Rolling your skis involves a specific body movement primarily focused on your lower legs to engage the edges of your skis for turning and control.
Understanding Ski Rolling
In skiing, "rolling" refers to the action of leaning your lower body, specifically your knees and ankles, towards the inside of a turn or simply to tilt the ski onto its edge. This movement is fundamental for steering the skis and changing direction on the snow. It allows you to apply pressure to the ski's edge, which then carves or bites into the snow, providing grip and control.
How to Perform the Ski Rolling Movement
The core of rolling your skis lies in the deliberate movement originating from your knees and ankles. As described in skiing technique, you:
- Roll (lean) your knees and ankles toward the big toe of that ski.
- Ensure your knees and ankles are appropriately bent, maintaining a flexible stance.
- Apply pressure against your shins within your ski boots.
- As you execute this roll towards your big toe, you will simultaneously begin weighting the inside edge of that ski into the snow.
This action directly translates the tilt from your body through your boots to the skis, causing them to tip onto their edges.
Why Roll Your Skis?
Rolling your skis is essential for several reasons:
- Edge Engagement: It's the primary way to tilt the ski onto its edge, allowing it to grip the snow.
- Initiating Turns: Tilting the ski onto its edge starts the turning process.
- Control and Stability: Engaged edges provide stability and allow you to control your speed and direction.
- Carving: More advanced rolling and pressure techniques allow for carving turns where the ski edge cleanly slices through the snow.
By mastering the ability to roll your knees and ankles, you gain precise control over your ski edges, which is key to linking smooth turns and effectively navigating the slopes.
