| Let
the skis do the turning !
Recommendation: All the new shaped skis are designed to
turn when you put them on their edges and apply some pressure
to the skis. Thus to turn these skis, all you need to do is roll
your feet and ankles in the direction that you want to turn. By
varying the amount of edging and the amount of pressure that you
apply to the skis, you can determine how sharp a turn you make.
The more the skis are edged and the harder you press on the skis,
the tighter will be the radius of the turn (that is, a sharper
turn). Conversely, the less the skis are edged, i.e., the flatter
the skis, and the less hard that you press, the turn will have
a larger radius (a bigger turn).
These two variables, ‘edging’ and ‘pressure’ are essentially what
put you in control of your skis, so it would be useful to consciously
play around with different combinations while practicing turns
and noting what happens each time.
Skiing Exercise: Turning the skis uphill to a stop
Here is a good exercise to start with to get the feeling of how
easily your skis will turn when you roll your feet and ankles.
On an easy intermediate slope, stand with your skis on a shallow
traverse track. Be in a good traverse position with your skis
spaced apart and very slightly edged. Start to traverse across
the slope and gather some speed. When you are ready to turn, simply
roll your feet and ankles up the hill and hold the ski edges gripping
in the snow. The skis will turn up the hill to a stop.
Repeat the same exercise and this time, when you roll your feet
and ankles, hold them for a count of three and then roll them
back to their original traverse position and glide again. Then
roll them up the hill again. Try to notice how the skis turn when
you roll your feet and ankles.
Special Tip: Don’t try to turn the skis by turning your
feet in the direction of the turn! Be patient and try to feel
yourself ‘riding’ on the edges of the skis as they turn. (The
skis turn when you put them on their edges because of their shape
and design).
Beginners
- Intermediate
- Advanced |
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