How to Do Stem Christi Turns When Skiing

Once you've skied for awhile and developed the basics of stopping and snow plow turns, it's time to move on to the skiing stem christi turn. The stem christi turn is the second step in the progression of skiing.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Put your weight on the ski opposite of the direction you choose to go. Slightly bend your ankle to allow the blade to grip the snow.

2. Keep your feet in a "V" until you complete the turn and the ski with your weight is on the outside, the downhill side. From here, you can either use the snow plow or "V" turn, or the stem christi skiing turn.

3. Keep your weight off the tail of the uphill ski and slowly glide it parallel with the downhill ski. When you ski and use the stem christi, you come closer to advanced parallel skiing.

4. Practice another turn as you traverse the hill. Put your weight on the uphill ski as you spread the tails of your skis. Complete the turn when the uphill ski becomes the downhill ski.

5. Close the tails of the skis together so they become parallel. This completes the ski turn when you use a stem christi turn.

6. Continue to traverse the hill with the stem christi until you reach the bottom and feel in control. Once you're completely comfortable with the turn, it's time to advance to parallel turns.

Tips & Warnings

• Attempt to learn the stem christi turn on a gradual slope until you get comfortable with the process. Once comfortable, you can attempt the turn on a steeper slope.

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