Snowplough turn
{{Short description|Downhill skiing technique}}
Image:Skiplough-wedge-portrait.jpg
{{Ski-technique}}
The snowplough turn, snowplow turn, or wedge turn{{cite web|last=PSIA Standards Committee|date=June 2014|title=Cross Country Certification Standards 2014|url=https://www.psia-nw.org/wp-content/uploads/PSIA_XC_Standards-2014_FINAL.pdf|publisher=Professional Ski Instructors of America|authorlink=|accessdate=2014-10-22}} is a downhill skiing braking and turning technique. It is the first turn taught to beginners,{{Cite book|last=Sailer|first=Toni|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BlA-khTf044C&q=snowplough+turn|title=Junior Ski School|date=1987|publisher=J. Wotton|isbn=978-0-9512768-0-8|pages=44–6|language=en}} but still is useful to advanced skiers on steep slopes.
Technique
The front ski tips of the skis are together and the tails wide apart, with the knees rolled inwards slightly. By applying pressure against the snow with the inside edges of the skis speed is reduced, making turning in such a configuration and stopping completely possible. To turn, weight is shifted from the downhill, outside-of-the-turn ski to the uphill, inside-of-the-turn ski. As the turn is completed, the old uphill, inside ski then becomes the new downhill, outside ski.{{Cite book|last=Mitchell|first=David P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p7r0DwAAQBAJ&q=snowplough+turn&pg=PA30|title=Skiing Made Easy: Complete beginner to parallel turns|date=2018-07-19|publisher=|pages=30|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M_RB9NtETNoC&q=snowplow+turn&pg=PA50|title=Boys' Life|date=February 1967|publisher=Boy Scouts of America, Inc.|pages=50|language=en}}{{Cite book|last1=Heller|first1=Mark F.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=klI9AAAAMAAJ&q=snowplough+turn|title=The Complete Skiing Handbook|last2=Godlington|first2=Douglas|date=1979|publisher=Mayflower Books|isbn=978-0-8317-1670-7|pages=76–80|language=en}} Successful completion of the technique in both directions leads to linked turns.{{Cite book|last1=Iselin|first1=Fred|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xsrHsyaKpxUC&q=snowplow+turn|title=Invitation to Modern Skiing|last2=Spectorsky|first2=I. A.|date=1971-10-15|publisher=Touchstone|isbn=978-0-671-21046-5|pages=61, 78, 81|language=en}}
Applications
In ski instruction, the snowplough is a primary building block of skiing proficiency. Under the Arlberg technique for teaching skiing, beginners start with the snowplough then proceed to Stem Christie and then the parallel turn as their skills improve.{{Cite book|last=Wickham|first=Kenneth G.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-GdALrXB98QC&q=snowplow+turn&pg=PA87|title=Basic Cold Weather Manual|date=1968|publisher=United States Army|pages=87–89|language=en}} It may be thought of as the foundation for controlling individual skis.{{Cite book|last=Struthers|first=Cathy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AjwMdZNC_lQC&q=snowplough+turn&pg=PA99|title=Skiing and Snowboarding: 52 brilliant ideas for fun on the slopes|date=2005-12-23|publisher=Infinite Ideas|isbn=978-1-908189-67-7|pages=99–101|language=en}} A ski coach can analyze the underlying abilities of expert skiers by watching them do a snowplow.{{Cite book|last=Witherell|first=Warren|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eaxNpNshiycC&q=snowplow+turn&pg=PA116|title=How the Racers Ski|date=1988|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company|isbn=978-0-393-30344-5|pages=114–8|language=en}} Proficient skiers may apply the technique with a narrower angle between the skis as a "wedge turn".{{Cite book|last=Warren|first=Jerry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=czPnSMLGmF8C&q=wedge+turn&pg=PA61|title=Put the Pressure|date=February 1979|publisher=Ski Magazine|pages=61|language=en}}
In ski mountaineering, the snowplough is recognized as an important way to come to a complete stop on steep slopes.{{Cite book|last=Wright|first=Jerimiah Ernest Bamford|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XZsuAQAAIAAJ&q=snowplough+turn|title=The Technique of Mountaineering: A Handbook of Established Methods|date=1958|publisher=Mountaineering Association|pages=142|language=en}} On steep slopes, a wedge turn can also provide a safe way to transition through the fall-line.{{Cite book|last=Lund|first=Morten|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-HCBlUw6EMC&q=wedge+turn&pg=PA60|title=Five Mistakes that Keep You from Enjoying Steep Slopes|date=January 1975|publisher=Ski Magazine|pages=58–62|language=en}}