To snowplough ski, you position your skis with the tips closer together and the tails wider apart, forming an inverted V shape. This technique, also known as the wedge or pizza, is fundamental for beginners to control speed and stop while descending gentle slopes.
The snowplough works by increasing the surface area of the skis pushing against the snow, creating friction that slows you down. The wider you push your skis apart at the tails, the more resistance you create, and the slower you go.
Steps to Perform a Snowplough
Mastering the snowplough is a key step for any beginner skier. Here's a breakdown of the basic technique:
- Starting Position: Begin on a gentle slope, ideally flat or very slightly inclined. Stand with your skis parallel and shoulder-width apart. Ensure your weight is balanced over the middle of your skis.
- Forming the Wedge: Simply push wider with the skis at the tails. This means gently pushing the backs of your skis outwards while keeping the tips closer together. The tips should be close enough that they don't cross but far enough apart that you form a clear V shape.
- Control Speed: To slow down or stop, push the tails of your skis further apart, making the wedge wider. To speed up slightly, ease the tails closer together (but still maintaining the wedge shape).
- Body Posture: Keep your knees and ankles flexed. Maintain a relaxed, upright posture. Avoid leaning too far back or forward.
- Balance and Focus: As the reference suggests, it can help balance to look them in the eyes (interpreted as looking ahead, possibly at your instructor or a point further down the slope). Keeping your gaze forward helps maintain stability.
- Practice Sliding: Once you have formed the wedge, allow yourself to start to slide gently down the slope, controlling your speed by adjusting how wide you push your ski tails.
Key Elements for Success
- Tip Proximity: Ensure ski tips are close but don't touch or cross.
- Tail Width: Adjust the width of the tails to control speed – wider for slower, narrower for faster (within the wedge shape).
- Weight Distribution: Keep weight balanced over both skis. Avoid leaning on the inside edge of either ski in the wedge.
- Relaxed Body: Stay relaxed; stiff legs make it harder to adjust the wedge.
Snowplough Summary
Here's a quick table summarizing the snowplough:
| Aspect | Description | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Ski Shape | Tips closer, tails wider (Inverted V / Wedge) | Creates friction |
| Tail Width | Adjustable (push wider/narrower) | Controls speed |
| Body Posture | Knees/ankles flexed, upright, relaxed | Stability, Control |
| Focus | Look ahead | Balance |
| Primary Use | Speed control, stopping on gentle slopes, turning | Beginner technique |
By consistently practicing pushing wider with your skis and maintaining a balanced posture while looking ahead, you will quickly become comfortable with the snowplough technique, which is the foundation for learning turns and parallel skiing.
