Skiing Basics: How to Turn on Skis for Beginners

Learning to turn is one of the biggest milestones in skiing. Once you can control the direction of your skis, you'll begin to feel more confident, more relaxed and much more in control on the slopes.

One of the most common mistakes beginners make is trying to turn with their shoulders or by leaning their whole body. In reality, turning starts much lower down. By learning to steer your skis with your legs and feet, you'll find that your turns become smoother, easier and far more predictable.

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Start by Gliding Straight

Before trying to make turns, it's worth spending a few minutes simply gliding in a straight line.

If you're skiing in a snowplough (or wedge), aim to keep both skis sliding smoothly across the snow without either ski catching or skidding. This helps you develop a balanced, relaxed stance before adding any steering movements.

Try to feel an equal amount of pressure through both feet. Avoid leaning heavily onto one ski or the other. A centred position makes it much easier to steer your skis when you're ready to change direction.

Turning Starts with Your Feet

Once you're gliding comfortably, begin to think about where your toes are pointing.

If you gently point both toes a little to the left, your skis will naturally begin to travel left. Point them back down the hill and you'll continue straight again. Point them slightly to the right and your skis will begin turning right.

The movement is subtle. You're not forcing the skis around or twisting your upper body. Instead, you're simply guiding your feet in the direction you want the skis to travel.

Think of steering your skis rather than pushing them around the corner.

Bend Your Legs

A small amount of bend in your ankles, knees and hips makes a huge difference.

Straight legs restrict movement and make it much harder to rotate your legs. By keeping a comfortable athletic stance, your legs can move freely underneath your body.

Imagine standing naturally, ready to jump or catch a ball. That's a similar feeling you're aiming for on your skis.

Staying slightly flexed also helps you absorb changes in the terrain and remain balanced throughout the turn.

Learn the Feeling Without Moving

If you're struggling to understand the movement, there's a simple exercise you can do while stationary.

Place one ski flat on the snow and rest the other boot on top of the binding. With your weight supported, gently rotate your leg so your toes point left and then right.

Rather than twisting your shoulders or hips, focus on the movement happening inside your leg. This helps you recognise how your leg rotates naturally from the hip.

Once you've felt the movement standing still, it's much easier to reproduce it while skiing.

Keep the Skis Sliding

As you begin making your turns, try to keep both skis sliding smoothly across the snow.

Many beginners accidentally lift one ski or push too aggressively with the other. Instead, aim to let both skis continue gliding while your legs gently guide them into the new direction.

Smooth steering creates smooth turns.

Key Coaching Points

• Glide comfortably in a straight line before practising turns.

• Keep your weight balanced between both skis.

• Maintain a small amount of bend in your legs.

• Turn by pointing your toes where you want to go.

• Let your legs steer the skis rather than your upper body.

• Focus on smooth movements rather than forcing the skis around.

Common Mistakes

Standing too tall

Straight legs make it difficult to rotate your skis smoothly.

Turning with your shoulders

Keep your upper body quiet and allow your legs to do the work.

Leaning onto one ski

Try to feel balanced over both feet while learning.

Forcing the skis

Small, controlled movements are much more effective than large, sudden ones.

Try This on Your Next Ski Day

Find a gentle beginner slope with plenty of space.

Start by gliding straight in your snowplough while feeling equal pressure on both feet.

Next, gently point both toes a little to the left and notice how the skis begin to turn. Return them to the fall line before repeating to the right.

Focus on making smooth, shallow turns rather than trying to turn sharply.

As you become more comfortable, you'll notice that steering with your legs starts to feel natural and your confidence will quickly improve.

Summary

Good turns don't begin with your shoulders—they begin with your legs.

By staying balanced, maintaining a small amount of flex in your legs and gently steering your feet in the direction you want to travel, you'll develop smooth, controlled turns that form the foundation for every skill you'll learn later in your skiing journey.

If you'd like to improve your skiing with structured, step-by-step coaching, explore the SkiCoachingOnline courses. You can also follow SkiCoachingOnline on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for more free skiing tips and technique advice.