How to Make Parallel Turns-Tips for Improving Your Skiing || REI

Now that you've been making wedge turns down the ski hill, it's time to start bringing some parallel into your turns. We partnered with Robin Barnes of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) to break down 5 skills you can use to to bring your skis parallel and start cruising down the slopes.
And if you want a refresher on the basics, check out our video on how to ski: • How to Ski - What you ...
Shrink Your Wedge :44
Use Your Legs to Turn 1:17
Round Your Turns 2:12
Release Your Edge 2:55
Weight Transfer 4:12

[@Cashvertising]

Now THIS is a great instructor. Instead of just saying what to do and quickly showing it, she repeats each tip several times and shows it from different angles. And she expounds on the points rather than rushing through them. Just knowing your subject doesn't make you an effective teacher. She's great! Thanks for the lesson!

[@senthilnathan4239]

True

[@nunyabiznes32]

@3:16 Finally! Someone actually explaining how to get your skis more parallel, instead of just saying 'put your knees together' like everyone else. Thank you!

[@amoreazione3563]

as a ski instructor, I always look for content enabling me to improve my teachings. This video is of the highest value. thank you!

[@RVDS1996]

Same here!

[@user-ph4gl2dy7g]

I paid $275 for one day lesson and this is exactly the things that we were being taught and that we drilled on all day. Fabulous video, thank you!!

[@showze21]

its good, easy to see, the best close ups, ever. especially the close ups about releasing the edge, then paralleling the skis

[@carrieeldridge3608]

I learned more in this short video than hours of a private lesson I had yesterday in Laax Switzerland. This video just saved me hundreds and maybe my life too. Thank you REI!

[@rei]

That's amazing to hear Carrie! Glad we could help!

[@alexgrazie93]

My huge problem is lots of people on the path, I gain speed I panic, can't stop faster with triangle and also again lots of people and I don't have time to do large steering. Result: I'm falling down to avoid accidents 😅

[@confused_shark2537]

Have you found a way to get around this? I'm new to skiing and I'm having the same problem, lol

[@evanoyler2446]

@@confused_shark2537 My first three days skiing were terrible and I had the same issue. I could only do Z turns and pizza doesn’t actually help when you’re off the bunny slopes. If my skis pointed down the hill I freaked out and threw myself to the ground. On the 4th day, on a very slight decline, I just tried mimicking the smooth side to side C turns that everyone else was doing, and it suddenly clicked. It’s as simple as shifting weight from one foot to the other. Leaning on this foot will turn you this way, leaning on the other foot will turn you that way. As you complete one C turn, your skis carve into the snow and slow you down. At the end of the turn, you shift your weight to your other foot, and your skis carve into the snow and slow you down again. Rinse and repeat!

[@sue8412]

@@confused_shark2537 unrelated to skill, but if you can, try and find a resort with fewer people/beginner-oriented and go during off days/hours. You don’t need to go to the best/popular resorts if you’re just learning, it’s better to have enough room to practice.

[@mislavsprajc669]

the single best video for beginner skiers on youtube.

[@ryandavis1244]

Robin is awesome! Thank you!

[@xjackx4130]

Best video to understand parallel ski. Thanks a lot.

[@hamidbazmi7948]

That is the best explanation I have seen. I will use it next week. Thanks

[@derekstewart9236]

So simply explained. We’re taking a friend this year who is almost out of the wedge/pizza. Will send this to her, she can no doubt pick bits of it to help improve. Best video I’ve seen in terms of simple to understand for a beginner. I have skid so long I don’t have the words and never try to teach. Thank you

[@bawrenches]

I’m on deployment in Norway and just went skiing for the first time. Thanks for the tips, I had so much fun and going again tomorrow!

[@LCarefortheworld]

She is the best explaining how to parallel ski after watching many videos. thank you!

[@rei]

She truly is, thank you for watching!

[@MTLGSE]

This is exactly the video I was looking for. Fantastic. Thank you Robin.

[@milanbogdanovic6120]

Superb video demonstration. Best I've seen yet by a long shot regarding how to make parallel turns. Thank you!

[@brandtcarroll9316]

Thank you! This was so precise in the instructions.

[@hhiikkii]

I wanted to improve my ski and came to this video. This video is so easy to understand! Thanks 🎉

[@stephenkennedy3145]

Awesome you kept it simple and easy to understand.thanks for sharing

[@ankit14121991]

I saw a lot of videos which showed super complicated ways and used complex terminologies. After looking at this video, I found out the technique is much simpler. Thank you so much, I'm gonna try this tomorrow😄

[@mrspock312]

Very helpful from what I have learned so far only wedge skiing.

[@Autumnhasmysoul]

thank you, this video was very helpful!

[@PompeyBoy66]

Great lesson. One of the best I've seen.

[@lebalck]

Great help. Thank you!

[@nutt.rangsiman]

Thanks for a wonderful video. Your techniques help me improve my skiing skill a lot. “Release the edge, ski gets flat, steer the ski”.

[@brentturner7232]

Good video. Easy to understand.

[@JohnnyK1]

Awesome video! Very clean and simple instructions. And it's time to practice them!

[@mookalahtay]

Thanks Girl! I’m at the slopes now 😎, let me hit these bunnies ! 🐰 awesome videos

[@electricbadgercollc8146]

great video, thank you.

[@elmoreglidingclub3030]

Nice job!!

[@ashleel.a]

thank you so so so much for making this video! so many other videos are just "make your skis parallel then boom" you actually showed how skiing can improve when i do that like not getting my ski caught on snow and the step by step on how to make it easier to make parallel skis thank you!!!!

[@rei]

You're welcome! We're so happy to know it helped you.

[@ThisKan]

What a great instructor 🎉

[@OneCuriousMaker]

This is the most helpful video I could find that is super clear and easy to follow. Used this to teach my two kids from wedge to parallel in two days! Thanks for the amazing content, really appreciated.

[@williampegram]

Great video, great instructor.

[@janechiappinelli]

This is good thanks

[@franp3436]

Excellent guide.

[@rei]

You're welcome! Happy skiing.

[@AgustinCabra]

Thank you so much!!

[@senthilnathan4239]

I showed this video to my daughter and she so well when she tried green.If I explained to her she would’ve understood nothing😂.Thank You!

[@rimitrebowski5820]

nice video!

[@xijessieli8578]

Thank you for the tips!!!

[@rei]

Thanks for watching! We're glad you found the video helpful. ⛷️

[@eptcontent1131]

Thank you 😀

[@jasparadiso]

We making it out the greens with this one 🎉🎉🎉

[@casscassy9174]

Thanks for these awesome tips 🙌🙌

[@oakland439]

super helpful video!

[@rei]

Happy to hear you found it useful! 👍

[@stevenbudnick1252]

PSIA Instructor ! They train, train, train !

[@ionmacbookpro]

👍 best

[@ShottaSmith33]

I really hope i can get it today after watching this video. Gonna be my 5th tim skiing within a 4 year gap and ive never been able to make a proper parallel turn

[@rei]

We're cheering for you. Good luck!

[@ShottaSmith33]

@@rei thank you!

[@bikedude019]

In weight transfer segment @4:18, the “A-Frame” knee position is a obvious, to correct it move the outside knee away from the inside. It can be practice with a string or a elastic band between the knees by keeping it tight while turning.

[@oldchannelidk5992]

This was so inforrmative! I was starting learn how to parrel ski because when i turn by skis are straight when i go down the hill and when i turn I jump turn because i cant parrel ski.

[@rei]

Thanks for watching!

[@Gio-ue8ps]

😍😍😍 robin

[@ryank7889]

Great video. Where is this?

[@yushuzhang1187]

thank you!

[@bloosnail]

Great video. But, are you doing carved turns instead of skidded turns in most of the footage? Thanks.

[@ardenpowers7730]

Great advice . . . but watch out for "A" framing (4:20) Great demo of weight transfer and active steering ! Thanks for sharing !

[@cerenademe9433]

Can you explain what you mean by "A framing"?

[@ardenpowers7730]

@@cerenademe9433 At minute (4.20) you can see that the lower legs are somewhat convergent at the knee and not quite parallel. If pronounced enough, this will lead to off tracking ( both Skis not quite completing the same tasks during the parallel turn ) For example, one ski (outside) would be on a higher edge than the other . . . and in extreme cases, the inside (uphill ) Ski could be noticeably flatter than the outside (downhill ) Ski. This will lead to control issues . . .

[@cerenademe9433]

@@ardenpowers7730 Gotcha - thanks!

[@ardenpowers7730]

@@cerenademe9433 You're welcome :)

[@donaldfiesta8666]

Amazing how the look of "parallel " skiing has changed over the years.

[@obscurity87]

Would love to know what you mean by that

[@SasukeUchihaSHORTS]

Used to think skiing was scary but now, its just easy as hell

[@baskets8429]

👍

[@aaronlowry3954]

I going to West Virginia tomorrow period

[@neinsager3236]

As a beginner I have that problem with the uphill ski being stuck when I am engaging a turn in a wedge.

[@jonathanasdell9310]

Thanks for the video! Had my first day skiiing today, didn't do more than the bunny hill but my legs are wiped. Does that get better with time as you ski more? probably doesn't help that I have some hip mobility issues :(

[@valharris6710]

Yes, it for sure gets better. Your legs are wiped because your body is overcompensating for the work that the skis and boots are designed to do. Once you ski a couple more times the 'fear factor' will subside and you'll relax into the motion and you'll feel much less tight and fatigued in your legs. I'm just learning myself, but already notice the difference after just 5 or 6 times.

[@thaothach1]

I notice im able to do more and more runs each time i ski, considering that im getting better and better each time!! Also, im noticing my boots are makes a huge difference cause you gotta break them in and adjust them to your liking.

[@brenster21]

Another thing that I slowly realized over the years is that the more your thigs hurt the more your leaning back.

[@bonker27125]

thanks but how you will release the edge ? when your weight is on the downside skii ? i mean to release the edge you have to do movement of upper skii which means pressure will go on that one ? but thats wrong ?

[@connyberg5665]

Tyngden på dalskidan!

[@billraft6864]

Question - on turn weight transfer - how can you keep weight on the outside ski when your upper body is leaning into the hill, past your inside ski?

[@dimilaleas8047]

You don't lean into the hill. You lean away from the hill and over your outside ski

[@maryneufeld9375]

Hi great video and instruction.but i cant see everything with the writing across the screen. How do i get rid of that pls?

[@leahblazoff3653]

do you have closed captioning on?

[@yifanyang806]

Wow, this is a really long ski compare to your height. I personally find it really hard to turn on skis longer than my height.

[@brianoconnor3407]

No problems here with longer skis, but these are too long, too wide and poor turning radius for this level of instruction. Yifan, you are obviously a newer skier. Once you learn how to ski, you will understand how to vary your technique for a longer ski.

[@ghostlyinstincts]

twintip skis should be about 10cm shorter than your height

[@inaflashlaser]

She's a pro :)

[@abcd-hw8io]

As a beginner, I used skis that are shorter than the the suggested.

[@xenocx1092]

I can basicly parallel ski when I rerun right but liek my legs are so wide apart when I’m going straight too

[@serikandiku]

3:12 is most important for me.. always get caught

[@jieshen3098]

4:45 4:46

[@davidn.2555]

How do we control speed and weight balance?

[@jashayou]

Simply put, if you continue to turn until you're pointing uphill you will stop. At some point you will be going slow enough to turn your skis back down the hill, which will increase your speed. But as you continue the turn across then hill - then slightly up hill again you will slow down again. --- so, faster, faster, faster, slower, slower, slower throughout the turn as you go more downhill then across and up the hill. .... all of this is done in a balanced stance which changes as your speed and the shape of the hill changes.

[@davidn.2555]

@@jashayou Thanks! I'll continue my practice this ski season

[@JackBosphorus]

Can I make it after 60? I am so scared to fall down..

[@lukejordy]

Yes! Just start small and work at your own pace. Don't take too big of bites.

[@JackBosphorus]

I will..thanks 😊🙏

[@ardenpowers7730]

@@JackBosphorus I have instructed many new Skiers over 70 !

[@kevincrosby1917]

You can do it, just take your time. I started at 49 and have been going every year for the last 7 in a row. Keep up your cardio and strength conditioning it helps alot when you go skiing. I love it. Our family motto "Ski For Life" ! Have fun.

[@JackBosphorus]

@@kevincrosby1917 Thanks for your encouragement!🙏😊

[@jacksocoolbro1303]

B

[@amundekroll7490]

And if you have not gotten your boots align after this video, you are still 40 years behind the equipment curve.

[@amundekroll7490]

I thought that transferring weight was out the window 50 years ago.And even PSIA try to avoid using that word.

[@danielenyel3542]

Why I watch this tutorial , my home place doesn't have snow in it and I am also not rich to go to ski resort

[@thatguy6054]

We all like to dream about going places and doing things that are new and exciting. Starting with a dream is the first step in making it a reality.

[@-..._._-.]

But..... the person in the thumbnail is doing an A lol

[@rebelsportsholidayinn6321]

Lilting voice is maddening and dead end instruction.

[@asianerED]

My mom making me watch boring

[@brettyounger6571]

Hope you have fun on the mountains

[@jackz4983]

Lot of incorrect info

[@boudibla4011]

who speaks like that?

[@JB91710]

This couldn't be more wrong! I'm not going to waste my time correcting it as it is backwards at best. I had to come back. This is not even close to how to teach skiing.

[@guigui5757]

Your channel is trash.

[@sachinparyani8544]

You are trash if you think this wrong

[@rene3339]

I just check one of your video following the comments you posted. Take it for granted, I won't subscribe to your channel for obvious technical matter.

[@kevincrosby1917]

Why? Seems to make sense to me. But, I can't seem to figure out how to move to this level with my skiing. This vid seems helpful. I will try it tomorrow on the green and blues here at BC. What would you recommend instead? Thanks.

[@JB91710]

@@guigui5757 And yet you couldn't explain why it is trash. I guess that takes the ability to Think rather than just React.

[@MarcoGalliani-tf7qh]

I’m on deployment in Norway and just went skiing for the first time. Thanks for the tips, I had so much fun and going again tomorrow!