Originally posted Aug, 5 2007. I will rerecord the video this summer.
If you enjoy the bumps, then this is a move worth owning.
The “Air Carve”. It goes beyond “functional air”. There can be elements of flash, beyond the function. The basic idea is to launch on the upside of one bump and land on the top or backside of the same or the next bump without an interruption of flow and rhythm.
In the video I will attempt to demonstrate and explain a few patterns in the bumps in which this is particularly appropriate. As well as the visual, technical, tactical, and mental approaches.
I may use this tactic when I am a little aft prior to takeoff, as well as when the bump line is chopped up and jagged.
We have been there, you know that the bump after the current one has a steep face, and the impact will jolt you. Rather than taking the hit, what if you looked to the top or backside of the upcoming steeply-faced bump. You could elevate over the sharp, high-impact line and land in a smoother path.
What differentiates the Air Carve from functional air type turns is that there is a smooth transition of edges in the air. There is minimal leg rotation from takeoff to landing. I want to emphasis minimal, there is some steering adjustment that takes place in the air, but not a strong twist. Too much turn in the air will have you landing across your line of travel and can interrupt your flow. There is also a tipping movement from one set of edges to the other, as well as a “pedaling” movement from leg to leg. i.e. On a turn to the left, a lengthening of the right leg and a flexing of the left leg (joints).
Some get into trouble while air carving because they look at the “trouble” (trough or face of the bump they are landing into). I prefer looking at the landing point to the Apex of the turn (the outermost point of the turn). This approach helps me in starting to shape the turn from above the gravity line, rather than at the bottom of the turn (below the gravity line).
And skier may do as many air carves as they want to on a run, but I find putting a few here and there adds to the fun and spontaneity.
I look forward to hearing of your experiments in Air Carving.
to your sliding success,
Jonathan Lawson
Hey thanks for stopping by my blog! Yours rocks! Ok, we may have to call you when we come up next.
Check ya later!
Thanks Mary-Kay. It looks like spring is here. You have a fun family blog. Keep it up! See you when you are up next.
Jon
‘Bout time you posted the video. I have been waiting to link to it since you sent me the link to it on Youtube to check out. =)
Great video as usual.
Justin
Great video tutorial. Two things I’d like to see in future videos are small changes.
The actual demonstration of your air carve looks great, excellent take off, execution, and landing. What gets lost are the really essential details (for example the visual of the edge change) in the video thanks to Google video’s compression. It would be helpful to include a closer view to the video data clear.
The only other thing I’d like to see, a link to popping off a lip!
AG,
thank you for the comments. I will get some footage of the edge change in the air. And if you know of any air pops, let me know. Otherwise, I will film some of that as well.
to your sliding success,
Jon