The Ultimate Guide to Skiing Switch (Backwards)
At least half the tricks in freestyle skiing involve taking off or landing switch, so getting comfortable skiing backwards early on is one of the best things you can do before the season gets going. In this guide, coach Oscar Blyth builds your switch skiing from the ground up: the proper switch stance, traversing, initiating and linking turns, the switch hockey stop, avoiding the biggest switch mistake, and carving while looking over one shoulder.
Proper Switch Stance
Move your downhill leg behind you so your legs are staggered, then rotate your hips. Stay tall through your chest and rotate your shoulders so one hand is behind you, then look directly behind you. Your body should end up almost fully sideways.
Traverse Across the Slope
Find a wide, flat, quiet run and traverse back and forth across it, looking over your downhill shoulder one way and then the other. Keep your shoulders, hips and chest fully open and do not bend at the hips. Just like skiing forwards, keep the pressure on your downhill ski, because that is where your control comes from.
Initiate a Turn
Point your skis a little more downhill to take a straighter fall line, then dig in and apply pressure to your downhill ski to turn across the slope. Practise both directions and slowly build up speed each time until the motion feels natural.
Link Your Turns Without a Snowplow
On flat ground, stick your poles behind the middle of your ski tails and practise switching from one switch stance to the other without knocking them over. This trains you out of the snowplow, a bad habit that puts you on your inside edges and makes you catch an edge when you start doing tricks. On the slope, rotate at the apex of each turn and pressure the new downhill ski. Scrubbing a bit of speed between turns is fine, as long as you are not snowplowing.
Master the Switch Hockey Stop
This is how you will manage speed when riding switch. Come in straight, then throw your skis sideways while pressuring the inside edges, because being too flat based will catch an edge. Once you can stop, use it to scrub speed until you almost stop, then go back to switch and repeat.
Avoid Bending Over to Look Behind You
The most common switch mistake is bending at the waist to look back, usually because your skis are not staggered enough to rotate your body. It is basically the switch version of riding backseat, and it makes it hard to spin and likely that you land backseat. Stagger your legs and rotate your whole body instead.
Link Turns Smoothly and Fluidly
On a wide, quiet run, use big turns to control your speed instead of scrubbing it. At the apex of each turn, switch shoulders fluidly and apply lots of pressure to the new downhill ski.
Carve Switch Looking Over One Shoulder
Coming into a jump or rail, you will want to stay looking over the shoulder you plan to spin toward. To carve the other way without switching shoulders, apply subtle pressure to your uphill ski, which becomes your leading ski in the staggered stance. Too much pressure will catch an edge, and speed checks are almost impossible on this inside turn, so wait until you are on your downhill ski to slow down. Practise over both shoulders.
Keep Building Into The Season
Every time you are out, get a few switch turns in on a green run and work up to blues. Once you are comfortable, take it to features with The Ultimate Guide to Skiing Rails, and check out Common Mistakes Everyone Makes in The Park before your first park laps.
Coach: Oscar Blyth
@oscarblyth