Mark Sedgwick finished this winter as #1 on the CARV global leaderboard

for short turns, with a Ski IQ of 180 — the highest recorded this season.

In this episode, I sit down with Mark to find out exactly how he got there.

Mark is an Australian-born ski professional who started at age 10 and never

looked back. He's worked through the APSI, CSIA, and Austrian instructor

systems, raced in Europe, ran ski resorts, and now plays a senior role in

the PSIC (Professional Ski Instructors of Canada) — including integrating

CARV data into Level 4 certification exams.

This is one of the most practical, data-rich ski improvement conversations

I've had on the show. We cover:

→ The difference between play, purposeful practice, and deliberate practice

→ Why just trying harder keeps you stuck at the same score

→ The #1 and #2 metrics that drive short turn Ski IQ

→ Mark's philosophy: make something exist before you make it better

→ Turn-by-turn breakdowns of parallel, carving, short turns, and moguls

→ Why function before form is reshaping how ski instructors are trained

→ A live coaching session using my real CARV data

→ How Mark used AI to reverse-engineer the CARV scoring algorithm

→ The future of CARV: stivets, one-ski skiing, and community features

Whether you're a recreational skier trying to level up or a ski professional

looking for a new lens on performance, this conversation is packed with

actionable insights.

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🎿 FREE SKIING VIDEO

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https://bigpictureskiing.com/get/perpendicular

📱 DOWNLOAD CARV

Try CARV for yourself:

https://getcarv.com

🌐 BIG PICTURE SKIING

Website: https://bigpictureskiing.com

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⏱ CHAPTERS

0:00 How Mark Hit Ski IQ 180

3:15 Meet Mark Sedgwick

5:14 From Aussie Kid to Ski Pro

7:52 The Austrian Influence

12:56 Why Most Practice Doesn't Work

23:55 The Ugly Skiing Breakthrough

32:39 Function Over Form

37:12 Style Still Matters

45:50 Make It Exist, Then Make It Better

54:48 How to Improve Your Parallel Score

1:04:45 Parallel — The Most Overlooked Turn Type

1:13:42 Carving: The Metrics That Actually Matter

1:27:44 Ski Sharpening & The Pole Secret

1:31:25 Short Turns — How to Break Your Ceiling

1:45:43 Moguls, Tempo & Keeping the Joy

Another season done. And like always, by the time the lifts close Demelza and I find ourselves deep in conversation about what we actually learned out there — not just what we taught, but what shifted in our own thinking.

This episode is that conversation. We each had a big coaching theme this season that we kept coming back to with clients, and in this one we unpack both of them — plus a few other things that came up along the way.

We get into turn shape and why it’s the foundation everything else is built on, ankle and knee mechanics and where they actually belong in the turn, the push vs pull debate and what’s really happening with pressure, why a “stable upper body” is honestly an optical illusion, and what it means to unfreeze — and why loose is actually stable.

There’s also a moment where Demelza highsides herself at about 3 feet in the air at Hintertux while I’m watching from the bottom. That one’s worth it alone.

If you’re a skier who wants to understand the why behind good technique, this one’s for you.

Interested in joining Tom’s upcoming Deep Dive Webinars? See below

📅 Big Picture Skiing upcoming webinars → https://bigpictureskiing.com/programs/deep-dive-3

Want to join a ski camps with Tom, Demelza and Jason? Checkout

🎿 Ski camps with Tom & Demelza → https://www.skicoachcollective.com

Want a free deep dive on a concept that will improve linking of your ski turns?

🎥 Free video → https://bigpictureskiing.com/get/perpendicular

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction to Skiing Insights

00:01:13 Exploring Turn Shape

00:02:53 Coaching Themes for the Season

00:06:55 Understanding Turn Dynamics

00:08:38 The Joy of Speed in Skiing

00:12:14 Engaging Advanced Skiers

00:17:04 The Push-Pull Concept

00:28:28 Balancing Between Techniques

00:31:35 The Importance of Timing

00:38:05 Skiing for Fun vs. Competition

00:46:21 Reflecting on Personal Growth

00:59:23 Enhancing Skiing Techniques

01:06:37 The Journey of Unfreezing Movements

01:16:01 Preparing for Future Topics

01:28:52 Conclusion and Future Conversations

Most skiers only think about their boots when something hurts.

In this episode, I sit down with expert boot fitter Brent Armsbury to unpack the art and science of ski boot fitting — and why every skier should take more ownership of their setup.

We talk about the mindset shift from “my boots don’t feel right” to actively experimenting and giving better feedback. Brent shares the most common issues he sees in the shop, why feeling disconnected from your boots doesn’t always mean you need a new pair, and how small adjustments can restore performance.

We cover practical, mid-season tweaks including:

• Padding and shimming the liner tongue and shin area

• Using simple materials like neoprene, foam and even duct tape to fill voids

• Spoilers, heel lifts and forward lean experiments

• How to self diagnose fit issues starting from the front of the boot

The big takeaway: boot fitting is collaborative. The more you understand and experiment, the better the outcome.

If you want to go deeper on technique, equipment setup and skiing performance, check out the Big Picture Skiing learning platform. https://bigpictureskiing.com/

Podcast listeners can use the code PODCAST to take 20% off.

Ski bindings are one of the most important — and least understood — parts of our equipment.

In this episode, I talk with Phil Pugliese from SkiTalk.com to better understand how ski bindings work, where they came from, and how they balance performance with safety. Phil has spent decades reviewing and testing ski equipment, and his depth of knowledge really shows.

We cover the evolution of bindings, the role of elasticity, DIN settings, race vs recreational designs, GripWalk compatibility, and why understanding your equipment matters more than most skiers realise.

This conversation helped me make more informed decisions about bindings for myself and my family, and it’s one I think any skier who enjoys learning about their craft will appreciate.

Want to see the bindings Phil is talking about check the YouTube version of the podcast https://youtu.be/JalwwxcNvts

Want to improve your skiing further?

Check out Big Picture Skiing, my online coaching platform with a huge library of in-depth ski technique and equipment videos designed to help you ski better — and enjoy it more.

Podcast listeners get a 25% off Discount Code. Use code PODCAST when you checkout

Learn more at bigpictureskiing.com

I have to admit that one of my core beliefs about moguls was challenged during this most recent conversation with Olympic Moguls silver medalist Matt Graham. For a long time, I believed that more ski snow contact was the ultimate sign of a good bump skierl. But in this open and honest conversation, Matt explains why the opposite is true when you want speed and rhythm in a mogul course.

I was working with Carv at Hintertux when I met up with him, and he talked me through the key ideas the best bump skiers in the world rely on plus a whole lot more 👇

The Mogul Paradox

One of the biggest concepts he shares is something called bridging. It is the ability to absorb the terrain so well that the skis do not press unnecessarily into the bumps. By bridging at the right moment, the skier reduces friction, avoids braking, and keeps the ideal turn tempo flowing. Once Matt explained it, the whole approach made a lot more sense.

The Boot Alignment Breakthrough

Matt also speaks openly about the long journey he had getting his equipment right. He explains the exact alignment change that finally let him ski with more comfort and less fight. Hearing that from someone at his level shows how important the right setup really is.

Carv

We also talk about Carv’s data in moguls. Matt tried CARV for the first time this November and currently he is the number 1 skier on the global Carv leaderboard. Yes higher than Ted Ligety and some of the best carvers in the world. It’s very cool because Carv now has separate Ski IQs for Moguls, Carving, Short Turns and Powder. We find out that elite mogul skiers have an insanely high tempo or rhythm of turns way above even expert skiers.

A quick note about Big Picture Skiing

If you want help improving your skiing this season, I would love to guide you. The Big Picture Skiing learning platform gives you a clear, structured way to progress instead of trying to piece things together from random YouTube tips. You will find step by step skill progressions, deep dive videos on topics like hip position and outside ski balance, and a learning pathway built from my 20 years of coaching skiers at every level.

Podcast listeners can use code PODCAST for 25 percent off any membership.

Thanks for listening skiers. See you out on the slopes.

This is a remastered release (2018) of one of the most eye-opening conversations I’ve ever had about skiing.

Before I had proper mics or a real podcast setup, I sat down with Jurij Franko - the physicist, former racer, and engineer behind the original shaped-ski revolution at Elan. The audio is now cleaned up, and I’m thrilled to bring this episode back because it genuinely changed how I understand skis.

Jurij’s story starts in the late 80s, when he became the first person to apply mathematics to ski design. His work validated the idea of sidecut and helped spark the carving era we now take for granted. In this episode, he explains the thinking and experiments that shifted skiing from tradition to science — and the breakthroughs that came from asking the questions no one else was asking.

We dive into ski behaviour in a way few people can articulate:

• why a ski carves vs. skids

• how torsional stiffness and center of mass influence grip

• the real physics behind vibration and “feel”

• and why so many long-standing beliefs in skiing were never grounded in science.

What I appreciate most is how Jurij connects design to human movement. He explains how great skiers adapt their body position, predict what the ski will do, and make thousands of small decisions based on feel and repetition. His way of cutting through jargon and simplifying the essentials is refreshing - especially for instructors.

We also challenge a lot of myths: flex, vibration, “performance characteristics,” and the tendency to overteach. Jurij’s view is that skiing improves when people are given the space to explore, develop awareness, and feel how the ski interacts with the snow.

This conversation blends physics, history, technique, and genuine passion. It’s a rare look inside the mind of someone who shaped the modern ski - and for me, it’s still one of the episodes that permanently shifted how I think about skiing. Enjoy.

Improve your skiing with me as your coach. I own an online learning platform that will teach you to become a better skier It’s Called Big Picture Skiing and is my way of being able to share everything I have learnt about ski technique, equipment and becoming a better skier. There are over 250 videos sorted into categories for simple learning. If you’ve enjoyed my YouTube and podcast then I think you would get even more out of the BPS learning platform

Podcast listeners can take 25% off any membership with code: PODCAST

CHECK OUT BIG PICTURE SKIING

If you’ve ever wondered whether tighter, stiffer, more precise ski boots could actually make you a better skier — this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I chat with Brent Amsbury, owner of Park City Bootfit in Utah and one of the most respected boot fitters in the US. Brent and I dive into the world of what he calls “Ultra Performance Ski Boots.”

These aren’t full plug race boots, but they sit just below that level — designed for serious skiers who want more precision, better energy transfer, and a stronger connection to their skis. We talk about:

• What defines an ultra performance ski boot

• Why many modern ski boots have swung too far towards comfort at the expense of performance

• How to tell if this style of boot is right for you

• The fitting process: punching, stretching, and fine-tuning for your foot

• Common mistakes skiers make when switching to a closer-fitting boot

• The pros and cons — from control and sensitivity to comfort and practicality

If you’ve been feeling like your current boots are holding you back — or you’re ready to step up to a higher-performing setup — this chat will help you understand what to expect and how to get it right.

🎧 Listen to more interviews on the Big Picture Skiing Podcast

📺 Watch more ski technique and equipment videos at www.bigpictureskiing.com

Podcast listeners can use code: PODCAST to take 25% off

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

00:06 – Ultra Performance Ski Boots

00:11 – The Resurgence of Boot Design

01:48 – Rental Boots vs Performance Boots

03:15 – Customer Feedback and Trends

04:59 – New Models and Boot Innovations

08:42 – Fit and Boot Work Insights

11:21 – Brand Recommendations for 96mm Boots

16:24 – Comfort vs Performance Expectations

22:07 – The Importance of Boot Fitting

33:23 – Investment in Quality Boot Fitting

52:49 – Safety with GripWalk Soles

54:28 – Preparing for Ski Season

Tom Gellie and Joe Dunn (Ski Dad TV) chat about their views on various topics taught in skiing:

- The Float Phase Transition

- Affordances as a concept to focus on with students

- Equipment experiments. Binding ramp angle and boot canting

- When do you teach technique vs skills?

This was a great conversation that was sparked after Tom and Joe spent half a day skiing together in the Australian winter.

Links:

Ski Dad Tv Channel

https://youtube.com/@skidadtv

Joe reacts to Toms podcast with Phil Smith and Snow displacemnt

https://youtu.be/BNrYDrUgu0A?si=k2jppvf5cbVandFT

C shaped turns Suck - Joe explains why

https://youtu.be/rnOQHItyts4?si=aKdRM2U5SQhjzAK4

Ramp angle testing

https://youtu.be/nKiXP7NGJBQ?si=SCZrYRa7chYSZ-jU

Thanks for listening.

25% off Discount code for the Big Picture Skiing learning platform for my Podcast listeners: PODCAST

https://bigpictureskiing.com