CARVING BASICS (Part 1)
Once you get going with skidded turns you will want to start refining your style. There is a distinct sound to a carved turn compared to a skidded turn. You hear a sharp cutting sound with little noise if you are carving. If you skid your turn, it will be a long, loud scraping sound. The second thing you will notice is the way your track looks. If you carve a turn, you will leave a trench or fine line behind instead of a wide, sweeping track.
Edge control
What is happening when you carve is, the toe and heel edges are pressured into the hill. When you are carving a toe turn, you have to pressure your toe edge into the snow by pushing your toes down and cranking your board angle up so that your heel edge is off the snow. To carve a heel turn, you must pressure your heels into the snow while pushing your front hip down into the heel edge cranking that toe edge angle up.
Posture
As with all freeriding styles, your body position must remain over the center of your board. Your posture is key and must be maintained through the transitional phases of your turns. This is the hard part but ultimately when you get it you look like a pro. On a toe carve, arch your back and remain upright. Your knees must stay bent. On a heel carve your posture is more seated with your knees remaining bent. The most common mistake riders make is simply leaning over. That may feel like it's the right thing to do but it isn't. If you ride duck stance or with fairly low angles, the way to deliver this technique is to exaggerate the arched back and seating positions.
Video: Here's an example of basic carving on a green trail Notice how I keep my back arched on a toe carve and my knees bent. On the heel carve, it's a seated position always maintaining correct posture. Look in the direction of your next turn and let you body follow.
Photo: Here I illustrate the correct posture. If you were to draw a line from my head down to the center of my board, you will notice how my body maintains a straight line with my center of gravity always over the center of my board.
—By Leslie Costa
Keep watch for Carving Basics Part 2.