SKI DRILLS
The following drills are an introduction to short radius turns. Practice these drills on a steeper slope such as Ridge Run, beginning on the upper part and progressing to the steepest lower part of the run.
Side Slip
The sideslip is an exercise to explore various degrees of edging. Stand in a traverse position with your uphill edges tipped to prevent slipping. Turn your head and shoulders to look down the hill which puts you into a "countered position." As you extend your legs your skis will flatten allowing you to sideslip down the slope. Flex slightly and move your knees uphill to slightly engage the ski edges to control your speed of descent. To stop completely bend your legs and move your knees and hip uphill to increase the edge angle on the snow to completely engage your edges.
The sideslip also tests your fore/aft balance. If you are centered in your stance your skis should slip directly down the hill without moving forward or backward. Try shifting the pressure on your skis to the front and to the back to explore the diagonal path down the hill which results.
Pivot Slip
The pivot slip will help you to develop strong rotary movements of your legs underneath a stable upper body at the start of a turn. Stand in a traverse position as in the first drill with your upper body facing down the hill. Begin a slow sideslip by flattening your skis and then pivot your legs and skis to face the opposite direction while maintaining your upper body facing downhill. Link a series of pivot slips in both directions.
Try also to plant your downhill ski pole in the fall line and then pivot around the pole. You can also begin to evolve the pivot slip into round shaped turns by slowing the pivot action and increasing the edge angle of your skis.
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