Controlling speed on steep slopes

I'd like to be able to keep from accelerating too much on steeper slopes. I've heard people say that you "turn longer." I've also heard that you take quicker, shorter turns. These seem contradictory to me. Any advice?

What's your ability?

If beginner and you find yourself a bit scared of a steep slope try a little downward skid. This is where you keep your ski's running across the hill, point your edges towards the hill and commence sliding down. you are able to control your speed as you move downward in a straight line.

Intermediate, To "ski" a steep hill, i would advice (to begin with) big diagonals across the hill with quick turns at each end of the run. This will get your legs more familier with the type of speed which could be achieved by pointing downwards and also develop turning technique which leads on to the "long turns."

I assume that by "turn longer" they mean the "racing line" of the turn from heading in one direction to the other, this would be a good way to "ski" the slope using the edges of the skis but will be a bit quicker than the diagonals with quick turns.

For this, as i was told by an instructor in Andorra a few years back, imagine you're holding a football (soccer ball to the yanks) between the knees. To turn right the ball moves closer to the right ankle. (and vice versa) This gets you using the edges of the skis rather than the bases. It's difficult at first but i always imagine having a ball between the legs when i ski now and i'd say im ok at carving.

Advance, straight line? :lol:

If there's one thing i've learned from this site/pav, it's that every run is unique and can throw something else at you which might catch even the pro's out. The way you ski a run needs to be adapted in accordance to the type of run.

For example, A red run can be narrow/steep/bumpy or the opposites, or a mix of all three and more. The way you ski it should always be how you feel confident and comfortable to ski it.

If you're at the level where you are comfortable to get on a steep run, a lesson or 2 may help you to progress and eat the bas"£$d alive!!

souldrive wrote:
I assume that by "turn longer" they mean the "racing line" of the turn from heading in one direction to the other, this would be a good way to "ski" the slope using the edges of the skis but will be a bit quicker than the diagonals with quick turns.

No, they mean finish the turn. The reason most people just keep accelerating is that they never finish turning, they accelerate out of one turn and before the momentum is spent try to turn again, cumulatively building speed on each aborted turn, a lower level skier manages half a dozen or a dozen turns before having to pull up or breaking away somehow. The self styled expert just learns to hang on longer and longer and assumes they're progressing.

More precisely as you exit a turn you're building momentum which will be converted to acceleration and then increased speed, as the skis runs out the turn we let then dump the momentum without accelerating or adding speed and then initiate a new turn at a consistent speed.

hermanmunster wrote:I've also heard that you take quicker, shorter turns. These seem contradictory to me.

No contradiction, a different technique for a different slope, loads of edge check, tending to hockey-stops on each turn deflecting force back into the slope. We'd try that on very steep and/or very narrow slopes.

So, you're saying that as you start the turn, you're accelerating and only start to decelerate later on?

Herman,

"So, you're saying that as you start the turn, you're accelerating and only start to decelerate later on?"

Imagine travelling across the slope, at a constant speed.

Whatever technique you use, initiate a turn.

As you start to turn, you begin to accelerate.

When you are pointing directly down the fall line, you are at the maximum speed of the turn.

As you continue the turn, your speed will gradually decrease.

At the point that you feel that you are comfortably in control, then initiate the next turn.

At the point that you wish to stop, then complete the turn until you stop.

One point to watch. Most people up to intermedaite level have a favoured direction of turn, and so you will remain more in control if you recognise this and carry out a more complete turn on the weak direction.

Ise uses the term "loads of edge check". The decelerating force is a function of:

Mass, (your weight),
Square of the velocity,
Angle of the ski to the slope.

So, as we build up our technique and capability, the speed down the slope gradually increases, and the braking force, (edge check), increases.

Something that comes with experience is developing pitch awareness. The problem is most acute for many when the slope gets increasingly steeper. The turns that had checked your speed befor sudenly no longer work. That's when you need to remember the good advise above befor your speed goes beyond your ability to make controlled turns.

Think also of becomming more agressive not more timid. It's best to find a short steep section that flattens out below and then attack it.

Trencher