How to Stop on Cross-Country Skis

Stopping is an indispensable skill in cross-country skiing. Once you get moving on cross-country skis, you have to stop to prevent running into trail partners, trees and other solid objects. In theory, stopping sounds easy, but it requires a bit of skill and foreknowledge. Skis have no built-in brakes, so the brake technique comes through body movements and pole placements. Almost every cross-country skier falls a few times when learning stopping techniques.

Instructions

  1. Hockey Stop

    • 1

      Bend slightly at the knees as you enter a small, rolling downhill gradient. Lean on your dominant leg and begin to push the toe inwards toward the opposite leg.

    • 2

      Bring the dominant leg ski to an angle in front of you and try to make it parallel to the opposite ski.

    • 3

      Pivot you body and turn both skis to a 45-degree angle to the hill and plow the skis to a stop, as you would using hockey skates on ice. Prepare for a hillside lean and plant the poles slightly behind you to prevent a fall.

    V-Stop

    • 4

      Point both feet in toward the opposite side ski. Make a "V" out of your skis so the top of the "V" is in front of you. Do not cross the tips of the ski.

    • 5

      Bend the knees slightly and let the "V" snowplow the skis to a halt.

    • 6

      Plant the ski poles slightly in front of you as the "V" shaped snowplow brings you to a stop.

    Single-Ski Stop

    • 7

      Push out on the dominant leg so the ski begins to turn in toward the opposite side ski.

    • 8

      Bend on the opposite side knee and let the front ski grip the snow. Force the edge of the front ski into the snow and bring yourself to a halt.

    • 9

      Plant the ski poles to the front of you and hold to prevent falling.