How to Do Wedge Turns When Skiing

The wedge turn is a basic technique that's often useful for beginner skiers. It's a good precursor to more difficult turns and the skier remains in the wedge position, making it easy to control speed and stop.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Begin in the wedge position, also known as the snowplow. In this position, the front tips of your skis are pointed together and the back ends of your skis are farther apart from one another. As a result, your skis form a V shape when you look down at them. Control your speed by making the V shape skinnier and wider as you ski.

2. Keep your knees apart while you're in the wedge position. Imagine there's a ball between them to prevent them from coming together.

3. Learn the difference between the uphill ski and downhill ski. As you're skiing down the mountain, your uphill ski is the one that is closest to the top of the mountain at the end of the turn. Your downhill ski is closest to the bottom of the mountain at the end of the turn.

4. Ski down the hill in the wedge position. When you want to turn, transfer your weight to the ski that will become your downhill ski at the end of the turn while maintaining the wedge. Keep the majority of your weight on the downhill ski until you've completed the turn and your skis are almost perpendicular to the mountain.

5. Continue to ski and transfer your weight to the other ski, which will become the downhill ski as you turn the other direction. Complete the turn and balance your weight evenly between both skis once they're perpendicular to the mountain again.

Who Can Help:

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!