How to Wedge Turn on Cross Country Skis

A wedge turn is a useful way to control your speed when going downhill on cross-country skis. This technique will make your feel more comfortable on intermediate terrain.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Skis
• A hill

1. After you have gotten comfortable on your skis, look for a hill to practice on. Try a small hill at first. Get to the top. When you feel gravity taking over and you start accelerating, bend your knees and push out your ankles.

2. This will make your skis go into a shape like a slice of a pizza, with the tip of the slice at the tips of your skis in front of you. Once your skis are in this pizza-slice shape, begin to dig the inside edge of each ski into the snow (the inside edges are the edges facing each other).

3. When your edges are digging into the snow, they will probably be the only part of your ski touching the snow. Once your edges are properly gripping the snow, start pushing your skis away from each other. This will fight the gravitational force that is pulling the tips together so your ski tips don't cross in front of you.

4. Once you are pushing your skis away from each other with the proper amount of force, it will keep your skis in the pizza slice, snow plow or wedge position. Get comfortable in this position.

5. Next slowly shift your balance over right leg. This will force you to turn left. Once you have started turning to the left, return your balance to the center of your body. Next, slowly shift your weight over your left leg. This will force you to turn right.

6. Continue to make these "S" turns down the slope, holding your poles out at your sides to help you keep your balance.

Tips & Warnings

• If you feel yourself starting to pick up an uncomfortable amount of speed, focus on digging your inside edges into the snow. This will always slow you down.

[tugboatgrandma]

on 2/25/2009 great article, very informative and concise, thank you!