Basic Parallel Turns with a Pole Touch

What

A pole touch is a swing of the pole from the wrist and forearm. The tip of the pole touches the snow downhill from the skier during the release phase of the turn.

Why

Adding the pole touch gives skiers stability and provides rhythm and flow. A well-timed pole touch will also aid the other movements, allowing skiers to adapt their turn shape and attempt more challenging terrain.

How

First, look at how to hold the pole and make a pole swing. Then, develop where the pole touch happens in relation to the skier – always downhill. Develop the timing of when the pole touch happens in relation to the turn the skier is making.

Skills

Situational Understanding

• Maintain a basic parallel speed to allow enough time for the pole swing and touch to take place
• Use blue terrain
• Develop awareness of the timing of the pole swing and pole touch in the turn. The pole swing happens through the control phase of the turn; the pole touch happens in the release phase of the turn
• Having a well-timed and accurate pole swing and touch will allow skiers to explore different, more challenging terrain

Active Stance & Balance

• Use controlled movement of the forearm and wrist to swing the pole
• Stabilise the outside arm once the pole has touched the snow. The skier should ski past the pole touch without dropping the outside arm behind their body
• Maintain a strong hand position with both hands wider than the torso and in front of the belly button

Outside Ski Balance

• Use the timing of the pole touch to begin the weight shift to the new outside ski
• Angulation will develop as the pole swings

Edging

• Use the timing of the pole swing to continue lateral movements of the legs, creating higher edge angles
• Use the timing of the pole touch to flatten the skis

Steering

• Use the timing of the pole touch to unwind the legs and steer them towards the new turn
• Use the timing of the pole swing to continue steering the legs, controlling the size of the turn

Ski Snow Interaction

• Both skis will create matching steering angles from the beginning of the turn. These angles will increase until the middle of the control phase where they will be maintained until the end of the turn
• The edge angle of both skis will increase throughout the turn, and release simultaneously
• The platform angle will reach 90 degrees at the end of the control phase in a parallel turn. This creates more grip and a slight groove for the skis to travel along as they release and helps the skier continue to maintain a parallel relationship with the skis as they start the turn

Terrain

Ideally introduced on blue terrain where the students are comfortable.

Class Handling

It is not uncommon for students to make great developments when you are getting them to think about the positive actions that they are making with their skis and their legs etc and then you add in a pole touch and it all becomes too much. Students will have a “right time” to add in a pole touch; if you start teaching it and then find it complicates things, don’t be afraid to pull away and teach it another day.