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Last Updated25 April 2024
Turn descriptions, intentions and phases covers ways that a turn can be described and thought about in order to be more accurate when describing and identifying where and when something happens. Learn the different ways that you can describe turns, from a simple “beginning-middle-end”, to more detailed ways to describe the ideal ski and body performances, in relation to the skier’s goals in each phase of the turn.

DIRRT & Turn Phases

The duration, intensity, rate, range and timing of each turn phase will change depending on the skill level of the skier, the terrain the skier is on, the speed they are travelling, the snow they are skiing, and the intention of the skier. This will result in the location of each phase of the turn varying throughout the skier’s pathway from beginner to expert.

Wedge Turns

In a wedge turn the release and create phase blend together for a long duration as the skier travels into the new turn. The create phase will then start as the skier moves above the fall line, then the control phase will start in the middle of the turn and carry on until the skier has turned across the fall line. The release phase of a wedge turn will start once the skier has created adequate speed control turning away from the fall line.

Analysis Tip
The tracks a skier leaves behind in the snow are a great depiction of what type of ski performance that skier was able to achieve, while also highlighting the shape and size of the turn. In a wedge turn the tracks should be steered from start to finish with a visible wide track due to the wider stance. The size of the corridor should suit the beginner terrain available, and the shape should be round.

Wedge to Parallel Turns

In a wedge to parallel, the create phase of the turn starts as the skier steers the outside ski at a faster rate than the inside ski; this creates the wedge at the beginning of the turn. The create phase lasts until just above the fall line where the skier has created sufficient grip and balance on the outside ski to begin the control phase. The release phase of a wedge to parallel turn will start and end quickly due to the slow nature of creating the wedge all the way until just above the fall line.

Analysis Tip
The tracks a skier leaves behind in the snow are a great depiction of what type of ski performance that skier was able to achieve, while also highlighting the shape and size of the turn. In a wedge to parallel turn the outside ski track should be a wider steered track until the wedge is created, then the inside ski should become a wider steered track as the skis match to parallel. The size of the corridor can be 3/4 groomers wide and the shape should be round.

Basic Parallel Turns

In a basic parallel turn the create phase will start right at the beginning of the turn. The create phase will last until above the fall line, at which point the control phase will start and take the skier across the fall line through a round shape. The release phase of the turn lengthens from a wedge to parallel to facilitate the weight shift from foot to foot before the start of the new turn.

Analysis Tip
The tracks a skier leaves behind in the snow are a great depiction of what type of ski performance that skier was able to achieve, while also highlighting the shape and size of the turn. In a basic parallel turn the track should be steered from start to finish and there should be evidence of two tracks, highlighting both skis being used to grip and steer from below the fall line. The size of the corridor can be 3/4 groomer widths wide and the shape of the turn should be round.

Short Turns

In a short turn, the create, control and release phases are similar in length. The location of the phases is similar to the geometric locations diagram, as each phase of the turn should share a third of the arc.

Analysis Tip
The tracks a skier leaves behind in the snow are a great depiction of what type of ski performance that skier was able to achieve, while also highlighting the shape and size of the turn. In a short turn there should be two tracks noticeable in the snow that show both skis gripping and steering from the beginning of the turn. At the end of the control phase these tracks will become clean carved tracks in the snow. The size of the corridor can be 1/2 groomer widths wide, and the shape of the turn should be round.

Dynamic Medium Radius

In a dynamic medium turn the create phase is the shortest phase due to the high speed of travel and great force acting on the skier as they transition. The control phase will start from higher in the turn and last until after the fall line and speed is controlled. The release phase will be the second longest phase in a dynamic medium and last until the skier has accurately released their CoG.

Analysis Tip
The tracks a skier leaves behind in the snow are a great depiction of what type of ski performance that skier was able to achieve, while also highlighting the shape and size of the turn. In a dynamic medium turn the tracks should be two clean lines between 3/4 groomer widths wide and the shape of the turn should be round.