German ski instructor and well-loved content creator Marius Quast met up with Swiss ski instructor, demo team rider, and carving expert Kili Weibel to discuss ski carving tips to help you out on the slopes. They discuss everything from center of gravity to edge angle and hip movement. While skiing doesn’t have to be about getting the best carves possible, it can be a whole lot more fun when you’re properly in the carving groove.
10 Carving Tips From European Ski Instructors
- Keep your center of gravity moving constantly for fluid turns.
- Use a bent, ready “goalkeeper” stance with all joints flexed.
- Work on ankle mobility and stability because carving starts in the feet.
- Separate upper and lower body so hips and feet can rotate independently.
- Get the ski on edge early but let pressure build naturally.
- Increase edge angle slowly and smoothly instead of rushing it.
- Lightly lift the inside ski at the start of each new turn.
- Stay forward by pulling your hips into the turn, not by pushing on the boot tongue.
- Create high edge angles with hip angulation rather than leaning the whole body.
- Practice all movements on flat terrain first to build real technique.
