Can't Carve!

T

thebrewers12

Member
So I've now spent 2 full days in the park, but I have 1 problem... I keep sliding out on any sort of ice or anything steep on groomers. Is this something typical for detuned park skis? This was at the end of the day when it was kinda getting icy.

Any tips?
 
well... definitely learn to ski before you learn park, then you won't have that problem. also, you will slide a bit on ice, especially on skis with dull edges, but if you ski with some speed and just bend your knees, get forward & carve it like a man, then you can still ski ice.
 
are you a leaner? you cant lean into turns to carve on shit edges. shouldnt do it anytime actually. initiate with your joints
 
Odds are that 2 days in the park won't detune your edges too much, but if they were already detuned for the park then I can see why you would have trouble holding an edge. In flat out crazy icy conditions, your edges have to be crazy tuned and your skis have to be on steroids to hold a good edge, so I wouldn't worry too much.
 
I'm new to park not skiing! Ive never had any problems w/ my other skis at all. I've had some almost pure ice runs and not had any issues until ive used my park skis.
 
I assume only your tips are really detuned, and if so, I wouldn't do too much underfoot due to rails and other crap will do that for you.

Keep your HIPS over your BOOTS(meaning get forward), hands FORWARD, initiate the turn from the knees, and maybe widen out your stance a bit.

Don't swing with your arms when you carve a turn, keep your upper body still and facing downhill. Only gapers turn with their arms(I'm talking about on-ground stuff, park jumps are different).

Feel the edge and see how grabby it is. Compare it to a knife edge. If it is similar, then you are golden. This is a good way to test, and if you really want a good edge, ask the shop for a race edge, which is 2°. I use that on my race skis and it holds on ice like no other.

Good luck.
 
when you want to spin or swap or a rail, it's much smoother and easier with dull edges. less risk of catching too.
 
2 degree base bevel tip to tail keeps my tips and tails relatively sharp for about a month of skiing. After that under foot is so messed up from rails it's pointless to re-bevel the edges and I just deal with it until the skis are shot
 
This guy knows what's up.

If you sharpen the tip and tail (not to a full race edge, but just generally sharp) you'll be able to use your edges to carve and if you detune underfoot (from toe piece to heel piece) you'll be good on rails. I don't sharpen my park skis anywhere near as often as my other skis, but once I start to have trouble turning on them they get a quick once over to help.
 
i noticed that when i get my jmos fresh out the box this year they did catch a little bit on hard pack/ive (thats all we have in michigan) sometimes it grabs so bad that you just fall
 
probably saying instead of using the bottom half of your body to turn, just twisting upper body to initiate turns which is bad
 
i think you mean 2 degree side bevel. i've never heard of anyone doing anything more than 0.5 or 1 on the base. 2 and 3 are common for the sides.
 
Exactly. :)

Don't swing your hands around when you are skiing groomers, not only does it not work, it looks stupid. :P
 
carving and edging are 2 different things and you got them confused. Carving is using the edges and ski form to make perfect turn without washing out the heel. There is no way you can carve with park skis.

Edging is using the pressure on your edge to counter a force. In your case, slowing down or stopping. Detuned skis will feel like your skis have turned to wood. You can do anything on the ski except apply pressure. To know, run your thumb on the edge; see if it cuts.

If not, you have poor position on the skis and I recommend you a ski lesson. Or, your tired and have less energy to spend.
 
Have your skis be sharpened, but not under the bindings. You'll be able to handle boxes and rails without bailing and still have control on ice.
 
Try bending your knees more and work on your balance by running and every other leg exercise. my skis have awful edges too so it is really hard to carve and ice is brutal. so its normal
 
I'd actually have to disagree with you on that. I've seen quite a few park skis carve turns. Some park skis actually have 12-13m radii, which is on par with a slalom ski. And I've actually skied a few real park skis myself and made them carve(I'm a racer, not a park rat).
 
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