Carving Technique in Skiing: Clean Edge Tracks and Controlled Turns
Carving is a turn in which the ski travels along its own edge without skidding sideways. According to the International Ski Federation's definition, in a pure carved turn the ski's tail follows exactly the track cut by its tip and there is no sideways skidding; two thin lines are left in the snow. The radius of the turn is determined by the ski's edge angle, its sidecut radius and the way the ski bends: the more the ski is tipped, the tighter the turn. In a skidded turn, by contrast, the ski pivots on the turning path and slides sideways. According to the American instructors' association PSIA, in a good turn the edges are changed before the skis turn into the fall line, and the edge angle increases and decreases gradually throughout the turn.
Travels along its own edge, the tail follows the tip
Track in the snow
Wide, smeared track
Two thin lines
Speed control
Through friction (sideways skidding)
Through the shape of the turn
Who uses it?
Every level; advanced skiers too in steep and narrow places
Intermediate to advanced skiers whose parallel turns are solid
According to the FIS definition, in a pure carved turn there is no sideways skidding and the only resistance is the very small sliding friction; in a skidded turn, some skidding at the start of the turn is unavoidable. In practice, good skiers use both: carving on open, easy slopes, and controlled skidding in steep, narrow or icy places.
Edge angle and sidecut radius
The middle of a ski is narrower than its tip and tail; this “waist” (sidecut) gives the ski a natural turning radius. When the ski is tipped (the edge angle increases) and bends on the snow, its edge draws an arc and the ski travels along that arc. According to a physics study, under ideal conditions the radius of a carved turn equals the ski's sidecut radius multiplied by the cosine of the edge angle: the higher the edge angle, the tighter the turn compared with the radius printed on the ski. This is an idealised formula; the flex of the ski and the hardness of the snow change the real result.
The practical upshot: piste skis with a short radius (e.g. 12–15 m) make short and medium carved turns easier; long-radius skis are for wide turns at high speed. For choosing skis, see our guide How to Choose Your First Skis.
A good turn according to PSIA
From the top-level short turn standards of PSIA, the American instructors' association:
Tip first, then turn: The skis start tipping from their uphill edges onto their downhill edges before they turn into the fall line.
Gradual edge angle: The edge angle increases and decreases gradually through the phases of the turn; sudden changes lead to skidding.
Let the ski shape the turn: The turn shape is determined mainly by the ski's sidecut and design; the skier does not force the ski round.
Feel the edge on a traverse: As you cross the slope, tip both skis onto their edges and look behind you: is the track thin or smeared?
Railroad track drill: In this drill, widely used in ski schools, you keep your skis parallel and hip-width apart and make wide turns on a gentle slope by tipping only your knees and ankles sideways; the aim is to leave two thin, parallel lines in the snow.
Increase the edge angle: In the middle of the turn, move your hips and knees towards the inside of the turn; keep your upper body upright and facing down the valley.
Edge change: At the end of the turn, flatten the skis and tip them onto their new edges; the transition should be fluid.
Common mistakes
Mistake
Result
Fix
Forcing the skis round
The tail skids and the track smears
Tip the skis and leave the turn to the ski's sidecut
Leaning into the turn with your whole body
Pressure on the outside ski drops and the ski skids
Create the angle with your hips and knees, upper body upright
Sitting back
The ski tip does not grip the snow
Weight over the middle and front of the foot
Increasing the edge angle suddenly
The ski loses its grip on the snow
Increase the angle gradually through the turn
Carving and safety
Carved turns make it easy to pick up a lot of speed. Under the FIS rules, everyone must adapt their speed to their ability, the slope conditions and the number of people around; wide carved turns use the full width of the slope and can cut across the path of skiers coming from behind. On a crowded slope, shorten your turns and do not cross the slope without looking behind you. For the rules, see our guide The FIS 10 Rules for Conduct on the Slopes.
Improving your carving on an activity holiday
Carving is the next big step for someone who can already ski, and it improves with practice on consecutive days and on different slopes. On an activity holiday that practice is planned: Doğadayız experience packages and the Sarıkamış and Bansko programmes are designed so that people who can ski clock up kilometres on different slopes. Skiing with people at the same level turns the programme into a social adventure holiday.
Doğadayız Packages
Doğadayız packages for your level
Winter activity holidays with accommodation, ski pass and equipment included, shared with a group.
The easiest way to learn to ski: a winter activity holiday
An activity holiday puts a sport at the heart of your trip: transport, accommodation and meals are planned, so you can focus on learning on the slopes. On Doğadayız winter activity holidays, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package; course packages include basic lessons with instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation, while experience packages let you practise on the slopes at your own level.
What makes the programme different is the group: sharing the slopes with people at a similar level, dinners and nights out together, and a group leader by your side at all times. Solo travellers become part of this social adventure holiday from day one. That is why we describe our programmes as a social adventure holiday.
It is a turn in which the ski travels along its own edge without skidding sideways. According to the FIS definition, in pure carving the ski's tail follows exactly the track cut by its tip, and two thin lines are left in the snow.
What is the difference between carving and a skidded turn?
In a skidded turn the ski pivots on the turning path and slides sideways; speed is controlled by friction. In carving the ski travels along its edge and speed is controlled by the shape of the turn.
What determines the turn radius in carving?
The ski's edge angle, its sidecut radius and the way the ski bends. Under ideal conditions, the higher the edge angle, the tighter the turn compared with the radius printed on the ski.
What level do you need to be at to carve?
Your parallel turns need to be solid. You start on an easy, wide slope, first by feeling the edge on a traverse, then by gradually increasing the edge angle in wide turns.
The move to parallel skiing does not happen in one step but with an intermediate stage: snowplough → wedge christie → basic parallel turn. In a wedge christie you start the turn in a snowplough and, during the turn, finish parallel by bringing the inside ski alongside the outside ski. According to the American instructors' association PSIA, what makes matching easier is relaxing the inside leg and pressing on the outside ski; as you gain experience, the matching moves closer to the start of the turn. In a true parallel turn, your weight is transferred to the new outside ski before the turn begins, and this movement comes from the legs, beneath a calm upper body.
For a beginner, skis should be short and easy to turn. Manufacturers' rules differ slightly: Atomic recommends a length at about chin height for beginners; Salomon says to choose skis 10–15 cm shorter than your height, and 15 cm shorter for complete beginners; Head points to between the chin and the nose. If you are light and inexperienced, choose the shorter end; if you are heavy or sporty, the longer end. A short turn radius (about 12–15 m) and a little rocker make turning easier. In your first season, renting rather than buying is the easiest way to try out the right length.
Moguls are bumps that form on a slope over time as skiers turn in the same places; freestyle skiing also has an Olympic discipline of the same name. The key to skiing bumps is absorption and extension: according to the International Ski Federation's definition of the technique, the skier absorbs the impact by bending the knees from the base of the bump to its crest, extends the legs just after the crest, and in this way keeps the pressure between ski and snow constant. The head stays steady and faces down the valley, the hands are in front of the body, and the pole plant is light. For a beginner, the easiest approach is to choose a round line that goes around the bumps; the direct line, which runs straight down between the bumps, requires strong leg movements.
