Ski turns are fundamental maneuvers that allow you to control your direction and speed down the slope. At a basic level, performing a ski turn involves directing your skis to carve an arc, often initiated or aided by movement and rotation of your body or legs.
Understanding the Basics of Ski Turns
Learning to turn on skis is a progression from controlling your speed and stopping (like in a snowplow or wedge). Turns involve shifting your weight and using your ski edges to guide you across and down the hill.
According to some basic guidance, you can "start to twist" your body or legs "as" you "want to go around the corner." This twisting action helps initiate the rotation needed to change direction. If you're unsure what this twisting or turning motion feels like, a practical tip is that you "can do is pop." This might involve a small hop or lift to help reposition your skis and find the feeling of steering with rotation.
Key Elements of a Ski Turn
While a simple "twist" is part of it, effective ski turns usually involve several coordinated movements:
- Initiation: Starting the turn by slightly turning your skis, often by rotating your legs. This is where the "start to twist" concept comes into play.
- Edge Engagement: Tilting your skis onto their edges. For a right turn, you tilt onto the left edges, and for a left turn, you tilt onto the right edges.
- Weight Transfer: Shifting your weight smoothly from the uphill ski to the downhill ski as you move through the turn.
- Shaping: Guiding the skis through an arc, controlling speed and direction using edge pressure and body position.
- Completion: Finishing the turn and preparing for the next one.
Incorporating Twisting and Rotation
The idea of starting to "twist" to "go around the corner" is a simple way to think about initiating the turn. This can involve:
- Leg Rotation: Rotating your legs within your hips to swivel the skis in the direction you want to go.
- Body Rotation (Upper/Lower): Slightly rotating your upper or lower body to lead the turn, which helps guide the skis.
For beginners finding the feel of this steering or twisting, the suggestion to "pop" might be a way to:
- Lighten the skis momentarily to make them easier to pivot or twist.
- Feel the difference in weight and balance needed to change direction.
A Simplified Approach (Building on the reference)
Think about directing your skis like steering a vehicle.
- Choose Direction: Decide which way you want to turn (left or right).
- Initiate with Twist: As you want to "go around the corner," begin to "twist" your legs or body gently in that direction.
- Feel the Turn: Allow the skis to follow your lead, starting to arc across the slope.
- Practice the Feel: If the feeling of twisting or steering isn't clear, a small "pop" or lift might help you find the sensation of rotating your skis.
- Control: Use your edges and subtle weight shifts to control the curve of the turn.
Comparing Actions and Outcomes
Here's a simplified look at how actions relate to turning:
| Action | Purpose | Related Concept |
|---|---|---|
| Twist/Rotate | Initiate turning the skis / Go around corner | Steering, Initiation |
| Pop | Help find the feeling of twisting/steering | Experimentation, Feel |
| Edge Skis | Engage edges for grip and carving | Control, Shaping |
| Shift Weight | Transfer pressure between skis during the arc | Balance, Control |
Learning ski turns takes practice to coordinate these movements smoothly. Starting on gentle slopes and focusing on one element at a time, like the initial twist or rotation, can be very helpful.
