3 Best CARVING Drills in 2026

SCRIPT Hey everyone, Tom here from TDK Skiracing — where ski instruction meets race coaching — and today we’re breaking down the three advanced carving drills that absolutely exploded when I posted them as Shorts. You guys had tons of comments, questions, and some seriously good insights, so let’s take a closer look at the drills and get you balanced like a pro! Carving with a wide stance has made skiing too easy — just stand there and tip the skis. But that comfort comes with a price: losing outside ski pressure, falling to the inside, hip rotation, low edge angles, wide turns, back‑seated and those washed‑out tails at the end of the turn. So, here’s the challenge: narrow your stance and move your balance out over your outside ski — while still using both skis at the same time. This is where the magic happens. Before we start, quick reminder: these drills are tough. Don’t worry if they feel awkward at first. Pick the easiest terrain you can find — a mellow green or blue — and make sure the slope is wide and quiet. You’ll be skiing on one ski at times, so you want zero distractions. DRILL 1 — THE JAVELIN TURN This drill is all about one thing: owning your outside ski. As you start the turn, lift your inside ski, angle it slightly outward so the tips overlap, pull it back, and tip it into the turn. Keep it touching the outside ski boot and engage your core to stay forward. Add angulation and upper‑body counter, and boom — you’re in a rock‑solid, balanced position. If you keep collapsing onto the inside ski, you’re probably standing too tall and not angulating or countering enough. Note, counter adds angulation. At the end of the turn, set the inside ski down on its Little Toe Edge, ride both skis for a moment, then release by lifting the outside ski. That quick shift rolls you from the LTE to the BTE on your old inside ski and launches you into the next turn. This is a flex‑to‑release, or Outside Leg Retraction — the basis for the classic cross‑under transition. DRILL 2 — THE WHITE PASS TURN Now we flip the script. Instead of moving to the outside ski right at transition, we’re going to load it hardest, later on in the turn, where you need maximum power. As you finish the turn and feel the forces stacking up, give in and let yourself vault over your extended outside leg into the new turn. This is also called a weighted release as you are rolling your outside ski from its BTE to its LTE. Two new things happen, you incline into the new turn standing on your new inside ski while your new outside ski flies high the air. Note, your lifted outside leg and ski helps you stay balanced. This drill not only builds build’s courage and confidence, it also builds early edge angles and stops you from stepping onto the inside ski before the turn has ended, and honestly — it feels amazing. You just stand tall, let the forces pull you into the new turn, and then drop you right back down onto your outside ski. This mimics an Inside Leg Extension transition — the classic crossover transition. DRILL 3 — SKIING ON ONE SKI Alright… this one’s the boss level. This is the hardest carving drill out there, and it’s only for true experts. If your fundamentals aren’t dialled, it will create bad habits — banking, upper‑body rotation and standing on the inside ski. Again, pick the easiest slope you can find, leave one ski safely at the top, and ski down on just one. Keep the free leg lifted, slightly bent, and pressed gently against the carving leg. The real challenge? Turning on your inside ski. In this demo, we’re turning right. You need to relax and trust your inside ski to turn downhill and all the way through-out the turn. If you can pull this off smoothly… congratulations. You’ve officially entered Triggerboy‑approved pro territory. Wrap‑Up That’s it for today! If this helped you, hit subscribe, smash that thumbs‑up, drop a comment, and have a fantastic new 2026 season. I’ll see you out on the slopes!