Advanced Switchback Techniques

Bumping an older post…

Sometimes doing the splits as I showed in my previous blog post is a little uncomfortable, not to mention difficult to balance. For those occasions, it’s a good thing if you don’t have twin-tips and know the tail-stab technique. Step one is to go as far as possible past the point where you want to turn. In this case, I’m setting up to turn to my right.

Next, turn your inside ski, but instead of being all spread out in the splits, angle the ski tail downwards and sink it into the snow under your stationary ski. It should look like this:

My right ski is under my left ski. It cannot slide down the mountain, and with my feet fairly close together, it’s a fairly comfortable stance, not to mention balanced. The next step is to kick the other leg up and around to be parallel with the other ski in the new direction. This can be a little difficult, as the ski tip of the second ski will try to hang up on the snow as you swing it around. A subtle kick with the heel will position the ski tip upwards, and then you just turn your leg.

This technique feels utterly and completely awkward at first, but with practice comes as naturally as walking in a straight line.

A special thanks to my friends Jon and Jack for showing me this one. Word on the street is that they learned the technique from a splitboarder. I’m not sure if that’s cool, or sad 😉

• Author
• Recent Posts

Frank Konsella

Frank loves snow more than anything... except his wife.  He ensures his food is digested properly by chewing it 32 times before swallowing.He is a full-time real estate agent serving Crested Butte and Gunnison and would be honored to send you his monthly newsletter.

Latest posts by Frank Konsella (see all)

• Bluebird Backcountry Ski Area - February 14, 2020
• Gear Review: Smith 4D MAG Goggles - January 6, 2020
• Gear Review: LEKI Tour Stick Vario Carbon Ski Poles - December 9, 2019