How many shots do you know in tennis?

Backhand, forehand, lob, topspin, slice - the list can go on and on. Having all these shots available to you can prepare you for most eventualities on the tennis court. However, all to often in skiing it's very different. Many skiers only have one method of turning, which hardly prepares them for the rigours of coping with a mountain environment. Ideally, you should try to develop as many ways of turning as possible.

We tend to use three common methods for initiating turns (changing your direction, edge change, etc.) All three are very simple to use and can be mastered quickly, arming you with tools to help you initiate your turns in most types of terrain.

* Transferring Pressure
* Unweighting
* Stemming
(Fourth would be 'Use of terrain', which we use all the time)

You may be aware of all three but conditioned into thinking there is only one main method to use. Many people are convinced they should never stem. But, if stemming helps, then use it. You should be happy to move between all three methods.

Each method is very simple, but can be made more complex. For example, you can unweight by extending or retracting your legs, you can take off from both feet, the downhill foot or the uphill foot. When transferring pressure, you can add pressure to the outside ski or take it away from the inside ski and when stemming you could stem the lower ski or the uphill ski. With all these methods mastered you should be well prepared. However, this is a lot to remember, so to keep things simple, here are three main turn initiations.

1. Transferring Pressure

We use this method if we're happily cruising along on flatter terrain or if we have speed and momentum.

Towards the end of your turn, feel the pressure building up against your outer ski (the ski towards the outside of your turn). When you're ready to go in to the next turn, say "now" to yourself and transfer the pressure from this ski to the other ski. You'll be amazed how you will move effortlessly into the next turn. This action allows your body to 'crossover' your skis to change your edges before you start actively steering your turn.

TIPS:

Feel the pressure building up towards the end of the turn, say "now", then transfer the pressure to the other ski.

Release the pressure from your outer ski by softening it underneath you.

If moving slower, release your pressure from the outside ski and extend slightly on to the uphill ski.

2. Unweighting

We use this method when the slope becomes steeper or the terrain gets a little variable and tricky - e.g. in crud, off-piste, steeper slopes, etc.

Check your speed at the end of one turn and plant your downhill pole in the snow to gain good support then extend your legs. You do not have to extend much, it's how quickly you extend that is important. Think of it as a quick 'pop'. Your skis will become light or even completely leave the snow. This makes them easy to move under your body and land on the new edges ready to steer into the next turn.

TIPS:

Plant your pole, 'pop' and move your feet under your body to land on the new edges.

Use a small bump or ridge to unweight; then it requires no effort at all.

Think of jumping upwards and only slightly pivoting the feet and skis underneath you; do not try to jump the skis a full 180°.

Make sure you are at nearly 0mph before you hop/jump; hopping at speed is much more effort and it's easier from nearly standstill.

3. Stemming

We use this method when the terrain becomes very difficult, steep or the snow conditions become very tricky.

Move your uphill ski into a 'V' with the tips close together and the tails apart. Your uphill ski will now be on its inside edge all set for a turn. Plant your downhill pole firmly in the snow for good support and at the same time lift and pivot the other ski parallel. Simple, easy to use and very safe...

TIPS:

Think of placing your 'tips together, then tips apart'.

Allow the leg you have stemmed out to aid your turn and support you whilst the other leg becomes light and is pivoted parallel.

No need to make a large stem but just enough to give you confidence to feel your new edge.

WHEN & WHERE TO USE THE ABOVE?

This is a question always asked so we've given you a few examples of when you may use one way more that the other to help you move from one turn to the next. However, you will soon work out which best suits certain terrain by trial and error. If you go to use one and the edges of the skis to not change that effectively then try another way…

There is a fourth way that is used all the time when we ski which we could best describe as more tactical.

4. Use of the terrain

We can use any lump or bump or ridge on the slope to help us move from one turn to the next. The important thing here is as long as you are always travelling around a curve/arc then at any point you may hit a small ridge, etc. which allows the skis become light. If you are at the point in your turn when you want to change direction then use this lightness to help you change edges and move in to your new turn.

Remember, the more tools you have the more versatile you will become and the better game you will play!