skip navigation

Side Slip

Side Slips

Edging is one of the three primary skills used in skiing. Tipping the skis on their sides causes the edges to dig into the snow, stabilizing the skis and preventing them from slipping sideways.  Conversely, flattening the skis on the snow disengages the edges, allowing the skis to rotate (turn) or slip to the side.

Both edging and flattening of the skis are critical components of every turn. Edging helps keep the skis going straight, while disengaging the edges allows the skis to be rotated into a turn. There are two ways to put the skis on their edge: angulation and inclination. A small amount of edging and some fine control can also be accomplished by flexing the ankles, but since properly fitting ski boots are stiff and snug, ankle movement is limited.

Inclination is achieved by leaning the entire body to one side, always to the inside of a turn. Basic physics dictates that the skier must be turning so that centrifugal force keeps the skier from simply falling over. Watch a racer to see how far they incline in a high speed turn.

Angulation is achieved by bending the body so that the knees and hips are bent toward one side (usually up the hill and always to the inside of a turn) while the upper body compensates by leaning the other way (usually down the hill and always over the outside ski in a turn), thus putting the skis on their edge. The properly angulated body should have a ‘C’ shape. Angulation is the most often used edging approach, especially at slower speeds.  High speed turns utilize both inclination and angulation at the same time.

Drill: Side slipping

This basic drill is a good way for beginners to develop edging skills through angulation. To side slip, stand across a low to moderate slope with the knees uphill and the upper body curved downhill over the skis (angulated). The skier should be able to stand comfortably in this position without sliding sideways down the hill. Next, move the knees slowly downhill until the edges release and the skis start to slip sideways down the hill. Sometimes all it takes is to stand up straight and the edges will release. If not, move the knees slightly down the hill, but not so far that the downhill edges of the skis bite in.

Once the skis begin to slide, stop the slide by reengaging the edges by moving the knees back up the hill until he edges grab (re-angulate). While practicing a slide slip, the skier should remain with the skis pointed across the hill. Beginners should focus on starting and stopping the slide, and if practiced at various places with different pitches, they will quickly learn how much to engage the edges to control the slip in each situation.

For more experienced skiers, pay attention to the track the feet take during the slide portion of the drill. Try to keep sliding in a straight line directly down the fall line. Pick out a spot or an object directly down the hill and slide in a completely straight line toward it. This can be a little trickier than it sounds! To achieve a straight slide, the weight of the skier must be exactly centered on the skis. If it isn’t, the skis will move either forward or backward from the desired line, depending on whether the weight is forward or aft of center, respectively.

This is a good drill for beginners to learn how to control the edges of the skis.  It is also good for checking your stance, and just to get the feel of the snow when starting out.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQZeC1FjYhc

The audio isn’t too good on this one, but the content is worth watching.