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Staggering while riding switch

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owned
Posts: 345 - Karma: 10
i see so many people in videos staggering their skis while riding switch and turning. maybe this makes me a noob but i can't seem to understand why they do this. i searchbared and people have said that it helps you turn but i don't really buy this. when i ride switch i can carve easily without staggering and just keeping both skis parallel. same way i carve when i ride normally. so the easier turns reason don't make sense. another reason people gave was that it allows you to twist more so you can have a larger visual when riding switch. this i can understand.

so my question is what is/are the main reason(s) to staggering your skis while riding switch.
Mar 6 2010 11:42PM
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hellomynameisjef
Posts: 5794 - Karma: 167
ya answered yah own question dood
Mar 6 2010 11:43PM
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Kirsakid
Posts: 1793 - Karma: 126
well you answered your own question, read your last point
Mar 6 2010 11:48PM
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i.ski.troll.
Posts: 4692 - Karma: 245
You cant carve with your skis completely parallel.  your always staggering while riding regular or switch if your carving.  and yes it does help you turn, a lot.
Mar 6 2010 11:51PM
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Dirac
Posts: 1304 - Karma: 335
You probably do a lead change when carving normally too. Pretty much the only turns that don't have a lead change are like mogul turns where you don't have time. The vision thing is also huge. I have a huge problem because I can stagger super well looking over my unnatural spinning shoulder, but suck at it with my natural one, so I can see way less. It really kills me on rails like a switch 270 on is so tough for me.
Mar 7 2010 1:38AM
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eheath
Posts: 61100 - Karma: 118,256
This, you definitely stagger your feet while carving forward, if you don't, then you have no idea how to ski and probably suck at skiing.
Mar 7 2010 3:41AM
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owned
Posts: 345 - Karma: 10
you're right. i do stagger the skis when i carve normally but only a few inches. when people ride switch its more like half a foot to a foot stagger. but like people said, i answered my own question and that is due to them wanting a larger visual when turning their body.

thanks, i learned something new and will try this next time im skiing.
Mar 7 2010 1:53PM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
people do lead with the uphill ski in a carve, but its not desirable.  if you match your inside with your outside ski (with your shins, not your your toes-stay front seat), you'll find that you can turn much more aggressively
Mar 7 2010 2:29PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
you always stagger a little bit
Mar 7 2010 2:39PM
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Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,352
more stagger=more steeze
Mar 7 2010 2:54PM
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quixotic
Posts: 6937 - Karma: 2,978
staggering while switch helps you turn much sharper and keeps you balanced on your turns. you should buy it.
Mar 7 2010 2:55PM
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Mr_FreshShirt
Posts: 992 - Karma: 41
to my adhd positive friend this is known as the "ignant stagger"
Mar 7 2010 2:56PM
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Canuker
Posts: 4730 - Karma: 165

^this, i already bought it myself, not regrets.

Mar 7 2010 3:01PM
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Pman13a
Posts: 3800 - Karma: 451
its for vision

when you are skiing forward, you always have a view of everything. however when skiing switch your vision is very limited.   If you dont stagger, then your shoulders are square to the hill, you cant see anything, and its just plain dangerous to ski switch.  Staggering makes you able to point your shoulders downhill and see as well as you can
Mar 7 2010 3:53PM
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mezzy
Posts: 298 - Karma: 15
this. it helps you see better
Mar 7 2010 3:57PM
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TTSwitchrider674
Posts: 179 - Karma: 26
when i try to stagger my stance, its hard and uncomfortable to do, do i just need to get over it or what?
Mar 7 2010 8:04PM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306


its definitely pretty minimal
Mar 7 2010 11:11PM
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Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9091 - Karma: 3,016
they staggered like 4 inches haha
Mar 7 2010 11:44PM
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colin13
Posts: 2201 - Karma: 216
the main reason is to allow your shoulders to open up and give you a chance to know where you're going. just like you said in your post
Mar 7 2010 11:48PM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15949 - Karma: 9,431
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQKVUBXVSkU
Mar 7 2010 11:50PM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15949 - Karma: 9,431

Mar 7 2010 11:51PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
I think this whole edit is done switch. The guy kills it


Mar 7 2010 11:53PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
Not to mention it's a lot easier to see where you're going when staggered to one side.
Mar 8 2010 1:53AM
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crazy_karl
Posts: 772 - Karma: 4,914
Hahah my mom skis like that with her knees perfectly together. So funny to watch! oldschool as fuck
Mar 8 2010 2:04AM
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Dan-Man
Posts: 7480 - Karma: 3,605
haggarding while switch= i am a pro. haha, but yea it is good to stagger a lil bit.
Mar 8 2010 2:07AM
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aflightlessbird
Posts: 508 - Karma: 497
i would be nothing out staggering.
Mar 8 2010 3:11AM
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h_bar
Posts: 1611 - Karma: 506
Click for larger image
Mar 8 2010 7:09AM
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owned
Posts: 345 - Karma: 10
thanks asshole. i don't remember there being a skill requirement to post on ns.
Mar 9 2010 1:42PM
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asapCferg
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 357
Staggering helps with balance. It doesn't to be done but some have a tendency to do so
Mar 9 2010 1:47PM
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technique.
Posts: 1538 - Karma: 308
Click for larger imageClick for larger image
Mar 9 2010 2:14PM
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,356
wait.
Riding switch is different then riding straight????
Mar 9 2010 2:49PM
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The_Future
Posts: 1418 - Karma: 607
Good skiers know that when carving (forward) that when you bring your down hill ski (the ski that is usually slightly behind your uphill ski) forward and closer to having your ski tips equal, you will carve at a much sharper arch.   I hope that made sense. Basically, when you're laying down a fatty carve if you power your downhill ski forward, you will turn sharper.  I would think that the same concept could apply to skiing switch.  So the kid could have a point, but it is very true that being able to see where you're going when going switch is very important.
Mar 9 2010 2:58PM
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Mike.Steezze
Posts: 407 - Karma: 17
I find that when im not turning that it also allows me to put more weight on my dominant leg more easily.
Mar 9 2010 3:05PM
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