Unless you’re skiing on perfectly groomed slopes or fresh powder, no two ski turns are exactly the same. But they do share some common elements. The basic movements a beginner uses on a bunny slope are similar to those of an expert carving big turns down steep mountain terrain.
Why Turn?
It may sound obvious, but lets take a moment to appreciate the two main reasons we turn while skiing:
- Speed control Do you want to slow down, maintain your speed, or speed up?
- Line/displacement How far across the hill do you want to go, and which direction do you want to be facing when you get there?
These goals shape the way we turn to maintain control and flow down the mountain.
How Do We Turn?
There are basically two ways to change direction on skis:
- Twisting: This involves rotating your body or part of it to pivot the ski. It gives the turn a skidded feel, where the skis quickly slow down but dont move across the hill as fast.
- Tipping: This means leaning your skis onto the edge while keeping your weight centered. It bends the ski and makes it carve through the snow, moving quickly across the hill, but it takes longer to slow down.
Every turn is a mix of twisting and tipping, with different amounts of each depending on the situation. You cant twist the ski into a turn without at least a little edge grip on the snow. And you cant really carve a ski without turning it across your momentum.
The different types of turns you make involve varying degrees of twisting and tipping. Check out “Hangn’Bang” for a fun take on how these skills come together!
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The 3 Phases of a turn
There are different ways to break down a ski turn, but I like to keep it simple with three phases:
- Into the fall line: This is the part of the turn where youre heading straight down the hill. At this point, youre mostly just letting gravity do the work. You dont need much muscle effort, and its a good time to lightly twist your skis and set up for the next phase.
- Out of the fall line: Now youre steering the skis back across the hill, working against gravity. As you do this, youll start to feel more pressure, which makes it harder to pivot the skis. This is when tipping your skis and using your edges properly really makes a difference in changing direction.
- The Transition: This is the moment between finishing one turn and starting the next. As a beginner, it’s a chance to resetfixing any issues from the previous turn so youre ready to start the next one in a balanced stance. As you get better, the transition becomes a time to use the momentum from the last turn to flow right into the next, making your turns smoother and more fluid.
Here are 8 Turn Types and Techniques
1. Snowplough Turns
For most people, snowplough turns are where it all begins. Its the simplest way to change direction on skis. When you get into a snowplough (also called a wedge or pizza position), your skis are already angled across the slope and tipped onto their edges, ready to steer. This position is a great way to practice balancing on the outside ski since its mostly the outside ski that helps you turn (the inside ski actually resists the turn a bit). The inside ski slows you down, giving you time to get control and make your turn before you pick up too much speed.
From here, you can turn by either twisting or tipping the outside ski more.
2. Stem/Christie Turns
This is like the best of both worldspart snowplough, part parallel. You start the turn in a snowplough to get some edge control and stability, which keeps you from tipping over. As you pick up speed, you bring the inside ski closer to parallel with the outside ski, removing the resistance and allowing your skis to glide more smoothly. Most skiers will match their skis at the end of the turn. As you get more comfortable, you can start bringing them parallel earlier in the turn. Doing this helps you find balance on the outside ski sooner and get the skis to twist and turn more effectively. When your skis are parallel, you can also tip them on edge to carve and control your speed.
3. Parallel Turns
Once you can keep your skis parallel throughout the entire turn, youll have more freedom to get creative with your skiing. Parallel turns can range from a skidded turn to a smooth carve that leaves barely a trace. Most turns will fall somewhere in between. To work your way toward parallel skiing, you can start with stem christie turns and bring your skis together earlier in the turn as your confidence builds.
4. Skidded Turns
When you keep your skis parallel but flat on the snow, you can steer through turns while braking. By staying balanced on the outside ski, you can link skidded turns together without gaining too much speed. Its a good way to maintain control while still turning smoothly.
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5. Carved Turns
Carving is a more advanced technique, but the basics are simple. When you roll your feet, ankles, and knees into a turn, it tips your skis onto their edges. Modern skis are shaped in a way that helps guide them smoothly around the turn. The skis naturally twist a bit, and gravity helps pull them down the hill, making the turn effortless. If you manage the pressure well, youll change direction quickly and pick up speed as you carve across the slope.
Carving feels great because, when done right, it gives you lots of control with minimal effort.
6. HangnBang Turns
As you get better at managing the weight of your skis, you can have some fun with your turns. The HangnBang turn mixes sliding and carving for a creative and playful ride.
- Start by unweighting the skis, like you would in a pivot slip.
- Turn your skis into the fall line, but dont edge them yet. You should slide across the hill like a rally car, letting gravity do some of the work.
- When youre ready, engage the ski edges and feel them lock in to the snow. This turns you from sliding sideways into a sharp carved turn.
This is a fun way to mix up steering techniquesfirst twisting the skis, then tipping and carving.
7. Hop Turns
In narrow areas or chutes, theres not enough space to make a full round turn, so youll need to hop.
- Practice on wider runs first before trying this in a tight spot.
- Jump by pressing your feet into the ground, not pulling your body away from it.
- When you land, make sure your body is in the right position to handle the pressure of edging the skis.
As you get better, you can learn to unweight and pivot your skis without actually leaving the ground. On icy slopes, you dont want the skis to slide too much in the first part of the turn, but you also dont want to land too hard on the ice. Smooth, controlled hops will help build your confidence.
8a. Pivot Slips/Braquage
Pivot slips are a great exercise for getting comfortable with turning your legs underneath you. Its perfect for tighter runs where you need control over your ski rotation.
- Start in a skidded turn and unweight your skis.
- Rotate your skis almost 180 degrees, but dont change direction yet.
- Land back on the skis and keep sliding forward.
Repeat this, trying not to get deflected sideways. Balancing on the outside ski without turning too much gives you more options for tighter turns.
Also Read: What are Some Tips to Ski Faster and More Confidently?
8b. Crabwalk
This is the opposite of a pivot slip, where you change direction without turning your skis.
- Start in a snowplough and slide straight down the hill.
- Roll one ski to increase the edge angle while keeping the other ski in a snowplough position.
- You should start drifting sideways while still facing downhill.
Crabwalking is a fun way to improve your ability to edge and flatten your skis, giving you more control without having to move your whole body. Its also a good challenge!
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Get Creative
Dont stick to the same turns all the time. Try different sizes, speeds, and styles of turns to become a more creative skier. A short turn requires a lot of twisting, but it doesnt have to be skidded. A big turn allows you to carve but still control your speed. Experiment and mix things up to really make the mountain your playground!