From Snowplough to Parallel Skiing: The Technique Step by Step
The move to parallel skiing does not happen in one step but with an intermediate stage: snowplough → wedge christie → basic parallel turn. In a wedge christie you start the turn in a snowplough and, during the turn, finish parallel by bringing the inside ski alongside the outside ski. According to the American instructors' association PSIA, what makes matching easier is relaxing the inside leg and pressing on the outside ski; as you gain experience, the matching moves closer to the start of the turn. In a true parallel turn, your weight is transferred to the new outside ski before the turn begins, and this movement comes from the legs, beneath a calm upper body.
You start the turn with a V, and during the turn you bring the inside ski alongside the outside ski and finish parallel
When you can turn under control in both directions in a snowplough
Basic parallel turn
The skis stay parallel throughout the turn; weight onto the new outside ski before the turn begins
When the matching in the christie has moved to the start of the turn
In PSIA's skier progression, this stage is defined as the move "from wedge christie to beginner parallel": the student learns to plant the pole and to match the skis parallel at the start of the turn. This transition usually takes a few days of practice; everyone progresses at a different pace. For the basics of the snowplough, see our guide Snowplough technique.
The key to matching: relax the inside leg
In the wedge christie, most beginners try to force the inside ski alongside. According to PSIA, the right way is exactly the opposite: relaxing the inside leg while pressing on the outside ski makes matching easier by itself. Once the pressure on the inside ski decreases, it is easily steered towards the outside ski.
In your first attempts, the matching happens after the fall line, that is, in the second half of the turn. As you gain experience, the matching moves towards the start of the turn.
Bringing the matching forward
PSIA recommends three things to move the matching closer to the start of the turn:
Earlier weight transfer: Press on the new outside ski at the start of the turn.
Narrow the snowplough: It is hard to get parallel from a wide V; start with a narrow, gliding snowplough.
Increase your speed a little: Turning the skis is harder when you are going very slowly; a controlled, slightly more flowing speed makes matching easier.
The basic parallel turn
In the wedge christie, the skier can keep their weight on the old outside ski at the start of the turn. In the parallel turn, however, according to PSIA, the weight is transferred to the new outside ski before the turn begins. This transfer is made not from the upper body but from the legs, beneath a calm upper body: the legs turn and the edges change while the shoulders and hips stay in place.
Pole plant: When moving on to the parallel turn, the pole plant sets the rhythm and timing; the pole lightly touches the snow on the side you are turning towards, at the start of the turn.
Exercises
Exercise
Aim
Long traverse on a gentle slope and stopping with an uphill turn
Keeping the skis parallel and feeling the edges
Wedge christie, bringing the matching further and further forward
Timing of the matching
Turns with a narrow snowplough and a little more speed
Making the parallel finish easier
Rhythmic turns with a pole plant
Timing and rhythm
Linked parallel turns on an easy blue run
Flow
Common mistakes (PSIA)
Mistake
Result
Correction
Leaning the body towards the next turn
Pressure on the outside ski decreases, the ski skids
Keep your weight on the outside ski, leave the body calm
Leaning into the centre of the turn
Edge grip is lost
Create angles with your knees and hips, shoulders upright
Planting the wrong pole
The rhythm breaks down
The pole is planted on the side you are turning towards
Hips and shoulders swinging sideways
Balance is lost
Make the movement with your legs, upper body calm
When can I say I am skiing parallel?
When, on easy and intermediate (blue and red) runs, you can keep your skis parallel from the start to the end of the turn and control your speed with the shape of the turn. The next steps are refining the parallel turn and later moving on to the carving technique. For choosing runs, see our guide Ski run colours and difficulty levels.
Moving on to parallel skiing on an activity holiday
The move from snowplough to parallel is fastest with an instructor's supervision and practice on consecutive days. On an activity holiday this practice is planned: on Doğadayız basic course packages in Erciyes, on the second day you clock up kilometres on different runs, and for those who can already ski, the experience packages focus on this stage. Progressing with people at the same level turns the programme into a social adventure holiday.
Doğadayız Packages
Doğadayız packages for your level
Winter activity holidays with accommodation, ski pass and equipment included, shared with a group.
The easiest way to learn to ski: a winter activity holiday
An activity holiday puts a sport at the heart of your trip: transport, accommodation and meals are planned, so you can focus on learning on the slopes. On Doğadayız winter activity holidays, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package; course packages include basic lessons with instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation, while experience packages let you practise on the slopes at your own level.
What makes the programme different is the group: sharing the slopes with people at a similar level, dinners and nights out together, and a group leader by your side at all times. Solo travellers become part of this social adventure holiday from day one. That is why we describe our programmes as a social adventure holiday.
How do you move from snowplough to parallel skiing?
With an intermediate stage: the wedge christie. You start the turn in a snowplough and, during the turn, finish parallel by bringing the inside ski alongside the outside ski. As you gain experience, you move the matching to the start of the turn and eventually ski the whole turn parallel.
Which ski should my weight be on in a parallel turn?
On the outside ski. According to PSIA, in a parallel turn the weight is transferred to the new outside ski before the turn begins; this transfer is made from the legs, beneath a calm upper body.
How long does it take to move on to parallel skiing?
It varies from person to person; once your snowplough turns are solid, it usually takes a few days of practice. Practising under an instructor's supervision and on consecutive days speeds up the transition.
Why does my inside ski open up in a parallel turn?
Usually because there is still too much pressure on the inside ski. Pressing on the outside ski and relaxing the inside leg lets the inside ski steer easily towards the outside ski.
The snowplough (pizza) is the V position made by bringing the tips of your skis together and pushing the tails apart, and it is how a beginner controls speed and stops. The American instructors' association PSIA distinguishes two types: the braking snowplough, which is wider and presses on the edges and is used to cut speed and stop; and the gliding snowplough, which is narrower with little friction and is used to learn turns. According to PSIA, in a good snowplough turn speed is controlled by the shape of the turn, not by the width of the snowplough; a big braking snowplough, on the other hand, makes your hips drop back.
You start skiing with a beginner lesson with an instructor, rental equipment and easy (beginner) slopes. On day one you put on your skis, glide on flat ground, learn to stop with the snowplough and ride the magic carpet; on day two you come down an easy slope under control with snowplough turns. For an adult who has never skied, this stage usually takes 2 days.
In Europe, runs are marked by difficulty as blue (easy), red (intermediate) and black (difficult); in some countries, such as France, and at some resorts, green is also used for the easiest runs. Under the Austrian standard, the gradient of a blue run should not exceed 25% and that of a red run 40%; anything steeper is black. In North America, the symbols green circle, blue square and black diamond are used, and difficulty is relative only to that resort's own runs. Turkey has no national standard; resorts use the European system. After the first days, beginners should start on blue (or, where available, green) runs.
