Tails wash out

Tails wash out at the end of the turn

Washing out means the tails slide sideways instead of tracking. The model puts too much weight forward first, which lightens the tails. Forums say too far back as often, so check both before you change anything.

What it looks like in the model

calves burning · glutes burning · lower back working

Your stance75% forward

Muscle load

Quadsfront of thigh, hold the knee bend17%
Glutes & hamstringsback of hip and thigh51%
Shin muscleslift the toes when you're back0%
Calvespush the shin into the tongue58%

Low, can hold all dayMidHighPeakTick: average through the turn

Tail at the finish

The fix: 6%

Tip at the finish

24%

The fix: 11%

Shown for the default skier: 92 kg on the K2 Mindbender 89 Ti at the finish of the turn, 3 mm of boot play, groomed snow.

What is happening

Past the middle of the turn, your tails stop following the tips and slide out sideways. You may call it a skid, a wash or a push. The ski has lost grip at the back.

There are two stories, and they are opposite. In one, your weight is too far forward, so the tails are light and have little to hold with. In the other, you are too far back and push the tail past what the snow can hold. Skiers argue about both because both happen.

The forward case

When you drive the tongue of the boot hard through the whole turn, the tips load up and the tails go light. The tips grab, and the tails swing round. The model shows this as a very small share of the load on the tail at the finish.

The back case

If you are behind your feet, you load the tail heavily and then ask it to turn. The tail breaks away under the load. This is why a video helps. From the inside, the two feel similar.

Other causes

Pressure on the inside ski. Too much weight there can wash out the outside tail.
Snow. Hard or icy snow has less grip, so any small error shows.
A soft ski. If the ski bends too easily for your weight, the tail can not hold the edge.
Tails coming round too quickly, from steering the feet rather than letting the ski turn.

How to tell which

Film one run from the side and look at where your hips are at the point where the tails slide. Compare it with the figure above. If your hips are well ahead, you are in the forward case. If they are behind your boots, you are in the back case. If you are centred, look at the snow and the ski.

What to try

Stay balanced over the whole foot. Relax the shin pressure after the middle of the turn and let the ski follow the tips.
Check that you are standing on the outside ski, not the inside.
Keep the turn round, so the tail follows the tip.
On hard snow, ease off the edge angle.

Other likely causes

The model’s first match for this symptom is you're too far forward (63% of the evidence). Here is what else it ranks, and how to tell each one apart.

The edge is at its grip limit

25%

The ski, its tune, or the snow can't hold the angle you're asking for.

How to tell: It happens mostly on hard snow, or when you add edge angle. On soft snow it goes away.

Model check: On ice at 40°, 2 of 3 edge zones on the K2 Mindbender 89 Ti slide in the model.

The ski is underpowered for you

13%

For your weight and speed the ski bends too easily, so it chatters and feels nervous instead of holding.

How to tell: It happens at speed, and the ski also chatters or feels nervous. A stiffer ski would hold.

Model check: The model has no number for this one, so it rests on what you report.

What to try, in this order

Cue. Stay balanced over the whole foot rather than driving the tongue all the way through the turn.
Drill. Film one run from the side and compare it with the figure above. A phone propped in the snow is enough. Watch: Don´t Lean Forward When Skiing, Do this Instead | Ski Myths
Boot check. Check heel hold and shell fit. A loose boot delays the input that keeps the tail on the snow.
Gear. Have the edges tuned, and check the ski is a sensible length and flex for your weight.

When it’s not technique

If a video shows you are centred and the tune is fresh, look at the ski. A stiffer or longer ski may hold the tail better.

Compare skis

Ski patrol says

A tail that washes out can pitch you off balance. If you fall and feel pain afterwards, see a physio.

Pain or injury? This tool is for how skiing feels, not medical advice. See a physio.

Not medical advice. Edge Lab describes how skiing feels and why.

Check your own setup

The model above uses a default skier. Add your weight, skis and boots and see your own numbers.

Check your own setup