 Poster: A snowHead
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They used to be a standard element in the ski instructor's curriculum. From time to time they've been banned from it.
Do you have any happy memories of kick turns?
Do you have any amusing stories of getting stuck at the 'point of no return'?
Is your failure to perform kick turns causing a sense of personal crisis?
Do you think ski instructors should be able to perform kick turns?
Do you avoid kick turns like the plague?
Do your kick turns impress your friends?
Do you have any questions about kick turns for our panel of experts?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 29-09-04 11:38; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Only to be used as a last resort in my opinion, eg so steep that you're too scared to make any other kind of turn. I find them easier to do on steep slopes, although halfway through the kick is always a slightly nervous time for me! I suppose that it's a useful trick to have been taught and practised, but it should be emphasised that it has limited utility.
Regards
Rob
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I always found them very useful, especially when up to my knees in powder, unable to turn in any direction and heading towards a bunch of trees 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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D G Orf. Maybe, like me, you were taught to do them by a severe Austro/Swiss instructor in some bygone age!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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No idea what one is!
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I really doubt that my ageing body could achieve such a posture. Nasal snowplough is another way out of sticky situations.... or sideslip for miles! At least until you have a really embarrassing pile of scraped off snow under you!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Once got led (not by a guide or a Ski Club rep!) into the Grand Couloir (now called Triffide 1, I believe) at La Grave. Way beyond my ability at the time - and I would not want to chance it again now. I really thought there was a very high chance of ending that one maimed or dead. The only way I could psyche myself down when I stopped at the side, at one stage, was with a kick turn. When I got down to the bottom, one of another party of guide (or may have been an instructor) -led skiers had broken a femur. The next week, a far more expert skier than I killed herself there. I survived, but was very lucky IMO. Really taught me a thing or 2 about making one's own assement about who is leading a party.
But I was glad I knew how to kick turn.
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Q.Do you have any happy memories of kick turns?
A. Yes
Q.Do you have any amusing stories of getting stuck at the 'point of no return'?
A.No, the usual fall, when bad, face down
Q.Is your failure to perform kick turns causing a sense of personal crisis?
A.No, never had troubles
Q.Do you think ski instructors should be able to perform kick turns?
A. Not only instructors, every skier should, it's an essential help for situations where no other type of turn could be performed.
Q.Do you avoid kick turns like the plague?
A. No, in fact it's a way to check in which shape my legs are
Q.Do your kick turns impress your friends?
A. No, we all are able to kick turn, "back" or "front" (the one you link to is a "front", this is a non official terminology, of course) type it's the same.
Q.Do you have any questions about kick turns for our panel of experts?
A. did I pass the panel examination? 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Nadenoodlee, it's actually a brilliant way of turning 180 degrees on the spot, and is essential in off-piste skiing to get out of sticky situations. But it has a nasty habit of going wrong and demands a fair amount of practice in various snow conditions, on various gradients.
Here's the full explanation, from the ever-useful ifyouski.com site.
Matteo, yes I'm firing the existing panel because they haven't convinced me they know anything about skiing. You're in.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Wed 29-09-04 12:26; edited 1 time in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I've done it on the flat, but never on a slope. Why is it called "kick turn"?
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David, agree 100%, also it can inflict damages to untrained knees!!!
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You know it makes sense.
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Ahhh now I know what you mean!
Ive done that a few times, just with very little grace and dignity!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Ray Zorro, I believe it was thus named by the skiers' companions who were standing close by at the time.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I have happy memories of being able to perform them and they were useful but 18 years of rugby mean I wouldn't dare now.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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NickW, I remember with great hilarity an insructor trying to teach a group of us to do this. Most of the females could do it. A couple of us males couldnt even lift our skis onto the rear tips!!. Likewise with rugby, that was serious, skiing for me however is a "social" sport
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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In the If You Ski falling link, I noticed a bit about not using poles to break your speed in a fall as they could jam into the snow and cause an injury. Last year I saw a kid of about 12 do that lazy thing where on a long flat bit you lean right back in you boots and almost lie down on your skis. He put his pole out between his legs pointing forwards with his head raised to navigate, went over a bump, pole dug in and the grip smashed into his mouth...... very very unpleasant!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes, use it quite often to face the other way when stationary, esp. when stopped at the side of the piste waiting for the rest of the group. Was taught it in Andorra on first year skiing in 1982, along with side slipping.
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michael stocking dont wear slippery clothes??? I might be wrong but my waterproof jacket doesnt strike me as sticky (well not for a few years anyway)
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'Like' isn't really the most appropriate word but I've found them fantastically useful in a few tricky corners, though, since I got twin twips I just reverse out of these situations
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Got taught it years ago when I first learned to ski, but, being an on-piste skier, I'd never realised it was a serious technique. I thought it was designed for the locals' entertainment - look at those dumb Brits falling flat on their face and being stretchered off for emergency knee reconstruction 
David's link to ifyouski.com sums it up for me. Terms like 'uncomfortable and unstable' and 'teetering on the brink of disaster' don't exactly encourage you to try kick turns.
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I was taught it in 1991 by an ancient Swiss ski instructor and they've helped me out occasionally on a slope but mainly on the flat to face the other way. Its much easier to use now with the shorter skis.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Good point. Short skis make them much easier, and produce less leverage on the knees.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Do I like them - No. But I have used them in 'nothing else would do' situations. Would never do them on the flat, though. You need to be on a decent slope so you can plant the poles uphill behind you for some stability at the half way point.
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Wed 29-09-04 15:07; edited 1 time in total
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But the "modern" skis, especially since many come with riser/race plates, do tend to be a lot heavier than the more "traditional" models, or is it just me getting old?
If the slope is not overly steep a 180 twist in the air is a quicker alternative and maybe less likely to go wrong?
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Alan Craggs, if the last edge isn't released quite right, the ankles and knees will smart something cruel trying for kick turns. (This is between pic#3 and pic#4 on the ifyouski link) It took 3 daysx1200mg ibuprofen to live down the time I tried them on 160cm 9'10s with carve plates.
David Goldsmith the instructor was Slovenian/Italian. In 1974.
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Poster: A snowHead
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First thing I was taught on a dry slope, tips caught in the dendex not a good idea cos the dendex face plant is the worst face plant of all. Never new it was called a kick turn.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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My instructors have always done kick turns as they demonstrated what we were supposed to be doing and then turned to head off down the mountain...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Kickturns are cool, but Craggs is right about a 180 degree jump turn being a safer way to turn around on steep, exposed places. You should get these down before you go on very steep slopes. When you do a jump turn to get out of tight spot on steep slope, be sure to lift your tails as you jump or they won't clear, thats not good.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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DCGaper,
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be sure to lift your tails as you jump or they won't clear, thats not good
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no but it's very entertaining for any onlookers 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Alan Craggs wrote: |
| ...I am usually only referred to as "Craggs" by lawyers in Court... |
Really? 
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In answer to the question: NO. But that's just because I can't do them.
I get half-way and then have to clumsily retreat.
But why the name? Where does the Kick come into it?
Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong: no kick.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Jonpim, if you are not "kicking" your foot/ski into the air as the first part of the manoeuvre what are you doing?
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I'm doing an ever so graceful ballet step.
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FAQ
I definately used one in Feb on the Wengen Slalom course which is about 33 degrees 