Ice skill building: Pumped up for speed control

Goal: Conquering ice
Level: Expert
Suggested terrain: Groomed intermediate, then expert terrain.
Author: Suzy Chase-Motzkin
Summary: Ski ice either gracefully and fast with progressive edging, or slower as explained here: energetically from edge set, to edge set.

Photos and Videos coming soon!

IMPORTANT! Understanding our approach and philosophy is important if you'd like to successfully use the drills in Ski Smarts
 ... read more.

If you've mastered short radius turns and can effectively modulate edging and absorption, you're ready to ski short, aggressive turns on icy terrain. Be aware though that it can be frustrating and it is therefore highly recommended that you start out on easy (icy) terrain and progressively work yourself up to the black diamonds you're used to.

The idea is to get the skis to face across the hill as quickly as possible, and then to jam the outside ski hard--"setting a hard edge."

To make quick direction changes you'll have to pivot your skis while keeping your upper body facing straight down the flow line. To facilitate pivoting, you can retract your skis to lighten them and "float" though that phase.

As the skis start facing across the flow line, aggressively extend with the outside ski and briefly, but very firmly jam it into the ice--immediately absorb the rebound and pivot into a new turn.

Some tips:

  • Approach the icy slope making short radius turns so that you're in rhythm by the time you reach it.
  • Keep a wider stance.
  • Stay in the Sweet spot.
  • Don't stay on the jamming edge--pressure it hard and immediately get off onto the new outside ski.

Print this out for future reference and remember to have fun!