Counter steering in skiing using LEGO figurine
In this instructional video, Tom Gellie uses a short Instagram clip from the creator ‘Legoskier’—which shows two LEGO figurine skiers colliding on a slope—to demonstrate the dynamics of countersteering in alpine skiing. He explains how the momentum of the skier’s center of mass can continue down one path while the skis’ base of support, after being nudged, follows a different trajectory, causing the skier to topple inward and engage an early edge. Gellie draws a direct analogy to the well‑known countersteering technique used by motorcyclists and cyclists, arguing that skiers can achieve a quicker, more efficient turn initiation by steering the skis opposite to the desired turn direction, allowing gravity and ski geometry to create the turn rather than relying on a twisting effort. He encourages viewers to rethink the traditional “roll‑over” turn start, suggesting that an early inside‑turn topple and edge engagement—mirrored by the blue LEGO skier’s ski direction change—can lead to smoother, faster carving. The video ends with a call to experiment with this approach and a thank‑you to Legoskier for the visual aid.
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