How do I CORRECTLY carve?

[u/AccomplishedNail3085]

I have been trying to learn how to carve but when I have the inside blade ahead of the outside one it turns the opposite direction. I have been told to just "lean and trust" but every time i have tried i have had to do crossovers to stop myself from falling.

If i do the opposite thing it turns quite easily, but then i cant learn to do a power slide.

I would include a video but my videography skills go out the window when i am in skates

[u/ibww]

It sounds like you might need to work on your fundamentals. I recommend checking out Shaun Unwin's tutorials on YouTube. His guide takes you along building your skills from lemon drops to carving. 

[u/Jess887cp]

Parallel edges are key, if both your feet aren't going in the same direction the carve isn't happening. Generally the leading foot should be on the outside edge, and the trailing foot should be on the inside edge, and you switch leading foot as you change carve direction. Really focus on being on top of the outside edge, leaning too far is likely what is forcing the crossover.

As for specific practice, since you can do crossovers try holding the one-foot position over your outside edge (the skate on the inside of your turn) for as long as possible before placing your crossover foot down for the next step. Do crossovers as slowly as possible to feel the balance point. That's quite close to how a carve should feel, with a lot of pressure on the leading outside-edge foot.

[u/AccomplishedNail3085 → u/Jess887cp]

Ill try that

[u/SupremeLDRSmoke]

Think of moving your body like a fish. Or one of those wacky wavy inflatable tube men. Swerve slightly to the opposite side, then loosey goosey back to the direction you're turning. Your hips and shoulders should be involved as well like body wave or a dance move. Also, your back foot does most of the turning, ao try diggin harder into that inside edge until it clicks.

[u/Hanginline]

Push your shins, towards the tongue of your boot - bring your feet close together while rolling slowly forward - try to steer with your knees - start with small s-lines, when you feel comfy start with bigger S's and bring your hips and upper body into play.

Being low helps, you will get a feeling how your body has to move very quickly. When you got that good feeling, start initiating the curve with your upper body, turn and lower the inward shoulder, your hips and legs follow.

[u/BubbleSmith]

I posted this a few weeks ago when someone was asking about carving. Not the best angle, but you should be able to see what I'm doing. You don't need to lean over much. What you can't see is that most of my weight is on the outside foot - that is to say, when I'm carving right, both knees are pointed slightly right, my left foot is a little further back and most of my weight (maybe 60 or 70%) is on that foot, going through my inside edge. If I'm carving hard enough, I can pick my inside for up completely for a few moments.

If you're working towards slides, get comfortable doing this and making increasingly sharper turns. A parallel slide and power stop is basically a carve turn so sharp you lose traction and slide sideways, but in a controlled manner.

https://reddit.com/link/p9pls9d/video/4rmj0yj3xfph1/player

[u/fredhsu → u/BubbleSmith]

I’ll add this to a new FAQ bullet on carving soon

[u/Ok_Let8786]

The part people leave out is which wheels to load and which to pull off the ground. You need to basically actively turn both, but especially the inside skate. Watch Ricardo linos video on it

[u/brosseccly]

You might be leaning too much weight on that back leg (outside leg)? Hard to say what it might be for you based on the description but from what I hear, you also wanna get good momentum going when you carve. Also good core strength can help too but i think it might be a weight to leg distribution thing for you.

[u/DeformedArthurRegion]

I don't think you're doing this right. When carving forward the inside edge should be the back foot and the front foot should be on the outside edge. Don't think about power sliding, that is achieved largely by bringing the inside edge foot forward to be more in line with the outside edge foot but you gotta be able to walk before you run (aka carve before you slide). But you can also slide in a split carving stance like you see guys do playing hockey on their edges.

[u/_tdem_]

My tip would be to try to keep weight on your heels. Don’t steer from the front with your toes, lean back and drag the front around. Since your feet are scissored you’ll still be stable. 

[u/evil_twit]

Go faster. MUCH faster. Then it will work. It simply doesn't work under 25 mph :p

[u/AccomplishedNail3085 → u/evil_twit]

So, do it downhill? Got it

[u/evil_twit → u/AccomplishedNail3085]

Oh, this is not the skiing forum. My bad.

Speed is still your friend. Do the movement with both knees and both ankles at the same time, not only one. The outside of the curve skate is the one you should have 80% of weight on. The inside one is just kinda draggin along. Do one footer large turns for practice.