3 Levels of Parallel Skiing

Hi & Merry Christmas

This weeks video is the second video in the series: 3 LEVELS OF SKIING. This time we are looking at PARALLEL SKIING. The idea with these videos is to target a larger skilled group of people in the area of focus. WEDGING can be done by both beginners and advanced skiers and will be quite different. Same goes for PARALLEL SKIING.

BEGINNER LEVEL
You have mastered the WEDGE and you are confident you can move on to a bit more challenging terrain. Wedging can be both tiring and slow. Parallel skiing will definitely take you to the next level. Everything will be easier and you will conquer much steeper terrain and you will look much better out there in the winter wonder land. In the WEDGE (STEM) CHRISTIE you make the turn in a wedge but bring your skis PARALLEL at the end to go across the slope maintaining some speed. Because, as you turn your skis into the fall line you accelerate and that's when the wedge helps you keep your speed under control. Then as you come out of the turn and you start to slow down, bringing your skis parallel will keep you going nice and easy. As you become more confident you can start to match your skis earlier in the turn. The WEDGE (STEM) CHRISTIE can be done with or without a pole plant.
NOTE: as you open up the wedge at the start of the turn it is actually an UPHILL STEM you perform with your uphill ski. It's because your weight is on your downhill ski. This is BTW something many will object to but it's important to learn how to distribute weight and pressure between both skis.

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
Next thing to do would be to drop the wedge at the start of the turn and keep your skis PARALLEL at all times during your skiing. This kind of turn is called a PARALLEL CHRISTIE. Note, there is nothing wrong with resorting back to the WEDGE (STEM) CHRISTIE whenever needed. As I pointed out in many of my previous videos, for example the 3 LEVELS OF WEDGING, you only need to lean out over your outside ski to start a turn. In the PARALLEL CHRISTIE you need to establish a small skid/drift/brush before shifting weight out over your new outside ski. This you do by Up Un-Weighting. Extend your legs up for a the INERTIA effect to kick in and feel the de-crease of pressure underneath your skis. Use the up-ward momentum for slightly pivoting your skis into a skid and as you regain pressure it will be on your outside ski. Take special note of the segment from 2004 where I show the correct stance for PARALLEL SKIING.

ADVANCED LEVEL
When you want to go faster and step up your skiing try CARVING. CARVING means that you ride the side cut of your skis leaving only two sharp edge tracks in the snow behind. A CARVED turn is initiated by tipping your skis on edge. Noting else. No need for Up Un Weighing or turning your skis. Let the skis turn you. Simply tip the skis on edge by leaning out over your outside ski, tipping your skis on edge by tipping your feet, pointing your knees into the turn and ANGULATING at your hip. Remember to keep your shoulders level. Note that as you do this your speed will accelerate. Make sure that the slope is not too steep and that there are no people in the way. Check out my video 4 TIPS 4 SAFER CARVING. Link below.

That's all folks. Hopefully you will have fun skiing this winter and see you out on the slope.

Tom

3 LEVELS OF WEDGING:    • Ski LESSON: 3 Levels of WEDGING  
4 TIPS 4 SAFER CARVING:    • 4 TIPS on Carving SAFELY