How to Keep Skis Parallel

Being able to keep your skis parallel is an important part of the transition from a beginner to an intermediate skier and beyond. Parallel form is an essential part of skiing more difficult terrain. It's going to take a conscious effort and a lot of practice to transition from the wedge (sometimes called 'the pie') into parallel form. Eventually parallel skiing becomes muscle memory and you will never form a wedge again - unless you want to.

Things You'll Need

  • Downhill skis
  • Ski bindings
  • Ski boots
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Instructions

    • 1

      Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Keep your weight centered over the skis.

      Point your skis across the hill and position the skis so they are parallel to each other.

    • 2

      Move across the hill on your uphill edges with your knees slightly bent. Feel the sensation of moving with your skis parallel.

    • 3

      Make a turn by rising up taller on your skis at the start of the turn.

    • 4

      Flatten the skis so you are less on your edge. You should feel them start to slip downhill.

    • 5

      Apply pressure to your outside leg and feel your outside ski carve as you turn both thigh bones simultaneously downhill.

    • 6

      Guide your inside ski through the turn by keeping it parallel and slightly trailing the outside ski through the turn. Look downhill through the entire turn.

    • 7

      Reverse this action to turn in the opposite direction. Linking turns requires you to quickly make the transition of pressure from the outside ski to the inside ski and vice-versa.

    • 8

      Control your speed by making wider curves and more frequent turns.

    • 9

      Stop by applying pressure simultaneously to the inside edges of your skis as you turn your hips across the hill. You will now be facing across the hill and come to a complete stop.