Best way to parallel turn ?

Question

I've been skiing for 2 years, but I only just managed to progressed in Feb. in Plia in Italy, I can ski parallel but I still use snowplough to turn. What is the easiest way to parallel turn ?

Answer 1

I haven't yet MASTERED the parallel turn on steeps yet,  but this is how I learned:

1. Get on a wide open,easy groomer.

2. Head straight down, making sure that

a. Your ski are parallel.  

b. You are leaning as forward as possible. This is CRUCIAL!

3. Pick up the ski on the side you want to turn into. Just lift it a little bit. Make sure that your skis remain parallel. This isn't all that hard after a couple of tries.

4. Now that you have the feel for the turning motion, try it again without picking up the ski. This is a bit tougher. Try to simulate  how it felt to turn with your ski up. If you have trouble, here are some things to check through in your head:

a. Are you trying to force your skis into the parallel position? If so, relax and bend your knees more.

b. Are you leaning forward? If you are leaning back, you can fall very easily, let alone keep your skis parallel.

c. Are you putting a lot of effort into the turn? Try not to apply too much pressure with the lower ski (The ski that is lower on the mountain).

d. Keep falling back into the snowplow position? Try this: Do everything like before, but keep your knees touching together. This is for practice ONLY, as you can fall very easily doing this on a steeper slope.

e. Are your poles doing anything? Think of the pole as a pivot point. When you plant the pole, that is when you initiate the turn.

Once you have done all of this, Try it on either a slightly steeper run or a gentle bump run. Try to make your turns rhythmic. Count in your head, "One, two, three, four," over and over again until the parallel turn becomes second nature. Another practice method is to have a fellow skier/boarder tell you whenever you snowplow or whenever you stop leaning forward.

I hope that you can use some of these tips. Good luck learning!

Answer 2

This is not complicated as one of your answers is trying to make it.  You just need some edge control here to turn while in parallel position.  You can achieve this by bending one knee farther forward than the other and the resulting action will be to create edge control by one ski over the other and the turn will happen.  Either leg (knee) will produce the same results.

Answer 3

The best way is through additional lessons.

Trying to figure things out on your own can lead to poor technique, which will hold you back rather than move you ahead.

As a former ski instructor, I would lead you through an hour of exercises and progressions, all of which would be designed to get you over that little "hump", what we call the Stem Christy in ski instructor land.

If you refuse the sensible option given above...then I would suggest that you focus on trying to use a smaller and smaller stem. This will reduce the "snowplow" during the turn. Also, delay using the stem as long as possible, and focus on getting back to parallel sooner.

But there's really a whole bunch of stuff I would suggest, none of which will make sense unless we are on snow.

Good luck to you!!

Answer 4

The ski instructor is right about getting answers without practical application.  However, I'm not going to post an answer to deny you an answer.  I hate when people do that to my questions.  

There are 4 main components to skiing.  Balance, Pressure,Edging, and Rotary.  Each of them equally important but thats how I see them ranking in my mind.  A parallel turn should happen as follows.  

As you traverse across the trail and not straight down,  your skis are on edge.  Lets say you are looking down the mountain.  You are going from the left of the trail to the right.  The edge engaged will be the right sides of the ski.  If they aren't engaged, you will be sliding down the mountain.  When it comes time to make your left turn to go back the other way, you have to make your skis flat and give up the edge.  This is a scary uncontrolled feeling which is why people snowplough.  After the skis are flat, put more pressure on your right leg and this will cause the skis to edge the opposite direction.  Make sure you are in a balanced position over your skis.  A good way to know you are in a good skiing position is when your traversing across the mountain, hop a little bit.  The only way to land correctly or even jump at all is to be in an athletic position over your skis.  The edging technique used during a parallel turn is very subtle but has dynamic results.  To aid in completing the turn, make sure your body is trying to face the direction of the turn. where your upper body wants to go, your lower body will make adjustments to follow.  

These are just some of the tips on how to get that parallel turn.  The best way to get over that "hump" as the other guy said is to get a cheapo half day lesson after practicing during the morning.  Remember to commit to the the turn.  The problem with most people trying to get the parallel turn is they are hanging on to their edge from the last turn.  They have the skills its just that weird feeling when you release the edge from the old turn to initiate the new one.  If you shift the edges and pressure the skis, the turn will come.  It has to.  Skis these days are always ready to turn. Unlike those straight skis of the past where vague skidding is the name of the game, she shapes skis of today only require a slight tip to whip you into a turn.  Good Luck...and pray to the snow Gods for snow..haha