You turn on your ski edge by rolling your knees and ankles into the slope. This allows you to engage the edge of your ski and begin to carve or control your descent.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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Rolling Knees and Ankles: The key movement is to angle your knees and ankles towards the hill. Imagine trying to touch your knee to the inside of the turn. This will naturally angle the ski onto its edge.
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Edge Angle and Control: As you increase the angle of your skis' edges, you increase the amount of grip you have on the snow. This allows for tighter turns and more control, preventing sliding. Gently rolling your knees out (away from the slope) will reduce the edge angle and potentially cause you to slide.
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Practice on a Smooth Area: Begin by practicing this movement on a gentle slope or a flat, smooth area. Get comfortable rolling your knees and ankles in to feel the edge engage.
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Smooth Transitions: Avoid jerky movements. Smooth, controlled rolling is essential for maintaining balance and control.
In essence, "turning on" your ski edge involves deliberately angulating your body to engage the edge of the ski, providing grip and enabling controlled turns.
