Alternate, Short, Lifted Phantom Turns

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Your lesson, "Alternate, Short, Lifted Phantom Turns", will help you learn to make quick, linked short turns that control your speed with a minimum of effort and energy. Effective short turns are required for skiing in any ungroomed situation, whether it’s moguls, powder, crud, or a steep and narrow chute. Short turns require accurate, quick tipping of the free foot, and a quick transfer of balance from one stance foot to the other. They do not require hopping up and down, or vigorous twisting of the legs and skis. These actions will actually reduce your skis’ ability to hold and arc, so they are to be avoided.

Preliminary
If you’re not sure of how to make linked, parallel turns using the Phantom Move, refer to exercises GB-10 and GB-11 in the Primary Movements Teaching System™ Instructor Manual.

In Brief
Alternate lifting and tipping one foot, then the other. The stance foot should remain passive while the free foot tips strongly toward its little-toe edge. The free foot should be set down on its little-toe edge, and balance established briefly on that edge. A quick pace of alternating the feet produces the quick rhythm that’s needed for bumps or ungroomed. Start on gentle, groomed terrain, then go to progressively steeper runs. The steeper the run, the quicker and further the free foot must tip to control speed. You’re ready to move to steeper terrain when you can consistently link 15 to 20 turns without gaining speed or expanding the size of your turns.

Details
Start with the skis parallel and close together, aimed down the fall line. Once sliding, lift the tail of the free ski a few inches off the snow. Use the Phantom Move of the free foot - tipping it toward the little-toe edge - to change direction. Keep the free foot close to the stance foot throughout the turn. As soon as the stance ski changes direction, set the free foot down slightly on its little-toe edge, and immediately lift and tip the opposite ski. Set it down as soon as the new stance ski changes direction. There is no effort during the turns to edge or turn the stance ski.

Summary
It’s important that the tail of the free ski is lifted, and that the free foot remains close to the stance foot throughout the tipping. If, when you lift the free ski, its tip comes up, pull the free foot back underneath you by flexing the hamstrings. This will help to keep the tip in contact with the snow while lifting the tail.
If your feet spread apart, it will be difficult to transfer balance onto the little-toe edge of the new stance ski, your skis will open into a wedge, and your turns will deteriorate into linked heel pushes. Such turns will not give you control in bumps or ungroomed snow, and you’ll be likely to cross your tips. Make sure that you keep the free foot tucked in against the stance foot.

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