How to Telemark Kick Turn

If you have ever been stuck with your ski tips on a rock, or you just want to change directions without losing altitude, try the kick turn. You can stand in one spot and turn your skis 180 degrees.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Ski Clothing
• Telemark Ski Equipment

1. Face your skis sideways across the slope.
2. Get balanced. Your skis are shoulder-width apart with one pole positioned on each side.
3. Lift the downhill ski so that the front of the ski is slightly higher than the back.
4. Kick this leg away from your body and place the back of the ski on the snow in front of the stationary ski so that the ski points skyward.
5. Rotate the same foot 180 degrees, then slide the ski backward and down to the ground.
6. Plant the foot so that the ski is next to your other ski. You should now have two skis facing completely opposite directions.
7. Place all your weight on the ski you just rotated.
8. Lift your uphill ski and boot above the downhill ski that you just planted.
9. Rotate this leg so that both skis face the same direction. When you lift this leg, it will naturally rotate part of the way due to your awkward body position.
10. Check that the skis are side by side and take off.

Tips & Warnings

• Rotating your feet 180 degrees may be impossible for you to do without skis. However, with skis your weight is spread throughout the whole ski instead of just over your foot, making this move complicated but possible.
• Practice this move on flat slopes before you attempt it on steeper ones.
• This move will feel awkward at first, since your feet don't face the same direction.
• Quickly rotate your second foot or your feet will be in a duck-like stance that makes it hard to maintain your balance.