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As a professional ski instructor, I’ve spent years helping skiers improve their technique and build confidence on the mountain. One of the biggest barriers to improving your skiing is getting real, actionable feedback on your skiing—something that usually requires expensive lessons or a coach shadowing you on the hill, not just skiing with a bunch of friends. Truthfully, I feel gutted that skiing has become so expensive, however, I highly value learning to be a safe and responsible skier, which often requires some help. This is where Carv 2 steps in.
Carv 2 is an AI-powered ski coaching system designed to provide real-time feedback, personalized drills, and in-depth performance tracking. For intermediate and advanced skiers, it offers an alternative to frequent in-person lessons by analyzing your technique, identifying weaknesses, and coaching you in real-time (through an app that connects to your headphones). While it won’t replace a human ski instructor entirely, it’s an incredible tool for skiers looking to refine their technique at a fraction of the cost of private coaching.
Not only have I tested out the Carv 2 system, but my 15-year-old daughter has been using it extensively. In fact, she now refuses to ski without it. It not only has made a remarkable difference in her skiing, but it’s worked wonders for our relationship on the mountain, which I’ll share more about below!
In this review, I’ll cover how the Carv 2 works, how to set it up, who it’s best for, and the standout features that make it worth considering.
How Carv 2 Works: Affordable AI Ski Coaching
Carv 2 is a smart ski coaching system that turns your phone into an advanced performance tracker. The system consists of a small sensor that clips onto each of your ski boots that collects data on every movement you make while skiing. These sensors wirelessly connect to the Carv app on your phone via Bluetooth, where the real magic happens.
Every turn you make is analyzed in real-time, measuring edge angle, balance, pressure, turn shape, and more. Instead of waiting until after a run to hear feedback—like you often would with an instructor—Carv can speak to you through headphones while you ski, offering real-time corrections such as, “Shift your weight forward,” or “Engage your edges more.” This instant correction is a game-changer because it allows you to adjust in the moment, leading to faster improvements.
There are several different settings that you can change in the app, but the one that I like the most is where Carv 2 analyses every turn that I make to tell me if I’m doing a good job at the skill I’m working on or not. It literally gamifies every turn you take down the mountain, making you much more aware of how the little movements impact your overall skiing.
After each run, the Carv app provides detailed analytics that break down your skiing with a summary on the chairlift. It only takes a minute or two, but that consistent feedback run after run, is incredibly helpful. You’ll receive a Ski IQ score, which is an overall measurement of your performance, along with recommendations for specific aspects of your technique to work on to improve. Truthfully, it’s really similar to what I do on the chairlift as a ski instructor. I tell my students what they did well, where they can improve and what we’ll focus on next – and Carv 2 does the same thing!
How to Set Up Carv 2
Setting up Carv 2 for the first time is surprisingly simple and takes less than 3 minutes. Unlike the Carv1, the Carv 2 doesn’t require any special boot inserts and can just clip right onto the outside of your ski boot (it takes about 20 seconds).
This means that it can just as easily work on your own ski boots as on a pair of rental ski boots. It clips onto the strap at the top of your ski boot, which nearly all adult boots have (note: some youth ski boots don’t have a strap, so keep that in mind). You’ll download and connect the app to your phone and fill out your user profile and ski experience. The whole process is SO SIMPLE and EASY! Just make sure to bring a headphone along with you so that you can get feedback from Carv 2 while you ski (I prefer to use Carv 2 with just one headphone so I can hear everyone around me better)!
The Carv 2 sensors charge via a USB-C cable and the charge can last for up to 5 days. Truthfully, we remember to charge ours every few ski days, and have never had an issue with low battery. We contemplated truly testing how long the battery would last, but none of us wanted our Carv2 to die on the ski hill, so we never pushed the limits.
How Does Carv 2 Compare to a Ski Lesson
Obviously, there are some real differences between an in person ski lesson and Carv’s AI ski coaching, but there are probably fewer than what you might think. Coming from the perspective of a ski instructor, the Carv app is like a dream come true from a knowledge and resource standpoint. It’s packed full of demonstrations, videos, tutorials, and more.
When you are using the Carv app and sensor out on the ski hill, you’ll obviously be getting instruction and feedback throughout your ski day, but it’s really so much more than that. Since most of us are not soley auditory learners, having the demonstrations, and diagrams is incredibly helpful so that you can see what you’re supposed to be doing and what you should look like as you ski. Consider this the Carv substitute for watching a demonstration from a ski instructor.
If you’re struggling with a drill or need something new, the Carv app will also present you with several different drills and games for you to learn the skill that you’re working on. This is similar to what a ski instructor will do, but it’s customized just to you (unlike a typical group lesson where the instructor chooses, not you).
While ski schools to their best to make sure that there’s a certain standard for instructors, the truth is that when it comes to ski school, it’s a bit of a gamble. You could get an instructor that’s been teaching for 40 years or one that just learned to ski last season. You could have a very personable instructor, one who’s strict, or another who’s soft spoken. You might really connect with your teacher, or you could end up in a class of 12, where you don’t feel like your instructor really pays attention to you personally.
With Carv, you’ll get the same experience every time, so you know exactly what to expect. And unlike a poor ski school experience, if Carv doesn’t live up to your expectations, they’ll give you your money back any time within the first 100 days.
What Carv Offers That Ski Lessons Don’t
Carv offers a few things that you won’t find in a regular ski lesson, that can help enhance your overall experience on skis. Here are some of our favorites:
Yoga for Skiers: Yoga is an incredible practice that will help improve your skiing. These flows will help you to improve your strength and flexibility so that skiing is easier.
Strength Training For Skiers: One of the things that has made the biggest difference in my skiing and conditioning has been strength training. I love that there are several strength training workouts designed just for skiers so that your legs and body are strong all season long.
Ski Myths Debunked: These tips bring in an expert to help break down some misunderstandings about skiing so that you can perform at your best!
Technique Teardown: This is such a helpful resource. In this section of the app, an expert indtructor tears apart a skiers technique to help identify their strengths and weaknesses. This is really helpful, because to the average skier, it would be easy to think that these examples are doing everything right, when they’re not. Having someone break down where they could improve is a great way for you to see where you can improve your own ski skills (without you having to feel bad about how you personally need to work on things).
Who Carv 2 Is Best For
Carv 2 is really best for intermediate and advanced skiers, not for beginners. If you’re just learning to ski, you’ll benefit much more from hands-on instruction than from a virtual coaching system. However, for intermediate and advanced skiers, Carv is an outstanding tool that provides valuable insights and structured training guidance.
One of the biggest advantages of Carv is that it finally makes ski instruction affordable for the average skier. At the resort I teach at, half-day group ski lessons cost $275-$400 and private ski lessons are over $1000 for a 3-hour lesson. Truthfully, the cost is ridiculous and makes learning to ski well, something that only the ultra-wealthy can do. In an idea world, every skier would take a couple of ski lessons a year to keep improving their skills, but when it costs hundreds or thousands of dollars a year, most people get to a basic intermediate level and then stop progressing.
Carv, on the other hand, provides season-long coaching for the price of less than one half-day lesson, making it an appealing option for dedicated skiers who want to refine their skills without spending a fortune on lessons.
If you’re someone who thrives on data, loves tracking progress, and enjoys self-guided learning, then Carv is an incredible choice for you! It’s an amazing tool for skiers, offering a detailed breakdown of techniques that can help you fine-tune your form and elevate your performance to new heights.
As a parent, signing up for ski lessons when my kids were young, felt completely out of reach. Committing to a full day of lessons was such a gamble because I never knew if someone would get sick, hurt, or just need mom on the ski hill. Being able to have Carv for just a few runs a day is an incredible option for parents or for skiers who only ski occasionally.
While I do think that the personalized approach to skiing with an actual instructor is really useful (yes, I think I teach skiing better than Carv2), the accessibility of Carv just can’t be beat. Yes, having an AI ski coach can feel a bit impersonal, and robotic. While it delivers accurate feedback, it lacks the adaptability and personal touch that an in-person ski coach can provide. A ski instructor has more ideas and tips that can help you personally, whereas, Carv2 won’t be able to explain things as well as most instructors can.
What Makes Carv 2 Stand Out?
One of Carv’s best features is its real-time audio coaching, which acts as a constant instructor in your ear. This instantly gamifies your entire ski day. Instead of waiting until after your run to hear feedback, you get immediate cues to adjust your balance, engage your edges more, or shift your weight forward. This instant correction is one of the most valuable aspects of the system, allowing skiers to learn and adjust, literally as they’re skiing.
The saying of “what gets measured, gets improved” is so true when it comes to Carv 2. The Ski IQ system is Carv’s way of tracking how good you’re skiing. Based on how well you ski, Carv will give you a score at the end of each ski run. This is such an incredible way to track your progress both over the course of the day and throughout the season. Working for a higher score is shockingly motivating out on the ski hill!
Our Personal Experience with Carv 2
My 15-year-old daughter has always been a good skier, but never GREAT! While both mom and dad have experience as ski instructors, she would quickly shut down whenever we offered feedback or offered tips to improve her skiing. She was at that awkward stage where she was the oldest in kids group lessons, but didn’t fit in with an adult lesson either, so she refused to go to ski school. It had gotten to the point where we were just resigned to the fact that she would just be average (which is completely fine).
Then, this season, we decided to try out Carv 2 with her, because we knew that she would enjoy skiing much more if her skills were a little bit better. She had 2 days of skiing in the season before her Carv sensors arrived. On her third day, the improvement in her skiing was shocking. She was suddenly doing all of the things that we’d been trying to help her with for YEARS. She finished that day with a Ski IQ of 105. Now, a few months later, her Ski IQ is a 132. Truthfully, we were shocked that she improved so much, but at this rate, I think she’ll end off her ski season a few points higher than her current best, which is amazing!
She’s now the best skier out of all of her friends, and she’s so proud of how much she’s improved. Because she’s getting constant feedback, she really focuses on making each turn great, and has even started asking for tips from me to help improve. The instant feedback that she gets has made a world of difference for her.
Best of all, she’s having so much more fun, and it isn’t coming at the cost of our relationship. It has easily been the best investment we’ve made in her skiing. Honestly, we’re planning on getting it for her brothers next season as well.
Is Carv 2 Worth The Cost?
Carv 2 starts at $119 for 6 days of instruction, and pricing goes up from there up to $249 for a year-long pass (that’s 365 days, not just a ski season). Honestly, I can’t even buy 6 burgers at our ski hill for $119 (a whole different issue), so this is an incredible value.
If we’re looking for bang for your buck, Carv 2 beats out ski school every day. Considering that you can get a full season of Carv 2 for less than the cost or a half-day ski lesson, it’s 100% worth the money. It provides intermediate and advanced skiers with real-time feedback, structured training, and meausrable tracking, all at a price that’s significantly lower than a day of ski lessons. While it can’t fully replace the value of a hands-on instructor like myself, it’s an amazing supplement that allows skiers to practice and refine their technique whenever they want.
If you’re serious about improving your skiing, you really should invest in Carv 2. Whether there’s a skill that you’re struggling to master, or just want to take your skiing to the next level, it provides the feedback and instruction to really help you improve quickly.
As an instructor, I believe Carv 2 is one of the most exciting advancements in ski training technology, offering a cost-effective way to get professional-quality feedback anytime you go skiing. If you’re ready to train smarter, keep improving, and ski better, Carv 2 is well worth considering.