Teaching the “stair-step” in a turn: edge, balance and strength for solid skiing

The idea comes from the uphill stair-step: if I have to move sideways to the right or left, first of all I need to anchor my foot to the ground with the edge, so that the body can rise over it and generate push. It is not a forward movement, but a lateral one, as if I had a wall behind my back to slide along.

The correct sequence is always the same:

• edge

• balance (shoulders and body over the foot)

• strength

If one of these elements is missing, the foot slips or the next step becomes unstable.

Applied to a turn, the “stair-step” becomes a powerful mental image: it is as if you developed the entire turn thinking about making a stair-step toward the center of the turn, maintaining a constant stance on the downhill ski.

So, when entering the turn, you do not “actually” make the stair-step, but think that you want to make it: this intention automatically brings you into the correct stance, with an active edge, your body over the outside foot and continuous balance.

The stair-step as a guiding thought: from the beginning to the end of the turn, more solidity, more control, more precision.