Step turning is for maintaining momentum around sharp corners instead of snow plowing.  What you are doing when step turning is make small steps to turn a corner. You do not need to use your poles so for maximum speed it is good to stay in a tuck.

STEP TURNING
Text Box: Side stops are used for making quick stops and require a lot of practice. To complete a side stop you have to turn your skis to either the right or the left very quickly. You can drag your inside ski a little to help with balancing. Remember to bend your knees and ankles.

SIDE STOPS
Text Box: Tucking is the basic action of bending your knees so it looks like you are sitting on a bench and leaning forward so that your elbows are near your knees. The lower you get the more aerodynamic the position.

TUCKING

SIDE STEPPING

Assorted Techniques
OMINECA SKI CLUB

· Always keep ankle and knee bend to give you a better push off and to reduce the risk of injury when you fall.

· Keep your weight over your ski and remember to balance. Weight shifting is important to reduce the risk of falling and to increase your gliding time.

· If you are worried about going down a hill it is better to bend your knees then to go down with straight legs. You run a much higher risk of injury if you fall when you are standing up with your knees locked then if you are in a tuck position.

SNOW PLOWING

Snow plowing is a preventive measure so that you don’t gain too much speed. It is a good technique for going around corners for beginners and stopping.

Snow plowing is when you make a V with the front of your skis so that when you are going down the hill the tips of your skis in the front are almost touching.

ASSORTED TIPS

Side stepping is not a technique used in races. It is generally used for people who can’t keep their skis in a V or in some cases it is used for packing a skate trail.  When you get up to a hill you turn sideways so that you are parallel to the hill and begin to step up the hill. It is easier if you take small steps and do not cross your skis. If you begin to slip make sure that you are keeping your skis completely sideways.