Can't get skis around

[knolan12]

Hi Divas!

I have a pair of Blizzard Black Pearls 82s in a 159 length. I've had them for about 5 years, though had to take off a couple of winters skiing cuz I was pregnant. I got them after finally upgrading from my beginner skis I had for over 10 years and they were longer than I initially wanted. I'm 5'5 and a low intermediate skier and wanted a shorter length, but got talked into these and told "I'd grow into them". I ski in the northeast.

I overall like them, but when the terrain gets steep, I feel like I can't get them around all the way. I end up physically lifting a ski to get it around. It's a particular problem on more narrow trails. I feel like I don't have enough room to complete my turn.

I'm sure this is part technique/skill - there's definitely room to complete the turn, it's not that narrow haha But is it possible I'd do better on a shorter ski? I'm never going to be an aggressive skier and do not have a need for speed haha

 

[Jilly]

Sounds like technique.

1. Is your upper body, shoulders facing downhill?
2. Is your weight on the downhill ski and not equal?
3. Are your skis flat, not on edge, as you start your turn?

A drill I learned and had great success with was.....as you traverse, just before the turn, bounce 3X, then immediately start your turn.
Why does it work? You're off your edges, your weight is equal.

Those skis should be OK. At 5'5 my all mountains were usually in the 160's. My carvers are that length.

 

[knolan12]

Sounds like technique.

1. Is your upper body, shoulders facing downhill?
2. Is your weight on the downhill ski and not equal?
3. Are your skis flat, not on edge, as you start your turn?

A drill I learned and had great success with was.....as you traverse, just before the turn, bounce 3X, then immediately start your turn.
Why does it work? You're off your edges, your weight is equal.

Those skis should be OK. At 5'5 my all mountains were usually in the 160's. My carvers are that length.

I definitely default to my upper body following my skis when it starts to get steep so that's something I'm actively working on.

I will definitely try that drill! Are you bouncing actively as you ski, so if your skis are pointing left do you do the bounce then start your turn right?

 

[Christy]

The length should not be too long for you unless you are very light. I'm 5'5" 118 lbs and have the BP 98s in 159 and consider that length perfect. I previously owned BPs in 166 and those were too long--I couldn't keep the tips from crossing. Next time you are at the hill you could try demoing a ski with a narrower turn radius, or that is shorter, or has a different construction, to see what you think.

 

[Jilly]

I will definitely try that drill! Are you bouncing actively as you ski, so if your skis are pointing left do you do the bounce then start your turn right?

Just before you turn. First time, give yourself lots of room. If you can find a steeper blue slope, might be the best way to start. If I find I'm not connecting as I should, I fall back to this. I also do it in my warm up runs.

Kathy Prophet (CSIAL4) calls it bounce, bounce whoosh.

 

[scandium]

Hi Divas!

I have a pair of Blizzard Black Pearls 82s in a 159 length. I've had them for about 5 years, though had to take off a couple of winters skiing cuz I was pregnant. I got them after finally upgrading from my beginner skis I had for over 10 years and they were longer than I initially wanted. I'm 5'5 and a low intermediate skier and wanted a shorter length, but got talked into these and told "I'd grow into them". I ski in the northeast.

I overall like them, but when the terrain gets steep, I feel like I can't get them around all the way. I end up physically lifting a ski to get it around. It's a particular problem on more narrow trails. I feel like I don't have enough room to complete my turn.

I'm sure this is part technique/skill - there's definitely room to complete the turn, it's not that narrow haha But is it possible I'd do better on a shorter ski? I'm never going to be an aggressive skier and do not have a need for speed haha

Technique! It sounds like you are maybe relying on pushing your tails around at the last minute due to incorrect turn initiation, or initiating from the upper body if you are having to lift the tails. A shorter ski may just make you feel even less confident on the steeps as if it is poor technique, you have less ski for stability. Would a lesson be within your budget? That is often a great way to work on technique with new skis.

 

[MrsPlow]

One thing that helps me in narrower steeper terrain is to follow someone else who's confident and just do what they do. I often find I can make the turn if I've seen it done first.

Do get some lessons though if you can manage it. I was making it up as I went along for years; a bit of proper coaching last season has been a huge help.

 

[liquidfeet]

Hi Divas!
when the terrain gets steep, I feel like I can't get them around all the way. I end up physically lifting a ski to get it around. It's a particular problem on more narrow trails. I feel like I don't have enough room to complete my turn.

I'm sure this is part technique/skill - there's definitely room to complete the turn, it's not that narrow haha But is it possible I'd do better on a shorter ski? I'm never going to be an aggressive skier and do not have a need for speed

I definitely default to my upper body following my skis when it starts to get steep so that's something I'm actively working on.

You don't need a shorter ski to control your speed on steep terrain.

You already know that the way to slow down is to complete your turns, and it sounds like you are trying to do that but something is stopping your skis from pointing all the way across the hill. I'm guessing they just start heading downhill hill again before they point across the fall line. They go downhill before you give them permission. It's like they have a mind of their own.

1. Am I right?

If I'm right with my guesses above, then I also think you may be allowing your skis to go into a wedge and they get stuck in that wedge. A wedge will cause you to need to lift the uphill ski to point at the trees instead of downhill.

2. Is this what you're referring to when you say you have to lift a ski?

You also say your upper body points in the same direction your skis point. The upper body could be "following" the skis, or it could be "leading" the skis by turning ahead of them.

3. Which do you think it is? Do you turn your shoulders to point across the hill to start your turns? Do you swing your downhill arm around so it points at the trees?

..................................
It sounds like you need to learn a better way to start your turns. Certain ways of initiating turns can empower a skier to get skis to point together, parallel, across the fall line at the trees; other ways not so much. You'll probably want to develop a better way of initiating turns on wide low pitch terrain at first, then move onto steeper but still wide terrain to purge the fear. Heading across the hill, or even a little up the hill, aka completing turns, will enable you to coast to a stop after every turn, or slow between turns to a snail's pace if you prefer. This is speed control at its best.

You can build another skill on top of learning a better initiation. You can work on that completion. You can trail to complete a turn in a very short distance without allowing the skis to continue towards the trees as they coast to a stop. But that's for later.

I'll wait to hear your responses to those three questions before talking about initiations.

 

[mustski]

Are you having the same problem with both skis and turns in both directions? I ask this because I had that problem with my left ski on right hand turns and canting my boots solved the problem.

 

[WestCoastCaliSkier]

I have this problem also! And only on one side. What is canting your boot?

 

[Pequenita]

I have this problem also! And only on one side. What is canting your boot?

Yep - I was going to ask OP whether it could be an alignment issue. I was able to get out of the habit of picking up my left ski in left turns, but I still engaged my right inside edge much faster than my left outside edge -- to the point where I'd be crossing my tips and double ejecting at somewhat high speeds -- until I got my left boot canted 1.5º.

 

[WestCoastCaliSkier]

Yep - I was going to ask OP whether it could be an alignment issue. I was able to get out of the habit of picking up my left ski in left turns, but I still engaged my right inside edge much faster than my left outside edge -- to the point where I'd be crossing my tips and double ejecting at somewhat high speeds -- until I got my left boot canted 1.5º.

This is super helpful feedback I’ll look into this if I feel it continues

 

[mustski]

I have this problem also! And only on one side. What is canting your boot?

A good boot fitter can figure it out pretty quickly. They basically align your stance to neutral

 

[veravail]

Hi Divas!

I have a pair of Blizzard Black Pearls 82s in a 159 length. I've had them for about 5 years, though had to take off a couple of winters skiing cuz I was pregnant. I got them after finally upgrading from my beginner skis I had for over 10 years and they were longer than I initially wanted. I'm 5'5 and a low intermediate skier and wanted a shorter length, but got talked into these and told "I'd grow into them". I ski in the northeast.

I overall like them, but when the terrain gets steep, I feel like I can't get them around all the way. I end up physically lifting a ski to get it around. It's a particular problem on more narrow trails. I feel like I don't have enough room to complete my turn.

I'm sure this is part technique/skill - there's definitely room to complete the turn, it's not that narrow haha But is it possible I'd do better on a shorter ski? I'm never going to be an aggressive skier and do not have a need for speed haha

You really should consider getting a lesson. Without seeing your skiing, you’re getting educated, well-meaning guesses here. Save yourself time and struggle, get a Level 2 or 3 PSIA instructor to evaluate your equipment and technique and give you a focus. Good luck

 

[knolan12]

You don't need a shorter ski to control your speed on steep terrain.

You already know that the way to slow down is to complete your turns, and it sounds like you are trying to do that but something is stopping your skis from pointing all the way across the hill. I'm guessing they just start heading downhill hill again before they point across the fall line. They go downhill before you give them permission. It's like they have a mind of their own.

1. Am I right?

If I'm right with my guesses above, then I also think you may be allowing your skis to go into a wedge and they get stuck in that wedge. A wedge will cause you to need to lift the uphill ski to point at the trees instead of downhill.

2. Is this what you're referring to when you say you have to lift a ski?

You also say your upper body points in the same direction your skis point. The upper body could be "following" the skis, or it could be "leading" the skis by turning ahead of them.

3. Which do you think it is? Do you turn your shoulders to point across the hill to start your turns? Do you swing your downhill arm around so it points at the trees?

..................................
It sounds like you need to learn a better way to start your turns. Certain ways of initiating turns can empower a skier to get skis to point together, parallel, across the fall line at the trees; other ways not so much. You'll probably want to develop a better way of initiating turns on wide low pitch terrain at first, then move onto steeper but still wide terrain to purge the fear. Heading across the hill, or even a little up the hill, aka completing turns, will enable you to coast to a stop after every turn, or slow between turns to a snail's pace if you prefer. This is speed control at its best.

You can build another skill on top of learning a better initiation. You can work on that completion. You can trail to complete a turn in a very short distance without allowing the skis to continue towards the trees as they coast to a stop. But that's for later.

I'll wait to hear your responses to those three questions before talking about initiations.

Are you a psychic hahaha

I definitely get stuck in a wedge when I'm feeling less confident. I can eventually get back into parallel, but if I'm feeling especially unconfident, I'm stuck in wedge indefinitely haha

I think my upper body might be leading the skis. I REALLY I have to concentrate to keep my upper body focused downhill and if things are going poorly, I end up doing hard C turns and end up basically stopped in the middle of the trail cuz I'm facing horizontally. I definitely make too many turns to control my speed, every lesson I've been in (and my expert skier husband) encourages me to make longer S turns and I am able to lead with my downhill arm on mild terrain.

The turn initiation is a good call-out. My general method is "take a deep breath and go for it cuz there's no way else down" hahaha On steeper terrain, I come at it from an angle which is probably an issue cuz then I get stuck heading in that direction and end up in a wedge to turn.