Ski Television:

Modern Parallel Skiing

When we make parallel turns we want to try and focus on keeping the skis parallel at the beginning, in the middle and all the way through to the end. Quite often we'll see skiers with a little bit of a flare of the skis at the end of the turn, sometimes through an effort to kind of tighten up the turn.

So try consciously to keep the skis parallel through the middle, right to the end and as you start the new turn. Parallel the whole way. And something that may help you to skI parallel is to think not just of parallel skis, but parallel edges.

For sure we want to avoid the “dreaded tail slide”—that flaring thing I referred to above. We want parallel skis, but not just parallel along their length, parallel in terms of edge angles as well. As I start to turn I change both edges at the same time. I want to keep the angles that I’m putting on the skis the same. Parallel edges as well as parallel skis.

The parallel edge movement becomes even more important once we start carving. We want to use both edges equally.

Another situation where parallel edges really work well is in cut up snow or powder snow, should you be lucky to get some. Parallel skis, parallel edges for powder snow, cut up snow, carving, skidded turns. It's the parallel turn of the new millennium. Give it a try.