Often, still, many beginners are taught the wedge (or snow plow) technique to turn during ski instruction. While this is perhaps beneficial to an extremely fearful, brand-new skier, it’s a lesson that does more harm than good and will inhibit you from learning to ski well, faster…
Turning on skis correctly is just like walking, something we all do without thinking. When we walk and turn left, we lead with our left foot and our feet stay parallel to one another. This keeps us balanced and in control and our gate/posture correctly aligned. The wedge artificially forces a skier to pigeon toe his or her feet, forces one’s hips behind their feet, and causes the right leg to lead when turning left. Try leading a left turn with your right foot next time you’re out for a walk – it’s unnatural. So….don’t do it when you ski…
What to do? Learn the Stepping drill. This will have you turning with confidence in no time. Click Beginner Ski Instruction to explore this technique.
March 5th, 2009 at 5:43 am
I disagree with this point that the wedge does more harm than good. Although I do belive the wedge in long term use is destructive to the learning process it is the easiest way to start. Most people including kids will have a significant amount of fear as there is nothing quite like skiing. My number one objective is to get them moving down the hill. Because of liabilites I find the Mt. ski instruction moves slowly and kids/adults get bored so they move off skis to boarding or quit. Not good for us skiing purists. The wedge get’s them going. Having proper weight fwd with hands on knees helps them conquer steeper slopes…Now move into stepping turns everytime they are on easier slopes. As they move up to harder slopes they will regress to wedge which is a safe way to get down. The progression to stepping turns should then move to the intermediate slopes. I have a 4 and 6 year old sons that have employed this technique and in roughly 10 days of skiing they can ski 80% of Mammoth mostly in wide track with no wedge.
March 5th, 2009 at 7:30 am
Yes – thank you Roy. There are “few” absolutes with beginner ski instruction. Your point is excellent! The wedge can be a very effective tool, short term…
Thanks!
June 14th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Great post! I’ll subscribe right now wth my feedreader software!
June 15th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Thank you for your comment!