Conceptual Definition
“Steering” is the act of causing a change in the direction of the skis as a result of muscular effort. It is the skier’s ability to steer, turn, and guide the skis in skidded round turns. Other terms may be Rotational Action, Turning Action, Directional Action, or Dynamic Torque Control.
Steering derives from rotating the legs independently within the hip sockets while the upper body maintains postural stability. The timing, duration, and amplitude of this action is highly dynamic, varying according to speed, slope gradient, snow consistency, skis’ dynamics and skier’s technical proficiency.
In rounded skidded turns, used mainly by intermediate skiers, the tails of the skis are turned describing a wider arc than the tips. In carved turns performed by advanced and expert skiers, the tails follow the same trajectory as the tips, minimizing lateral friction
Since the steering action allows to quickly steer the skis by turning the tails faster than the tips, it can be applied in short-radius turns in demanding environments such as steep couloirs, deep snow, and moguls.
A useful reference when initiating the assimilation of this turning action, is to steer the tips the toward the fall line (first half of the turn), then the tails round out the end of the turn (second half). In more advanced executions, the tails will be steered directly from the start of the turn.
The “Braking” Fallacy
We could consider that applying the steering action is a way of “braking”, that is, controlling speed by regulating the turning radius. In reality, to achieve efficient skiing in skidded turns, these braking actions should be minimized through proper control of this action. Efficient steering action performed with both feet/legs is distributed evenly throughout the arc of the turn, as keeping the skis turning, in addition to controlling speed, maintains appropriate balance and rhythm.
A frequent error is the abrupt pivoting of the skis at the start of a turn—a defensive reflex driven by anxiety or fear of the gradient. This results in “Z-shaped” trajectories (sharp angles) rather than the fluid “C” or “S” shapes that characterize high-level flow.
Compensatory Movement
This turning action can be efficient, executing the desired radius turns with feet and legs, but it can also be generated with movements of the trunk, with a waste of energy.
The inability to execute the guiding action of both limbs causes an involuntary substitution in the form of lateral opening of the uphill ski or rotation of the torso, generating a “turning impulse.” This impulse can be described as the rotation of part or all of the body in the direction of the turn.
Depending on the skier’s preferences or habits, one part of their body will tend to move in the direction of the turn. This circular movement can result from the various active parts of the body affecting the turning radius. However, the rotation of the legs turning under the mass of the torso is universally used to initiate steered, pivoted, or stivoted turns on parallel skis.
Torque Distribution
The source of rotational force in the steering action is the rotation of the legs (rotation of the femurs within the hip sockets) against a relatively stable torso. At the start of the turn, the inner leg performs an external lateral rotation and the outer leg performs an internal rotation.
If the hips are weak or locked, the knees will try to compensate for that torque. The legs are just levers; the motor that makes them turn is the deep hip muscles rotators.
For turns initiated with the skis parallel, the legs have different torque potential (rotational force). The longer the skis, the more torque is needed to turn them, and when the torque exceeds a certain magnitude, the bindings release the boots.
The inner leg can exert more torque than the outer leg. In strict biomechanical terms, it is not possible for a hip alone to exert more torque than both legs working together, since the total torque is the sum of the forces applied by all the joints in the lower kinetic chain. However, the hips are the main power generators in the body.
When performing a steered turn, the outer leg is not capable of generating as much torque as the inner leg, therefore the steering action of the inner foot/leg has an advantage.
Efficient Steering References
An efficient steering action makes it easier to steer the skis toward a specific point in accordance with the following references:
- The skis’ tracks form a “C” or an ‘S’ shape when linking turns, instead of a “Z” shape.
- Both skis and feet/legs turn together, instead of turning one ski first and then the other.
- The torso and hips remain steady while the legs turn, instead of turning the skis with the shoulders or the hips.
- The inner ski goes along with the turn and “scrapes” the snow with the little toe edge instead of leaving it weightless and flat, which makes it difficult to control.
- Actions and movements are gradual, avoiding abruptness as this can cause over-rotation.
- The hips are displaced towards the inner steering foot, creating a slight counter-rotation movement, instead of placing them over the outer support foot, which generates rotation.
