Carves on the Groomed
(excerpted from Chapter 1 of "Ski the Whole Mountain")

In figures 1-2, Eric rips up a groomed trail with both skis tipped on edge and the inside ski (left) lightly brushing the snow. At this point in the turn, you can have any combination of weighting between you feet and skis.

In figures 2-3, he releases the turn and in doing so transfers weight more weight to the left ski (future outside ski) by relaxing and shortening his right leg.

By figure 4 he has completed the weight transfer and initiated the new turn by tipping the unweighted inside (right) foot to the inside of the turn onto the little toe edge. There is very little weight on either ski as he flows in figure 5, linking the turns with foot-work focus.

By Figure 5, the forces are building on the outside (left) ski, bending it into the arc of the new turn. The inside (right) foot and ski are poised and ready to support weight as needed to carve the turn on both skis and then to be there for the next release and transition.

Essentials: Notice how Eric never comes up, or rises, very much between the turns in figures 3-4-5. He is solid in every phase through the sequence. He can take these exact movements into the un-groomed, all-mountain realm with ease and confidence because these same moves will work just as well in adverse conditions.

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