Skiing: Advanced Skiing turns

In advanced skiing turns start to become faster and shorter radius'. When skiing on advanced trails you need to make smaller turns so you keep your balance and you don't put too much pressure at a time on a leg because that can cause a lot of pain the next day. As I said before in beginner skiing you learn how to use the upper body for balance and the lower body for skiing. Now in advanced skiing, the upper part of the body is always facing down the fall-line and remains relatively still while the work of turning and steering the skis is done by the feet, ankles and knees. In advanced skiing, there are different types of turns to help you get down the trail.

These turns should be practiced on beginner's slopes to get used to the movement of the turns without getting out of control on the slopes.

1. Short-swing Turns (Steeps)- turns performed on a downhill run the enables you to take the slopes at a steeper angle. At first the turn is done with the skis kept very wide apart and with exaggerated flexion-extension-flexion under-weighting movements and then as you become more at ease with the maneuver, the skis are brought together and the amount of flexion-extension-flexion is substantially reduced.


2. The counter-turn (S turn)- On a steep slope, a very useful maneuver for controlling your speed without losing your smooth rhythm is the counter turn. In this movement, you use your knees and ankles to steer your skis up the hill just prior to executing a downhill turn. By turning your skis up the hill, you slow them down. Since the skis are continually turning on their edges, this is a smooth way of controlling your speed without slide-slipping.

Wedeln Turn

3. Wedeln Turn- This turn is essentially a short-swing turn executed quickly with the skis held close together, the weight on both feet at all times, very little down-up-down movement and with very little edging. This turn is mainly done on gentle, smooth slopes. The Wedeln turn is basically hoping on your skis as you make a turn.


4. The Jet Turn- The Jet turn maneuver teaches you how to bring your weight forwards again and regain control so that you can end the turn in a correct position, leaning against the fronts of the ski boots. The Jet turn is also an enjoyable ski maneuver when you're playing around on the slopes.

"The key to making good turns is to allow the skies to turn, not to force them" (Heckelman, 87)