What is a McConkey turn?

For Rahlves, the move is now as ingrained into racing as it is freeskiing, where it's known as the slarve, or the “McConkey turn.” The difference he says, is that the stivot occurs at the top of the turn, where a racer is trying to quickly realign his arc without losing too much speed, while the slarve is a buttering, ...

What is a Slarve turn in skiing?

The Slarve is a sliding carve, or skid steer, where the tips pivot and the tails slide adjacent and wash out creating a deep angled crescent moon shape.

What are turns in skiing called?

SNOWPLOUGH TURN – aka Wedge Turn - A turn in which the tips of the skis are together, the tails are apart and both Inside Edges (US definition) are engaged with the snow.

What is smearing in skiing?

Smearing is skidding a turn in powder, which just wasn't possible on narrow skis. Skidding—or drifting—gives you options. At speed, it allows you to delay a turn—to avoid an obstacle, for instance.

What skis did Shane Mcconkey use?

Shane was a member of the K2 Skis team and was a creative thinker who challenged conventional wisdom in ski design. His Pontoon rockered powder ski, introduced in 2004, was one of the most profound innovations in ski design in decades.

28 related questions found

What happened Shane McConkey?

On March 26, 2009, Shane McConkey died during a ski-BASE jump on the Sass Pordoi, a mountain in the Sella group of the Italian Dolomites. One of his skis failed to release, sending him into a spin. After he corrected the problem, it was too late to deploy his parachute.

What does GNAR mean in skiing?

SHREDDING THE GNAR: Skiing gnarly (difficult) terrain. Usually not a groomed run, maybe backcountry or moguls.

What are the bumps on ski slopes called?

What are Moguls? Moguls are bumps that you'll find on some groomed slopes at downhill ski areas. They can be constructed purposely by the ski area, but more often they form naturally as skiers carve turns down a slope.

What does powder mean in skiing?

Noun. Definition: Shorthand for the word 'powder', the term 'pow' is probably one of the most commonly written down words in skiing slang and can be heard on days when the snow is good and the face shots (see point 10) are flowing. “The pow today is absolutely out of this world.”

Why do skiiers turn?

Because the edges on modern carving skis are curved they cut into the snow in a slight arc, the skis then follow the edges and this takes you around in a turn.

What is it called when you ski with one ski?

A monoski is a single wide ski used for skiing on snow. The same boots, bindings, and poles are used as in alpine skiing. Unlike in snowboarding, both feet face forward, rather than sideways to the direction of travel.

What is it called to ski downhill quickly?

Schuss—Literally, "to shoot" or "shot" in German. To ski straight downhill very fast with skis parallel. Ski Boards—Very short, twin-tipped skis used for carving fast turns, jumping and doing acrobatic tricks.

What is Hippie POW?

If you are relatively new to the backcountry you can grab a couple of friends and join us in seeking out the ​“hippie pow,” a term used to describe deep snow on gentle terrain, fun for all and requiring no formal avalanche education training.

Why is it called mogul skiing?

Mogul skiing arose soon after aerials in an effort to navigate the large bumps, called moguls, on many ski slopes. Competing on a steep (22°–32°), 200- to 270-metre (660- to 890-foot) course, the skier is scored on speed, turn techniques, and two mandatory upright jumps.

Why do my skis wobble?

Most intermediate skiers experience "wobble" as you describe it when the skis are too flat on the surface. If you can carve on a piste and transfer from edge to edge with little effort then skis will ride the edge to help you.

What does powder mean in snowboarding?

Powder – The holy grail of skiing and snowboarding, powder is the catch-all word to describe snow that is still fresh and yet to be tracked out by skis and snowboards.

What is better ski powder or groomed?

imagine turning your skis through molasses. another method for turning in powder is to tip the skis onto their edges. On groomed snow, this slicing move en- gages the skis' edges into the snow and produces a carved turn. in powder, you aren't trying to bite into the snow but instead to bank the skis within the snow.

How do you ski choppy powder?

10 Tips on How to Ski in Choppy Conditions

1. Keep moving and fighting for your rhythm. ...
2. Unless the slope is very steep, avoid making sharp V-shaped turns. ...
3. Look ahead & aim for your next turn. ...
4. Use wide skis if the snow is choppy and fresh. ...
5. If you are really stuck, then you can opt for 'mountaineers turns'

What does shred the NARD mean?

To shred the gnar is to excel when confronted with a challenge. It could be a crazy black diamond run, a huge wave in the ocean, or a set of tricky features in a skate park.

What does shredder mean in skiing?

What does Shred mean in ski/snowboard slang. To shred or shredding is defined as skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking or participating in any extreme sport or activity. Shred can also be used to mean tearing up a line or trail and look really good doing it.

What does surf the GNAR mean?

6. GET GOOD AT SURFING AND “SHRED THE GNAR” With practice and a lot of failures, one day you'll be able to “shred the gnar” and impress other surfers. Gnar is short for gnarly and to shred it means to excel or do well. You're permanently overcoming and excelling at a problematic situation.

Where did Shane McConkey live?

“He lived in Santa Cruz and he and his mother would go up to Squaw on the weekends,” says Sherry McConkey. “Sometimes he would stay with families around Truckee, especially after it became apparent he was becoming a really good skier.” McConkey was born in Vancouver, British Columbia.