| What it is | Turning on the edges, no skidding |
| How | Tip ski on edge; sidecut bends into an arc |
| Leaves | Clean 'railroad track' line |
| Best on | Firm, groomed snow |
Carving is a skiing (and snowboarding) technique in which you turn by tipping the ski or board onto its edge so the sidecut bends it into an arc and it tracks cleanly through the turn, leaving a thin, railroad-track line with little or no skidding. It’s efficient, fast, and stable on firm groomed snow and is a hallmark of advanced edge control.
Edge control
An advanced evolution of the parallel turn, best on a firm groomer or piste in alpine skiing.
Frequently asked questions
What is carving in skiing?
Carving is making turns by rolling your skis onto their edges so the ski's built-in sidecut flexes into an arc and the ski follows that arc cleanly, rather than sliding sideways. A pure carved turn leaves two thin parallel lines in the snow, like railroad tracks, and feels smooth, fast, and grippy.
How do you carve turns?
Tip the skis onto their edges by angling your knees and ankles, keep your weight balanced and progressively pressure the outside ski, and let the ski's sidecut and your edge angle do the turning rather than twisting or skidding the skis. It works best on firm, groomed snow where the edges can grip.
What's the difference between carving and skidding?
In a carved turn the ski tracks along its edge with the tip and tail following the same path, leaving clean lines; in a skidded turn the ski slides sideways across the snow, scraping off speed and leaving a wider, brushed track. Carving is more efficient and faster; skidding is useful for control and slowing down.
Sources
- Carving technique — PSIA-AASI
- Ski technique — The Mountaineers