. it is a moderate pitch trail- kirkwood calls it a blue-rated trail, so speeds might be a bit higher than what you're going for at the moment but the fundamentals are the same. you can actually see quite far in both directions when you've got a good amount of upper body rotation, so don't worry about that. as for switching from one side to the other, i will often take a brief second to look uphill as i alternate my stance to just make sure someone isn't bombing down into the spot i am about to occupy.
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1102980/IMG-4625-MOV


great video, thank you
Jan 1 2025 3:24PM
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CRtrailing
Posts: 111 - Karma: 904
I've been trying to work on switch carves this season as well. Right now I'm in an odd spot where I'm pretty good a skiing normal switch, but I can only do it looking over my right shoulder. It's kinda preventing me from progressing on switch spins and sw 2s, so I'll have to figure it out lol.
Jan 2 2025 9:39AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13136 - Karma: 19,304
Lead change the ski at high speeds. Having one ski slightly ahead of the other helps me quite a bit. It also adds style
Jan 3 2025 4:25PM
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Angioedema
Posts: 408 - Karma: 1,840
i enjoy switch skiing far more than regs. ski switch everywhere will improve fast, get comfortable over both shoulders asap
Jan 3 2025 4:48PM
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SuspiciousFish
Posts: 2794 - Karma: 16,912
I found the best way to carve switch is to use your butt like a pendulum to initiate turns. It sounds weird but it really works. Also figure out if looking over one shoulder or switching is better for you. Aside from that just practice all the time and practice switching back and forth a lot. Part of what makes switch skiing scary is not have the confidence to to pop back around to forward skiing if you start going too fast. I hit a NASTAR course switch once, it was one of my crowning achievements lol
Jan 9 2025 3:56PM
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jompcock
Posts: 1571 - Karma: 11,698
Don't worry too much about going fast until you have good technique and are comfortable carving both ways. Always avoid the switch pizza, either both skis go left or both skis go right. Try making slow turns where your outside ski in the turn slides further downhill.
Jan 10 2025 10:28PM
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