Turning around while skiing often refers to the technique used to switch from skiing forward to skiing backward (also known as switch or fakie). This involves a specific stance and body rotation to maintain balance and visibility.
Understanding the Switch Stance and Orientation
Successfully skiing backward or transitioning into a switch stance requires adjusting your body position and learning how to orient yourself to see where you're going.
The Ideal Switch Stance
According to skiing techniques, the ideal switch stance is characterized by several key points:
- Low Position: Maintain a low stance by bending your knees and hips.
- Boot Pressure: Keep your shins pressing on the front of your boots. This helps with control and balance.
- Parallel Skis: Always remember to keep your skis parallel to each other. This is crucial for stability when moving backward.
Orienting for Switch Skiing
To turn your head and body around so you can see where you are going while in or transitioning to the switch stance, follow these steps:
- Stagger Your Feet: You want to stagger your foot back on the same side where you are looking over your shoulder. For example, if you are looking over your left shoulder, bring your left foot slightly back.
- Look Over Shoulder: Begin by looking over one shoulder to see behind you.
- Open Your Shoulder: To help bring your head around, open your shoulder on the side you are looking.
- Rotate Your Hips: Simultaneously, rotate your hips in the same direction so you can see behind you.
This combination of a low, parallel stance and the described rotation technique allows skiers to effectively orient themselves and maintain control while skiing backward or initiating turns into the switch position.
