How to Ski Parallel: From Snowplough to Parallel Turns

In a snowplough your skis form an "A" and brake all the time. In a parallel turn they stay side by side, about hip-width apart, and tilt onto matching edges together. The skis glide instead of scraping, you use far less energy, and steeper runs suddenly feel manageable. Nobody jumps straight from one to the other: the trick is to let the snowplough get smaller with every turn until it disappears.

Before you start

You should be able to make controlled snowplough turns and stop on a blue run without thinking about it. If you are not there yet, go back to our guide to the snowplough. Practise on a wide, freshly groomed green or easy blue run, at a speed where you stay relaxed: fear pushes your weight back, and that makes parallel skiing almost impossible.

The stance that makes it work

• Press your shins lightly against the front of your boots.
• Keep your hands forward, where you can see them.
• Keep your skis hip-width apart, not glued together.
• Let your upper body face down the hill while your legs do the turning.
• Look a few turns ahead, not at your ski tips.

1. Make the wedge smaller

Ski a series of snowplough turns and gradually narrow the "A". Let a little more speed build up: on a gentle slope a narrow wedge is enough to control it. You will notice that at the end of each turn your skis already want to come together.

2. Match your skis at the end of the turn

Start a turn in a snowplough. As you cross the fall line and finish the turn, put your weight on the outside ski and slide the inside ski alongside it, so the turn ends with both skis parallel. Instructors call this a stem christie, or simply matching. Cross the slope with your skis parallel, then open the wedge again to start the next turn.

3. Match earlier and earlier

On each run, bring the inside ski in a little sooner: first at the end of the turn, then as you cross the fall line, and finally right at the start. Once you can match before your skis point downhill, the wedge has almost gone. It appears only for a moment at the start of each turn, and eventually not at all.

4. Change edges with both skis

A parallel turn starts by releasing both edges at the same time. At the end of a turn, rise slightly from your bent knees: for a moment the skis go light and flat. Then tip both knees together towards the new turn and move your weight onto the new outside ski. Sink down again through the turn and the edges grip. Up to release, down to turn: this rhythm is the heart of parallel skiing.

5. Add the pole plant

The pole plant gives your turns their timing. As you rise at the end of a turn, touch the snow lightly with your downhill pole, a little ahead of and beside your boot, and turn around it. It is a light flick of the wrist, not a stab with the whole arm.

Drills that help

• Garlands: Across the slope, make a series of half turns uphill without changing edges. You learn to steer both skis together.
• Inside ski lift: Lift the tail of the inside ski slightly during the turn. It forces your weight onto the outside ski.
• Traverse and sideslip: Cross the slope on your uphill edges, then flatten the skis and slide sideways. You learn how edges grip and release.
• Follow the leader: Ski in the tracks of an instructor or a good skier. Copying a rhythm is easier than thinking about it.

Common mistakes

• Sitting back: Your weight drops behind your heels and the skis run away. Shins to the front of the boots, hands forward.
• Letting the inside ski do the work: Weight on the inside ski makes it wander. Feel the turn on the outside ski.
• Turning with your shoulders: Twisting your upper body throws you off balance. Keep your chest facing down the hill.
• Skis too close together: With your feet glued together it is hard to balance. Hip-width is enough.
• Going too fast too soon: On steep runs the snowplough comes back. Return to an easier run until the movement is automatic.

Learning to ski parallel at Erciyes

The wide, gentle beginner areas and easy blue runs at Erciyes suit this progression well. Our guide to ski piste colours helps you choose the right run. On our First Steps lesson packages, the beginner lesson builds up to moving on to parallel skiing. If you already ski parallel and want to move on to red runs, the guides on our Experienced packages ride with you all day.

• Ski technique
• Parallel turns
• Intermediate
• Ski lessons