HOW TO SKI IN TOUGH TERRAIN | 3 Tips with Tom Gellie
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- Skiing tough terrain well can be daunting and challenging, yet it’s rewarding and fun at the same time.
In this video, we skied with Level 4 ski instructor and Carv ambassador Tom Gellie to deliver a lesson that helps you improve your ski skills in tougher terrain. We looked at the common mistakes people make and gave 3 actionable tips for you to use next time you are out skiing.
Whether it’s punchy snow, variable terrain, obstacles, crud, or dips and bumps, the ski tips in this lesson will help you elevate your technique and ski with more confidence whether you are a beginner, intermediate or expert skier.
In the words of Tom: “So these tips, I still use them, I was using them today filming this video, every time I rocked up to some terrain that was a little uneven, there was some tough snow, I haven't skied there before, straight away my mind automatically went to the things we've talked about. So if you can focus on these, it's really going to open up the whole mountain to you”
If you found these tips useful, or if you have your own tip for tough terrain, please share it with us in the comments!
Want to learn more about how you can get a summary of your balance, edging, rotary and pressure data to find out the area of your skiing that needs most work?
Learn more about the Carv app: getcarv.com/
SUBSCRIBE today to get access to more ski lessons, more real-time feedback and never before seen skiing data from Carv!
Timecodes
0:00 - Introduction to challenging ski terrain
0:50 - Focus Area: What is tough skiing terrain?
1:25 - Tip 1: Attitude vs. technique
3:11 - Tip 2: Reading skiing terrain
5:56 - Tip 3: Go back to your skiing basics
6:44 - Lesson recap
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Skier: Tom Gellie - Level 4 APSI Ski Instructor | Owner of bigpictureskiing.com
Ski resort: Perisher Ski Resort, New South Wales, Australia
Music Licensed by Music Bed: MB01XV7HK0RW4VW
For more content on skiing moguls, check out: getcarv.com/blog/how-to-ski-m... - Sport
What helps boost your confidence in tough terrain? Let us know ⬇️
Practice ;-)
Late season skiing with 'Easter' snow (and good coverage) - when everyone can ski like gods ;-)
Builds confidence, and keeps folk coming back - as they remember the rush when everything goes right.
Easiest snow to ski on; you can get away with more (just don't wear shorts/t-shirt and fall over as it hurts! Ummmm, not that I'd know...).
Try to take a patient, better skier with you, and try to follow their line.
Relax - sounds trite, but the more wound up you are the harder it is to do any sport - big grin at the top, whoop, and away you go (covered in attitude - but I'd put more emphasis on fun!!! That's why we ski ;-).
Good vid, well presented, and easy to understand, other than you have snow in Oz?!?! ;-)
Confidence - skiing relaxed without too much tension caused by anxiety. Separation: keeping upper body facing downhill. Easy handling skis like the Volkl Kendo 88 you were skiing on and skis that are not too long - shorter skis are more easy to manage. Obviously starting on easier slopes to build confidence. Practice: more hours on the snow! Like you said staying centered. I ski lots at Perisher and hope to see you there someday Tom.
Peer pressure!
pole plant without weight shift/direction change.... start on the ground, everything will follow
Jump turns and control my speed.
Great vid. Not many show this, it's either groomed slopes or deep powder. This terrain is more of my reality. So these kind of videos suits me. Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback Smith,
We are very happy to hear that this style of content suits you well!
Don't hesitate to check out some of the other content we have done with Tom, along with our other ambassadors.
We hope you make it out there this winter!
@@CarvSki Great tips. Now, waiting for the snow.
Totally agree in Europe off piste is quite often this kind of snow and terrain esp if ski touring.....we are not always blessed with champagne powder like the yanks.
Well, that tip to turn on the high point is going to make all the difference!! Thank you!
Glad that this was helpful for you Lisa,
Don't hesitate to let us know you go putting these tips into practice 👍
Yeah that's killer, I like those choppy bumpy sides etc but that's some good extra info to take it to the next level - I'll be passing that on to my kid too. Thanks!
The visual of the high-point freeing up the tips and tails made it click for me. I've been scared to turn on high points because of the potential speed increase, but this really helped me realize what's going on. Awesome! Thanks. --edit: that said, icy moguls at resorts still scare the bajeezuz outta me. They're just the worst.
Turn on the high point = my mind blown 🤯 Great tip!!
Seems to be start the turn and in some cases use it as a kind of launch point into the turn...good eh
This guy has an amazing body skis posture! So elegant and natural.....no doubt that probably he was introduced to skiing at very young age. Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback Fernando!
Tom really is an awesome skier to watch and learn from ⛷⛷
Glad you enjoyed the tips.
Thanks for this. I’m a senior and enjoy skiing on groomed intermediate terrain, but I just freeze and lose all confidence on bumpy and not groomed stuff. It’s all in the attitude. You are so right. Turning on the high point and planning the route are game changers. Going skiing tomorrow and am going to implement these tips.
Great video and advice. I been working in the ski industry for a long time and have a few observations. In applying Tom’s tips to skiing off piste in various conditions the more often you ski this type of terrain and snow conditions the better you will develop your skills. Many skiers never practice their short radius turns on groomed runs then move into small bumps to help develop the necessary skills. It take lots of practice and repetitive motion to develop muscle memory in any type of athletic skill. Tennis, golf and skiing requires practice. You can cross train for skiing off piste by riding mountain bikes in the forest. This helps you develop the skills like looking ahead and selecting your line and using momentum to get you over objects like rocks and fallen trees. When I coach I tell my athletes they have to do the drills to build the skills and to practice the way they want to play, ride or ski.👍👍🙏
Holy smokes you just expand high point’s so simply! Can’t wait for next winter now!
Wow, thank you so much. Reading the terrain makes sense. I have more confidence knowing how to use the hi-points for turning advantage; and taking the time to read the lines means there are fewer surprises! 😎
Thanks for watching Julie,
We're really happy to hear that these tips made sense and will boost your confidence on your next ski trip!
Stay posted for more ski tips videos ⛷
Tendency of those who have never been to Oz to think of it as a flat pancake of a desert, so glad to see video proof that the Southern Hemisphere offers more than just Chile and NZ as possible places to make some turns! Good tips; confidence and reading the piste with good peripheral vision from your boots to 30 meters in front to aim for and hit the high points and avoid the bathtubs while also tracking the line of fall are so key to skiing challenging terrain. That, and skiing challenging terrain.
Actually I was surprised at how flat it looked. In British Columbia, this would be intermediate at Kicking Horse or Revy.
@@Bigpictureskiing Sorry, I apologize and don't want to come off as an asshole. I really liked the video and Reilly channel. I used to never ski ON piste but in my 60s and a few injuries later, groomers are my friend...
It feels good to show off what Australian ski resorts have to offer.
We've already had a comment or two asking about the 'funny trees'.
I'm sure Tom would agree that the conditions while filming really don't get much better!
The tip about high points and freeing up your tips and tails is really helpful, thank you. So many videos show you technique in ideal conditions. When you get into rougher snow like this, if you're not focusing on line choice, it can be difficult to understand what you're doing wrong. 🤘
Amazing video! So good to see Perisher looking so good, endless terrain to ski when you have the right tatics!
Thanks for the feedback Jason!
I'm sure that this video will get skiers who've also visited Perisher excited 👍
Thanks for your tips.
It helps me a lot to have a confident skiing.
No problems!
Glad to hear that the tips helped.
If you don't have confidence while skiing, everything is going to feel much more difficult than it is.
We hope you make it out on the slopes this winter and the tips are useful!
Thanks. Great video. Love the tip on changing your attitude.
Wow, thank you I will be looking out for more of your videos! Again thank you!
More to come Check!
Glad to hear you are loving the content 👌
Brilliant, Tom - Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it Read!
Very good the focus on snow terrain. As I relate to this from running over rocks if you're doing it well you run on top of them 😜 not in between. You have to look three turns ahead if you're going fast.
Thanks Tom, that's good stuff mate.
i love this series!
Jesus, seeing other people ski while I'm trapped in lockdown is depressing, I was swinging with my head with those POV clips 😅
Sorry to do this to you Marko,
Do you have any content recommendations you'd like to see while in lockdown?
Let us know!
The turning on high points tip just blew my mind, such a game changer for me!
The higher order task in any sport is to visualise once you have mastered the basics of the “Technique” and automated it then you can challenge yourself on the harder terrain - absolutely agree. Great job Tom. Love the technology and will def. Look into CARVE. Might need to get more instructors using more technology to help intermediate to advanced skiers.
reading part is super helpful!
Brilliant video. Most sports are above the shoulders - tip 1 so relevant
Excellent advice on skiing the high points, I haven't seen that broken down so clearly before.
Thanks for the feedback!
Thanks for the tips 👏🏻👏🏻
The high point trick is great and extremely helpful!
This is my second season watching this video= it greatly helped last year and I know it's going to help me this season! Thanks! Change your attitude!
Thanks for letting us know Charles,
We appreciate the feedback!
All the best this winter ⛷
Great video thanks, i've skied Perisher a few times. One thing that always get me in these off piste areas is speed control, start feeling too fast, fear, back seat, lose control and fall over. Repeat!
No problems Woolfe,
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the video!
We hope that the tips help you next time you manage to hit the slopes ⛷
I have the exact same struggle! Working on it. The fear holds me back!
Great tips thanks. Getting mentally ready for the season and the attitude tip resonates with me.
We appreciate the feedback Barrie!
Glad that these tips hit home for you.
All the best putting it all into practice this winter ⛷
This was Awesome!
Really helpful video....First thing my ski instructor said was be positive!! PMA!
What a fab video and what an amazing skier - elegant and powerful!
Thanks so much for the feedback Melissa!
Glad you enjoyed the video 🎿
Extraordinario y maravillosos consejos!!! Gracias por la lección y por la traducción al español!!!!
Gracias!
Nice tips! I’m skiing my best on off piste terrain when I’m thinking 2-3 turns ahead. This will help your flow and confidence. When you’re stuck thinking about the next quarter second of skiing, you can get overwhelmed in tough terrain.
Glad to help Casey!
Thanks for watching 🙌
This is so useful. Thanks!
You're welcome Andres!
We hope the tips are useful next time you go skiing ⛷
I think the best bit of video is the live camera, during skiing the "high spots" to see where the skis and feel are being lead too, and the path they take.
We're glad that this tip was useful and clear!
All the best putting this tip into practice next time you go skiing ⛷⛷
Nice to see Perisher getting a look in. Was up there last weekend and find the mix of ice, powder and slush (all within 10 metres) some of the most challenging conditions I've skiid. Great video!
Great tip, thanks!
No problems James, glad you enjoyed the video!
merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo. cette vidéo est vraiment utile. Je déjà bien fais du ski sur les pistes, mais hors des pistes, il n'était jamais clair où amorcer le virage. maintenant tout va bien. J'essaierai demain. Merci encore.
Thanks a lot for the great tips, especially turning on high points. Makes perfect sense but has never crossed my mind yet.
Glad it was helpful!
I watch a lot of skiing videos and this was one of the best. Your analogies and examples (e.g. moving through a crowded room) especially clicked with me.
the attitude thing is so true! I'm only a year into skiing and doing quite tough terrain. I trust the physics of the skis and what I've practiced and it just works. This video helped tho, tmrw I'm going to focus more on the terrain spots for initiating turns vs trying to force them to happen.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
How did you go putting these tips into action?
We'd love to hear about it 👍
@@CarvSki it went well! When I was in rougher terrain I tried to focus on moving high spot to high spot for easier turns. Especially since it got kinda slushy
Fantastic tip on turning on high points.
Happy to hear you found this tip useful Dan!
All the best putting it into practice this winter ⛷
Great video and tips!
Focusing on high points on the terrain means you're looking ahead, always a good idea. Good advice.
Absolutely!
Thanks for watching James ⛷⛷
@@CarvSki You're welcome. Thank you for the video.
Those look like Kendo 88s ... awesome!
Great tips thanks so much
Glad it was helpful Sam!
Thanks for watching ⛷
lov the hi points principle
Thanks!
Glad it was helpful 👌
thanks for the tips! Cheers from the Canadian Rockies.
We're always happy to help Morgan!
Thanks for watching.
Great contents! Very nice work! Keep it up!
Excellent tutorial....I benefit from this instruction
Glad you enjoyed it! Stay tuned for more on our channel 🎿
Excellent video and tips.
Thanks for watching Laura,
Glad you found the tips useful ⛷
great stuff, I'll try that one
Thanks for the feedback Vik,
We hope it helps next time you hit the slopes!
Nice video.
I find that, like in most gravity sport, focusing on the gaps between and not the obstacles makes a huge difference, since we tend to ‘hit’ what we look at.
Thanks for watching Claes,
You make a very very good point so thanks for sharing 👌
Underrated comment.
Very useful tks
Merci.
Great synopsis of off piste basics.
Thanks for the feedback Eric 👌
Love seeing a skier ski with his feet together. Today its all " feet to be shoulder width apart ".
Great explanation combined Ruth great demonstration.
Great explanation combined with great demonstration!
Thanks for the feedback about the lesson Paul,
We'll strive to keep bringing quality skiing content!
love the tips, the skiing in Alberta is going to be amazing1
Skiing in the Alberta mountains is the best!
Have fun Alan,
We'd love to do a trip out to Alberta at some stage with Carv and film some content out there!
It's a beautiful place of the world ⛰️
@@CarvSki you are always welcome:)) Marmot Basin is my second home...we all have one somewhere:))
Excellent!
Many thanks Roy!
We'll do our best to keep the good content coming ⛷
I bet that is Roy ..
The video is right on time! I went to a new resort today and tried some blacks... then I totally lose my confidence and feel like I don’t even know how to ski at some point
Glad to help Junnan,
We hope you see improvements next time you get out there!
Eeeeeepic brother!
Thanks Eva 👍
Happy to hear you are enjoying the content!
I tend not to stop at the run start and look at steep terrain like many people do. I go over the edge and start making turns, reading the terrain, and picking my way around obstacles and watching for cliffs.
Great stuff
Thanks for the feedback Roy!
Great info
Thanks for the feedback!
Glad you found these tips useful ⛷
Applies to telemark skiing too. Good sound advice with getting to over involved and complicated, where people over think their skiing (Analysis Paralysis). Back to basics, rather than some magical technique. Thanks for the post.
Lovely sessions
Thanks for the feedback guys!
Wow! Thank you for this video! Really great. I was doing it totally wrong and crashing spectacularly! Lol
Glad it helped!
All the best putting these tips into action ⛷
You have a great presence, clear speaking and express ideas concisely.
I must disagree with the entire premise of skiing difficult terrain. Taking a carving mentality in steep sketchy and difficult conditions can work for the super strong. Carving is just plain fast. Speed in the woods, steeps and chutes is for the pros filming a feature movie.
Skiing steep difficult terrain is as relaxing and effortless as anywhere else like a green circle. That's all in the short turn. It's unhurried, effortless and slow. Fast skiing is certainly appropriate in suitable areas. Fast skiing by using highpoints to pivot is a recipe for Z turns and exhausted thighs. Great if you have huge agility and stamina.
I'll ride any terrain but it's visibility that can create major problems: fog, ice fog, blowing snow, snow drifts, wind lip...rain
Hi there,
The elements change quickly and I'm sure there are many others that have the same issue.
A good takeaway point from this video is that skiers often fall into the backseat instinctively when they start to loose confidence. So Tip 1 focusing on what helps you ski well in good conditions is also relevant for this!
@@CarvSki I've seen some helivac situations when rocks get dusted with snow, so be careful of blunt force impact trauma in rocky/tree terrain.
@@misterfunnybones Terrain without obstacles ain't worth skiing
Why do I always look like the skier at 1:39 😂
Yeah that's me too
Don't be so hard on yourself Alex,
Remember these three tips next time the conditions get tough and I'm sure you'll prove your above comment wrong!
I skied for many years and looked pretty decent on groomed terrain but looked like the guy at 1:39 when the snow got deep or choppy, too. I took a semi-private lesson on skiing the steeps and deeps at Jackson and it changed it for me. Keeping your upper body and head pointed down the mountain, down the fall line, keeps you not only skiing down, not sideways, but keeps your weight forward. If you can stay out of the back seat, you will find that you can rotate your skis and turn. I was always getting nervous and sitting back, digging my tails into the deep snow. Once I learned that I could actually turn and turn when and where I wanted, it became just like skin any other terrain. Oh, skiing specific exercises for conditioning makes it even easier to ski well for longer in the day. Hope this helps, good luck, hope you get there!
😂 Pivot slips is the answer.
me too! haha.
Staying forward and out of the back seat is probably the biggest thing to do. I could never get turned in deep snow but didn't know that it was because my tails were getting my weight, making them dig in. Specifically concentrating on keeping my upper body and head pointed down the fall line regardless of terrain or conditions has made a world of difference. Also doing specific conditioning for skiing had made it possible to keep good technique former than a few runs.
Thanks for your insight John,
The back-seat is a repeat offender when it comes to ruining powder days!
We hope that Tom's other tips were also useful ⛷
Don't know if you'll see this a year later, but if so, I'd love to know what 'specific conditioning' you do for skiing
@@cerenademe9433 Hi. A mix of things. Cardio consisting of running and spin. Lifting- deadlifts, squats and bulgarian split squats. Functional training with pushing the weighted sled, farmer carry, weighted balls for core. I mix this all together trying to work the legs about 5 times a week. There are some great YT videos out there, I think by the ski instructors of america or the US ski team. Basically need to have a strong core and combine strength and endurance for the legs.
I can remember having a lesson to give me better off piste confidence once and you are right about changing awareness rather than technique as the instructor said you have got to stand up 10ft tall and as soon as he said that I said I can do that on a groomed slope. In order to get me standing 10ft tall off piste he simply took off at high speed which involved me just focussing on where he was rather than the snow/slope and in order to do that I had to stand up 10ft tall anyway otherwise I would have lost him. Another thing I learnt before I had the lesson was pole planting which I learnt from a video. So having confidence in pole planting played a part in my success with the lesson as well as having the same race skis the instructor had just by chance.
Thanks for the insight Peter, we always love to hear about a skiers improvement journey.
We hope that the tips in this video will help you continue your improvements!
@@CarvSki Its been about 25 years since I had that lesson as I learnt when I was 33 so its just a matter of recalling what was said to me by instructors all those years ago. I have made a lot of gear changes over the years to aid my improvement and at the moment the best all round skis for me are Line Motherships but sadly they stopped making them 10 years ago. All the new skis at the moment are just too light in construction for me and throw me over the tail rather than keep me standing up when the terrain gets rough.
Брат спасибо ! Просто и доступно все пояснил хоть и перевод не корректный !
If you pole plant the high points it will be super easy.
This is a good way to look at it Jonah,
Thanks for your insight!
@@CarvSki all you said was spot on and I could see you pole planting the high points. I just wanted to underline all your instructions. By the way, please have a look at how Kari Traa goes down the moguls! She is a Godess of pole planting and it served her very well.
Awesome video, Tom and Carv! Great skiing tips, and I really like the way you used the graphic illustrations to support the points being made. Looking forward to your next videos! /Janus
@@Bigpictureskiing He sure is! And your instruction is world class as always! Cheers!
Thanks Janus!
We're looking forward to seeing your next videos as well ⛷️⛷️
Great Video! I personally can ski anything on-piste with confidence but when I venture off- or near-to-piste I feel like a beginner and revert back to doing it all wrong. Pls more content on skiing variable terrain.
Thanks for sharing!
We will take this into consideration for up coming content.
Is there something in particular that you struggle with?
@@CarvSki I start extreme up and down movements, turning the skis with the whole body instead of letting them turn themselves, back-seating. Once I had an instructor shouting at me: do exactly what you do while on-piste! - it worked! but I still lack confidence
great vid
Thanks for the feedback.
Hopefully the tips help next time you go skiing!
Sweet Kendo 88's! I finally took my new set out this week at Snowbird/Alta! Strange, I don't look nearly as good as you guys do on the same skis lol.
Right on Jerry.
Don't be so harsh on yourself, it was only your first week skiing on them ;)
I'm sure it will be a different story by the end of the season!
👍
How did you find them Jerry? I have a new pair of Kendo’s too but won’t get to try them for a while as my ski holiday to the alps in January looks like it’s going to be cancelled with COVID travel restrictions 😫
You will also notice that no good skiers at AltaBird skis like him either because this guy skis with his skis way too close together. That might be fine in Oz but you are not getting down Great Scott like that.
Tough to be a skier named Jerry for sure.
All I am used to is ice. Thanks Minnesota.
Skiing on ice the whole time does not seem fun, however, you'll be more prepared when you go somewhere with better conditions!
⛷️
Same in NH/VT lol
Try to get some trips to the U.P. Lots of soft snow. Sometimes great pow.
Great video. I love my Carv’ - skiing in Andorra at the moment. What is Tom skiing with ? Deacon 76 ?
Thanks for watching Laurent,
Glad to hear you are loving your Carv units!
Tom is skiing on Volkl Kendos!
I hope this helps 👍
Good vid! Where was it filmed? Thredbo? Rock garden?
Watching this video has been the best ski experience available to me this year (courtesy of the state government of Victoria)
Sorry to hear that your ski season didn't go as planned.
Let's hope for a better outcome in 2021.
Glad you enjoyed the video ⛷
Hi I gotta ask what is your overall opinion on the Kendo 88s? I ask because I have been looking for an all mountain ski that is suitable for my region, eastern Canada , where ice is more common than western Canada and the new2023 Kendo 88 is at the top of my list. Not that I'll be putting out videos but I am hoping that it is versatile enough for my needs? thanks
In this video, is Tom on his ski edges as he crossing over the high points as opposed to pivoting on flat skis?
Would you let us know what ski model you are using in this vid? Thanks!
I really resonate with the tip of confidence. It's so important to commit to every move you make, because that's the only way you are going to execute turns and all other manoeuvres correctly. Also, really focus on balance and weight transfer and ski deliberately.
Thanks for watching James,
We're happy to the tips resonate with you.
Stay posted as we have more awesome skiing content on the way!
friends have asked me how would Carv help you in the moguls or off-piste.... I emphasize that most can get away with bad habits (they may not even know they have) on groomed corduroy where those same bad habits in the bumps will let you know very quickly. So, use Carv to perfect your technique and balance on those groomed runs and it'll pay dividends when back in the bumps. Same thing works in the crud. A question I do have however, is there a 'trend' or metric that Carv can pick up on while skiing the bumps??
Cool
Thankyou,
Glad you enjoyed ⛷️
I’m a friggin pro @ this I’m only watching cuz it’s entertaining, good skiing, ant tutorial btw:)
Here in Lapland, Finlad this is what we call powder. 😂
Not sure, which country recieves more powder...
Australia or Finland 🤔
Thanks for watching!
1:47 "If you are running on a smooth path that then veered off into a mountain trail with roots and logs and stones and steps, you wouldn't change your running technique..."
As someone who actually does run both smooth paths and mountain trails, I really would change my technique a lot. I become way more toe forward so that I don't roll my ankle, increase my cadence, make my foot placement conform to the terrain, and have a visualization of the next 4 steps.
If I'm running on a smooth dirt path, track, or road, my foot placement, cadence, and other stuff does not have to conform to the terrain and is solely determined by what makes me fast.
You need to come to the states mate. That snow sounded horrible.
Let's go shopping for turns!
Turns can be expensive depending on where you live!
Not often you see snow content filmed here in Australia. My profile pic is actually from one of the runs in this video. :-)
Glad to hear you appreciate the Aussie content Nathan!
Oh nice. I was looking in the comments of where this is. Such a beautiful place. Runs look great for an intermediate skier/boarder.
How should I ski on say a steep very narrow black in very deep sticky crusty icey snow. Please help. P. S love video
Where did you get that color in the hestra lobsters?!