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Over the past year, we have been working with top ski instructors and pro Ambassadors to improve the way that Carv measures your skiing and feeds you tips.
Introducing our newest metric...
Early edge engagement is a core component of high-performance skiing. The new early edging metric can more effectively distinguish the greatest carvers from the rest. What is early edging, and how will it help to improve your skiing? Read on to find out more.
Want to find out more about the other app changes this year? Read this.
Early Edging. What is it?
Throughout the turn, the edges of our skis give us a platform to balance and stand against. Engaging the edges of the skis early in the turn creates a strong platform for faster and more dynamic turns.
Just as a motorcycle rider needs to tip right over to turn corners, a skier needs this same inclination to be aligned against turning forces.
Leaning into the turn right at the initiation phase - or ‘toppling’ - engages the edges earlier and generates more sustained and potentially higher edge angles throughout the turn.
Toppling feels unnatural at first, but by leaning into the turn you'll unlock higher edge angles
What are the performance benefits?
- Fully utilize your ski design
With early edge engagement, the more sustained edge angles that you'll generate will produce a larger reaction force from the snow. This causes the skis to flex more (as they are designed to!), as the ski design itself, rather than your body movements, becomes "the primary cause of direction change". (NZSIA)
- Find more control at speed
With greater ski flex, you'll convert more downhill motion into sideways motion. The result is greater directional control of the skis at higher speeds.
And perhaps most important of all, leaning early into the turn and getting big edge angles feels really, really good.
Why are we introducing Early edging?
Great carving requires skiers to roll their skis and create high edge angles at the start of the turn. But until now, this movement has been impossible for the average skier to accurately measure. We think it’s time to change that.
As a key aspect of high-performance skiing, early edging is a great tool to differentiate between different skiing abilities. Incorporating early edging into our Ski:IQ™ engine has helped to improve the accuracy of our analysis and the quality of the tips you’ll receive.
And early edging has knock-on effects for the rest of your skiing technique. Focussing on early edge engagement will help you to feel:
Like the ski is doing most of the work
More stable at high speed
Able to ski much steeper slopes faster
A smoother transition through the turn
How does Carv measure Early edging?
The new Early edging metric measures how quickly and early you are able to increase the edge angle of your skis at the beginning of the turn. This metric is calculated out of 100, and you’re aiming to score as high as possible. A score close to 100 indicates that you have reached your maximum edge angle early in the turn.
We have also built this metric as a monitor so you can get your early edge score live on every turn. Racers eat your heart out.
Using Carv's Edging heatmap
In the Carv app, you'll also find a visual representation of your edging, in the form of a heatmap. It's a quick and easy way to interpret your edging data.
The darkest blue at the bottom end of the left-hand heatmap indicates early edge engagement
The left-hand edging heatmap shown above depicts the early edging of a professional ski instructor. On the outside ski of both left and right turns, the maximum edge angle (distinguished as the darkest blue) comes earlier in the turn (towards the bottom of the heatmap).
The heatmap on the right, however, shows Alex, our Head of Marketing. He's edging later, and his maximum edge angle comes later in the turn. You may also notice that Alex needs to work on his edge similarity, as his right turn (shown on the left of his heatmap) is stronger than his left. Better get practising Alex ;)
Improve your Early edging with Carv
The Carv app now measures how well you are performing early edging as you ski. You'll find your early edging score on the Run Summary page, under 'Edging'.
Use the Early edging monitor to track your improvements in real-time.
Practice shifting your weight to the new outside ski with the Outside ski turns drill.
Tear it up in Free ski mode for audio feedback at the end of your runs.
What can I do to improve my Early edging?
Early edging is an advanced skiing skill, most useful for intermediate and expert skiers already confidently carving down the mountain. But understanding the concept is helpful for all skiers.
We’ll let Tom Gellie, full cert instructor and ex-member of the Australian Demo Team, explain this one.
Watch this ski lesson from Tom Gellie, and get 3 simple tips for earlier edging.
Tom's Top Tips
1. Topple to turn
Allow gravity help you to ‘topple’ early into the next turn. Toppling is an efficient movement that will give you effortless early edge engagement. The key is to trust that as you fall into the new turn, your skis will catch and you’ll regain your balance.
2. Use an 'inrigger leg'
On a gentle slope, use your new outside leg as a ‘training wheel’ to support you as you topple into the new turn. This in-rigger leg will stop you from falling as you grow more confident and get used to the sensation of toppling.
3. Build your speed
Refine your toppling motion by starting on gentler slopes at slower speeds, and gradually increase your speed. As you move faster, allow yourself to topple further into the next turn, building confidence as you go.
