The goal of many beginner skiers is parallel skiing. \u00a0The moment you reach this point is when the ‘real’ skiing begins.<\/p>\n
The point in time when most guests decide to ski without the guidance of an instructor is when they have began to ski parallel. \u00a0However, more often than not, they return to the ski school nervous after developing some technical errors. \u00a0This is mostly due to having too little skiing experience and having only learnt a small portion of the more complex ski technique. \u00a0A parallel turn cannot be used in every situation and therefore will not always meet the demands of the piste. \u00a0After parallel turns, there are many more technical progressions (carving, moguls, powder, terrain parks, etc.) for you to learn from a skilled instructor.<\/p>\n
Due to the further development of skis, as well as the continuous improvements of slopes (grooming, snowmaking, etc.) and last but not least ski technique, skiing is now quicker to learn than earlier.<\/p>\n
The goal is simultaneous edge change, turning and steering of the skis; but let’s go back a step.<\/p>\n
Parallel skiing is an economic and energy-saving style of skiing. \u00a0The skis are parallel to one another and ideally hip-width apart. \u00a0In order to control your speed you need to steer the skis until the end of the turn, meaning the ski tips turn out of the fall line (traverse). \u00a0This will allow you to use the terrain to control your speed.<\/p>\n
The initial use of a snowplough during the turn at this skill level serves as a balance aid. \u00a0Practice, along with well-coordinated movement, will soon make the snowplough obsolete.<\/p>\n
Make your turns as usual in a snowplough. \u00a0As you feel safer, start the turn with a forward\/upward movement in the direction of the turn. \u00a0This will ‘release’ the skis allowing them to flatten and slide into the fall line. \u00a0The edge change will occur during this part of the turn (pole plant). \u00a0As the turn progresses you need to build up pressure on the downhill (outside) ski in order to steer out the turn. \u00a0During the next phase you will develop the Alpine Basic Position to control your speed.<\/p>\n