How has skiing changed in 25 years?

Soldato
Joined
17 Jun 2012
Posts
11,259
Went a few times at school, skiing holidays etc. After a quick search it seems we've gone from straight skis to shaped skis requiring a different technique?

How different a technique would this be, would you likely just be able to jump back into it or would you need lessons etc. Apart from shaped skis I can't imagine much else has changed?
 
I've only ski'd on the "new style" skis and as far as I understand the principles are the same, but the newer hour-glass side-cut (and arguably the upturned u profile) provide more grip as they tilt.

As MKW said, modern tuition steps are generally snowplough -> snowplough turns -> plough-parallel turns (start in a snowplough but end parallel) and then parallel turns. So the old style of hopping onto the new edge is gone.

Technique-wise... the old style of ankles together, pivoting and skidding had been replaced with feet at shoulder-width and adding pressure through the inside of your foot (almost like you're pressuring your big-toe of the downhill leg).

As Arsonist implied - there's never a bad time to get lessons, so if in doubt then get lessons when in resort, as they'll always be able to find terrain to get you out of your comfort zone...

That's a pity I liked the hopping was like being a pro, maybe I'll find a set of 'old' skis. Hard to believe i'm calling them old.
 
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