Tom GellieBig Picture Skiing Pty Ltd · Coach/Director

Skate then drill for getting forward when carving. I use this with my students.

24 Jan 2026 · 2 min

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1:49

In this instructional video, ski coach Tom Gellie demonstrates how to generate forward pressure and a strong position during carving by borrowing the sensation of skating. He explains the sequence of compressing, edging, and driving, likening it to the push-off motion when skating off a lift. He emphasizes extending the leg behind the body and then compressing to create dynamic input into the turn, contrasting this with a one‑dimensional, edge‑only approach. Gellie introduces a J‑turn drill, describing how practicing this movement unlocks greater dynamism, better edge control, and more forward drive in skiing, and he outlines the key feel and benefits for students.

Chapters

I'm going to help you get more forward, okay, and in a really strong position. One thing I really feel in the start of the turn is very similar to when you skate, going from the top of the lift over to a run, or the bottom over back to the lift, the skating sensation. So just watch this again. If I was ready to skate off, first thing I do is I'm going to compress I'm going to get on the edge and then I'm going to drive. And can you see the direction I went? Yep. So I'm almost pushing back in that direction where my pole is. Okay, I want to teach you— we're going to do some skate turns, but before— yeah, actually, here's a good spot for it. But essentially, I want you to get the feeling of an extended leg, or a leg that is kind of moving behind you in a turn like this, and then compresses. Extends behind you and then compresses. There's this movement here, as opposed to just, uh, I think a lot of time when people think about forward— can you see this is kind of one-dimensional? One-dimensional. And they also, because it's the thing about skating, is with skating I'm trying to like put energy to get somewhere. With getting forward, can you see it's just like I'm just trying to change my position? Yep. Okay, so there's, there's something. So the first task is, can you skate, uh, a J-turn? Practicing it, you are going to unlock many benefits in your skiing. The best feeling you're going to discover from doing this drill is being far more dynamic on your skis, adding input into the turn as opposed to just riding the edges around the corner.