Despite this gaping hole in the metrics, the team behind Carv claim the new insole-free system, one that leans heavily on machine learning, is actually around 6 percent more accurate than before. It’s also cheaper, can now track different types of terrain, not just groomed slopes, and the app offers more training and tuition modes.
And yes, it does sound too good to be true. When asked about it, founder and CEO Jamie Grant admitted he was as surprised by the improvements, and had initially expected the sensor’s accuracy to take a hit. They were prepared to lose a few percent because the boost in usability from not having insoles was worth the sacrifice.
What they discovered, however, was that, despite now measuring 10 skiing metrics instead of 13, and losing the ability to track pressure, their new Motion AI algorithm was able to gather different data from your carving. Instead of pressure, the sensor can track early forward movement and mid-turn balance much more accurately, while a completely new metric is now able to measure vertical acceleration at transition, and, importantly, can adapt its findings across different terrain including powder conditions.
As you ski, every turn is logged and compared to the brand’s now significant data set. As well as using the half-a-billion turns they’ve already logged, along with the new machine learning algorithm, they have a series of professional ski instructors who have trawled through more than 11,000 videos of Carv skiers (something you can contribute to with a friend using the app), to double check that Ski:IQ levels correspond to actual ability.
Learn to Turn
As someone returning to skiing after a lengthy hiatus, the original Carv was a revelation. My technique improved incredibly quickly thanks to the combination of my own pig-headedness, and the app’s ability to get me to focus on key areas. It actually made me like skiing, and, as a lifelong snowboarder, this feeling did not come naturally.
Carv 2.0 continues to offer the same excellent levels of tuition. If you ski for a minimum of eight turns the system logs your performance, and when you stop it will give you your Ski:IQ for that section. You’ll then get coaching advice when it senses you’re on the ski lift, which is still a standout feature, even if the AI voices remain oddly robotic.