Skiing technique

Essential equipment needed for grasski

After receiving package with our grasski you will need following equipment: ski boots, ski poles, a helmet and protective elements - a helmet and a spine/backbone protector.

Ski boots

Some models of ski boots with walk/ski switches could prevent grass binding to properly close! The same problem may happen with hard snowboard boots, telemark ski boots or skialp ski boots. Compatibility with these is therefore not guaranteed! But apart of mentioned you can use any ordinary ski boots. Competitors use hardest models due to higher summer temperatures.

Ski poles

You can easily use same winter poles. Nothing special is required.

Clothing and protective elements

We recommend skiing in clothes with long sleeves and pants. It is also recommended to use gloves - older alpine gloves or work gloves are both fine. Highly recommended are protective elements such as a ski helmet (not a bicycle), a spine protector or elbow protectors - protectors for roller skates can be used.

Understanding the basics of skiing technique: posture, balance, and weight distribution

Before diving into ski techniques, let's first discuss the initial sensations of grass skiing. Grass ski turning behavior falls somewhere between inline skates and alpine skiing. To give you a better idea, I often compare the initial feeling of grass skiing to that of alpine super-G skiing, as both require some speed for proper turning. Similarly, in grass skiing, turning can be challenging without sufficient speed, and longer skis need even higher speeds to turn effectively. However, longer skis offer more stability and can navigate bumps with greater ease.

Now, let's examine the basic body posture required for grass skiing before we proceed with the actual practice.

Maintaining Correct Posture and Equilibrium in Skiing

Grass skiing requires a more precise front-to-back body positioning compared to alpine skiing. If your center of gravity is too far forward (as shown in the left picture), the skis will become unstable and shaky on grassy terrain. Conversely, if your center of gravity is too far back (depicted in the right picture), it will be challenging to initiate turns. Keeping your hands in front of your body can help maintain the proper balance and stabilize your center of gravity while learning to ski.

center of gravity moved too much forward

optimum center of gravity

center of gravity moved too much backward

Proper hand position improves balance

Grass skis are shorter in length, so utilize your hands to maintain proper body posture and balance. Pay attention to your back's curvature in pictures, as it should resemble the stance in alpine skiing, where your back is slightly bent forward to apply the right pressure on the outer ski.

center of gravity moved too much forward

optimum center of gravity

center of gravity moved too much backward

Positioning of Legs

Since its beginning, grass skiing has evolved from traditional skiing techniques. Gradually, snow skiing transformed into carving. The same principles hold true for foot positioning. Both legs and skis must remain parallel, without knee-to-knee movement or leg lifting at the start or finish of a turn. These outdated techniques don't apply to grass skiing. As illustrated, always ensure both skis are parallel and facing the same direction. Additionally, maintain a consistent distance between your skis and avoid colliding them together.

ski must be parallel all the time without lifting from ground

correct ski position

ski must be parallel all the time without lifting from ground

Skating

The initial steps in learning to ski involve mastering skating techniques, which enable you to move effortlessly to and from the ski lift. Skating on grass skis closely resembles roller skating or cross-country skiing, making it accessible for absolute beginners. Practicing your stance on skis helps improve overall balance. Remember that unlike alpine skiing, grass skis do not slide sideways. This means your movements must be accurate when positioning your skis in the proper direction, without the ability to make corrections through sliding.

First turns

Grasski	Alpine ski
Rolling friction	Sliding friction
Contact surface shape dependent turning radius	Sidecut dependent turning radius
Shape of ash wood in grasski is responsible for turning characteristics as well as rocker/no-rocker feeling from ski	Rocker or no-rocker shape easing turn initiation

Mastering the snowplough: the foundation of all skiing techniques

For beginners learning to ski, using a wide stance similar to the snowplow technique on grass skis can be helpful. This positioning allows for quicker turns and better control, as more pressure is applied directly to the outer ski during turns.

For your initial turns, pick the gentlest and broadest section of the slope instead of starting at the top. Before skiing straight down, ensure your body is centered by traversing the slope 2-3 times from side to side. Pay attention to keeping your weight even, not leaning too far forward or backward. To attempt your first turn, begin by gently rolling and apply pressure to the outer/lower ski (if turning right, press on left ski). The skis may not turn right away at slower speeds, but be patient. If nothing happens, it might indicate poor posture with your weight too far back. When the skis start to rotate, follow the arc towards the contour line to regulate your speed while learning to ski.

Managing Your Speed While Learning to Ski

In grass skiing, there are no brakes and skidding isn't an option. Therefore, controlling your speed relies on making turns. The greater you turn, the easier it is to manage your speed. As a beginner, it's best to start with wide turns from one side to the other, always ending at a contour line. The longer you follow the contour line, the more you'll slow down. This is also why short, slalom-like turns are not recommended for beginners. You'll eventually enjoy these shorter turns, but it's best to master the basics first.

Mastering Skiing without the Use of Poles

An important skill to learn in grass skiing is turning without poles. While this may appear easy at first, you'll quickly realize it can be quite challenging. So, set your ski poles aside at the bottom of the slope and practice the "first turn" technique again. You can also attempt to link turns, keeping in mind to control your speed by making counter line turns, especially during your initial attempts.

Mastering Mid-Level Turns

For advanced skiers, having an extremely wide body posture is not necessary, and they can let their skis move at a faster pace. Remember to maintain your balance in the center of the ski and apply the correct pressure on the lower / outer ski. By doing so, you'll enhance the ski's turning ability and increase its speed.

Improving Turn Speeds

Output: Once you've successfully finished all previous exercises and feel more comfortable on grass skis, it's time to progress. Allow your skis to glide slightly faster than before. When you begin to turn, concentrate on keeping your skis parallel. Also, attempt to curve your hips into an arc, similar to quicker and sharper turns on snow. In doing so, the inner ski will bear some weight, about 30-40%. However, the majority of the pressure should remain on the lower ski.

Mastering Turns for Intermediate to Advanced Skiers

Mastering True Carving

In this racing skier's movements, you can easily observe that their legs move almost parallel to each other, even when turning. This indicates that traditional techniques, like bringing knees together, are no longer relevant in contemporary carving and grass skiing. Along with this evolution, there is a shift in weight distribution on the legs. Instead of placing the entire force on the lower legs as taught in beginner lessons, modern skiing allocates 60% of the pressure on the lower ski and 40% on the upper ski. By partially distributing your weight on the upper ski, you gain more stability on uneven terrain – resulting in less ski curling and a smoother ride.

As you gain more confidence and stability, you can work towards increasing your hip flexibility and executing sharper turns, similar to the skier in the images above. Meanwhile, remember to maintain proper positioning with your body centered over the skis, hold your hands correctly, and most importantly, ensure your skis and legs remain parallel.

Navigating through turns

In a series of photos, you can clearly observe the process of navigating through turns and how individual turns should be connected when skiing. You'll notice not just the positioning of the hips during each turn and the shifting of weight between them, but also the precise footwork involved.

Reiterating fundamental guidelines for enhanced comprehension in the context of ski education.

Rule One: Master the clean carving turn on edges

Grass skis don't easily skid due to their construction, making it challenging to stop and control a skid. A clean carving turn performed on the edges helps you maintain control by shifting your weight between your legs and skis.

Rule Two: Maintain proper body posture and balance

Grass skis come in sizes ranging from 65-110 cm, with shorter sizes for children and students. Adult and junior sizes start at 80 cm. Balancing on grass skis can be challenging, similar to roller skating. Leaning too far forward or backward can cause instability, leading to falls and difficulty turning.

Rule Three: Master tilting and turning techniques

Turning on grass skis is different from snow skiing due to their stiffness. Instead of bending to turn, as in snow skiing, grass ski turning is more similar to inline skating. The underside of the ski contacts the ground with a barrel-shaped surface – by slightly tilting the ski, it begins to turn.

Rule Four: Control your speed

Winter skiing allows quick turns even over short distances. Grass skiing's initial curves are slower at lower speeds due to their tilt-based turning method. However, as you gain experience and increase speed, you'll find that turning becomes faster and control over radius more precise.

Rule Five: Avoid ski-to-ski contact

During grass skiing, keep your skis from touching each other to prevent falls caused by contact between plastic elements on each ski. Protectors are mounted on the inside ski sides for added protection against accidental contact.

Rule Six: Proper lubrication is essential

Grass skis require lubrication with ecological oils such as chainsaw oil before each skiing session. Frequent use requires more frequent lubrication for optimal performance. Washing grass skis depends on dirt accumulation and slope conditions – a general rule of thumb is to wash them when you feel they're slowing down.