Last Updated on March 20, 2021 by James
Learning how to turn on skis is important. It allows you to change direction and control your speed, both of which are integral to your ski experience.
If you are a ski beginner, learning how to turn can be a challenging task. If you are an intermediate or expert, progressing your turning technique can be frustrating.
In order to improve your performance, Ski Instructor James has outlined the techniques required to turn on skis. Here you will find detailed instructions that describe the best methods used by beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers.
The advice in this guide is relayed directly from the methods used during a ski lesson. If you follow the step-by-step instructions and learn from the key points, you are sure to improve your turning technique.
Why Do You Need To Turn On Skis?
Turning is a vital part of ski performance. If you don’t know how to turn, you don’t know how to ski.
Turning will allow you to change your direction of travel. This is important if you want to navigate around the mountain and avoid collisions.
If you want to be able to control your speed when heading downhill, you will also need to know how to turn. Every time you turn your skis across the slope, you will decrease your speed and maintain your control.
1. How To Snow Plough Turn
Snow plough turns are the first turn method learned by beginners. They are also commonly known as ‘wedge turns’ and ‘pizza turns’.
They are performed with the skis in a ‘snow plough’ position that resembles an inverted ‘V’ shape. This keeps the skis pointing across the slope at all times, making it easy to turn.
During your first day skiing, you will usually be taught how to stop and turn using a snow plough. This technique works well on shallow terrain, making it best suited to beginner slopes.
How To Snow Plough Turn (Step-By-Step)
- Start by gliding forwards down the slope with skis in an inverted ‘V’ shape.
- To initiate a turn to the left, balance the majority of your weight onto your right ski. This ski is known as the ‘outside ski’.
- Simultaneously, turn your feet to point your skis in the direction you wish you travel.
- Continue to balance your weight over the outside ski while it progresses around the turn.
- Once you are facing across the slope, or in your intended direction of travel, you have completed the turn.
- When you’re ready to initiate your next turn to the right, balance the majority of your weight onto the left ski. This is now the new ‘outside ski’.
In order to help visualise this step-by-step guide, we have also included the below instructional video from ‘Dropinsnow’. It does a great job of demonstrating the basic technique and some common mistakes.
Common Snow Plough Turning Mistakes
- Not enough weight on the outside ski. Pressuring the outside ski is what causes you to turn. The more weight you can balance on the outside ski, the better you will turn.
- Too much weight on the inside ski. If you leave too much weight on your ‘inside’ ski, it will block your outside ski from completing the turn.
- Leaning back too much. While turning, you should feel the shin of your ‘outside leg’ pushing into the front of your ski boot. If you lean back, it will be difficult to steer the ski around the turn.
Leaning back too much is a common issue that can affect every element of your ski performance. If you are still unsure of the correct posture, we have a guide called ‘how to lean forward when skiing’ that will bring you up to speed.
2. How To Plough Parallel Turn
If you want to go from snow plough to parallel turns, you will first need to learn ‘plough parallel’. Also known as ‘stem christie’, this type of turn is frequently used as a stepping-stone to parallel skiing.
The first part of the turn will be initiated with the skis in a snow plough position. During the turn, the skis will be ‘matched’ to become parallel.
The timing of matching the skis to a parallel position is dependent on skill level. It’s common to start by bringing the skis parallel at the end of the turn, matching the skis progressively earlier as ability and confidence improves.
How To Plough Parallel Turn (Step-By-Step)
- Start by gliding forwards down the slope with skis in a snow plough shape.
- To initiate a turn to the left, balance the majority of your weight onto your right ski. This ski is known as the ‘outside ski’.
- While maintaining balance on your outside ski, steer your inside ski into a parallel position.
- Complete the turn with both skis parallel, facing across the slope.
- When you’re ready to initiate your next turn, re-open the skis into the snow plough position.
- Initiate your next turn to the right, balance the majority of your weight onto the left ski. This is now the new ‘outside ski’.
If you are looking for a visual demonstration of these steps, this simple video from ‘InTheSnow’ provides a good demonstration of the required technique. It also gives some good advice about controlling the inside ski, which is a big part of plough parallel turning.
Common Plough Parallel Turning Mistakes
- Too much weight on the inside ski. When you’re inside ski is heavy, it’s difficult to steer it into parallel.
- Not balanced on the outside ski. Your body weight should be well ‘stacked’ on your outside ski, which will then cause it to turn. Balancing on the outside ski will also naturally unweight the inside ski.
- Leaning back too much. This often leads to the tail of your inside ski getting stuck in the snow, which will stop you from steering it into parallel.
3. How To Parallel Turn
Most people learning how to turn will be focussing their attention on parallel skiing. It is often the sole aim of most new skiers and is seen as the ‘benchmark’ for competency.
Parallel turns are performed with the skis completely parallel for the duration of the turn. It is the most efficient way to turn on skis, using little energy and gaining maximum control over speed and direction.
Once you are able to perform parallel turns, the steepness of the slopes you’re able to ski will dramatically increase. In addition, this is the base that allows you to learn a range of advanced turning techniques.
How To Parallel Turn (Step-By-Step)
- Start by travelling across the slope, with your skis in a parallel position.
- Initiate the turn by shifting the majority of your weight onto the outside ski. If you are turning right, the outside ski will be the left ski.
- The added pressure will cause your outside ski to start turning.
- Continue to balance on the outside ski, while steering the inside ski to match the path of the outside ski.
- Once the skis are facing down the slope, you are half way around the turn.
- Maintain balance on the outside ski, while allowing your body to come inside the turn arc. This will bring the skis onto their inside edges.
- Ski edges grip to the snow, producing a natural rounded turn.
- Skis finish the turn facing across the slope. At this stage, you can transition into the new turn by shifting your weight onto the ‘new’ outside ski.
If you’re still having trouble keeping your skis parallel for the duration of the turn, this video from ‘Elate Media’ has some great tips and accurate demonstrations of parallel skiing:
Common Parallel Turning Mistakes
- Too much weight on the inside ski. This will block the outside ski from effectively turning, causing a loss of control. It will also force the skis into a ‘snow plough’ position.
- Leaning back too much. You need to balance over the middle of the skis, pressing your shins into the front of your ski boots. If you lean back, you will not be able to drive the skis around the turn effectively.
- Not completing the end of the turn. Turning is used to control speed. Do not start the next turn until your speed is controlled, which usually involves facing across the slope.
- Fear Of Falling. Learning how to parallel ski requires commitment. It can be scary to initiate a parallel turn, but you must overcome your fear and strive to improve.
Learning how to consistently parallel ski is one of the toughest hurdles you will overcome during your skiing journey. In order to make it slightly easier, we also have a complete guide to parallel skiing that outlines the technique in more detail.
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4. How To Carve Turn
Once you have mastered parallel turns on a variety of slope gradients and terrain types, it’s time to learn how to carve. This advanced technique will allow you to change direction without much loss of speed.
During a carving turn, the skis are kept on edge throughout the arc. These turns use the curved shape of modern skis to cut a clean path through the snow, without any ‘skid’ or ‘snow spray’.
Carving is an important skill that will help you enjoy the mountain to its full potential. When performed properly, it’s one of the most enjoyable and attractive ways to turn on skis.
How To Carve Turn (Step-By-Step)
- Start by travelling across the slope, with your skis in a parallel position.
- Initiate the turn by rolling your knees and ankles inside the line of the turn, bringing the skis onto their edges.
- Shift the majority of your weight onto the inside edge of the outside ski. If you’re turning right, the outside ski will be the left ski.
- Force your shin of your outside leg into the ski boot, driving the ski around the turn.
- Maintain balance and pressure on the outside ski as it progresses through a round turn.
- Once you have finished your chosen turn length, roll your knees and ankles upright. At this stage, you should stand up slightly to unweight the skis.
- Initiate the new turn by rolling your knees and ankles inside the line of the turn.
If you want some serious advice about carving, we also have a complete guide that explains how to carve on skis
Common Carve Turning Mistakes
- Leaning back too much. Pressing your shins into the front of your ski boots will drive the skis around the turn. Balance over the middle of your skis to maintain control.
- Diverging skis. This often happens when there is too much weight on the inside ski, causing it to turn faster than the outside ski.
- Using unsuitable terrain. Ski carving is best performed on a wide, shallow and groomed ski slope. Once your ability improves, you can then look to steeper or more variable terrain.
There are a whole host of mistakes you can make when learning to carve turns. If you want some good video analysis of what these mistakes look like, the below video by ‘Stomp It Tutorials’ is well worth watching.
How To Further Progress Your Ski Turning
If you have mastered each of the ski turns in this guide, you will be on your way to mastering the mountain. However, there are still many more advanced turn types and techniques that are required to attack every slope.
Some of the most important turn types that can improve your technique include:
- Skidded turns
- Short turns
- Jump turns
- Pivot turns
Each of these turns requires a specific technique and is best suited to a variety of terrain types. We also have an article that details the different types of ski turns and how they relate to the mountain.
It’s also worth noting that skiing has a number of different disciplines that each require a specific turning technique. If you want to find out more, we have also written a guide that details the different types of skiing.
Summing Up
If you want to maximise your time on the mountain, you need to learn how to turn. It’s a vital part of skiing, giving you the control required for success on the slopes.
Learning how to turn on skis is a never-ending process. There is always a new skill to learn or area you can improve upon, no matter how skilled you become.
If you stick to the skills outlined in this guide and practice with patience; you will surely see your skiing improve.
How is your ski turning technique? Do you have any tips that can help skiers progress through the levels? Leave a comment and share the knowledge!
James is the founder of SnowSunSee. He started skiing when he was five years old and has been a qualified ski instructor for 8 years. He has taught skiing in many countries, including UK, Europe, Japan, China and Malaysia. When he’s not on the slopes, James spends his time travelling the world one trail at a time.