Sideslipping is a controlled way of losing height. Sideslipping consists of letting your skis slip down the fall line, controlling your speed by a careful use of the uphill edges. It introduces the use of parallel skis to brake. You can use sideslipping to get yourself out of difficulty if you ever find yourself somewhere just too steep or too narrow. Never feel embarrassed if you need to sideslip. Even the most advanced skiers fall back on this technique when they run out of space to turn. Sideslipping is an important skill, which will help you when it comes to mastering controlling a skidding ski in a turn.

[Photo: ifyouski.com]

Your ski can slide straight ahead or slip sideways across the snow. Skidding is a combination of sliding and slipping.

Stand with your skis across the fall line in the 'non-slip' position. Hold your downhill pole off the snow.
Release your edges smoothly by standing up and allowing your knees to roll out from the hill. Your skis will begin to slide down the fall line. Keep them pointing across the slope by steering gently with your feet.
To stop, apply your uphill edges by sinking down and rolling your knees back towards the mountain.

EXERCISES

• Descend a moderately steep slope in a series of short sideslips. Start with slow, smooth sideslips and work up to short, fast sideslips with aggressive stops. How quickly can you bring your sideslips to a halt?
• Falling like a leaf (see below): forward and backward diagonal sideslipping. Steer your tips slightly down the fall line with your feet as you sideslip, and you will move forwards. Then steer your tips up the hill and begin to sideslip backwards. This is a good exercise to refine your edge and steering control.

Falling like a leaf: Steer your tips slightly down the fall line to sideslip forwards. Then steer your tips slightly up the fall line to sideslip backwards. Practise falling like a leaf to improve your edge control.

[Diagrams: ifyouski.com]

TIPS

• Sideslipping should be a very controlled move, like letting in the clutch on a car. Take your time and don't do anything sudden. Develop a feel for when your edges are losing their grip and starting to slip.
• Keep the pressure on your downhill ski to ensure a smooth sideslip. Make sure also that your weight is distributed between your heel and the ball of your foot, or you will find it hard to keep your skis across the fall line.
• Staying flexed throughout improves your balance and readiness to react to the terrain.
• Look where you are going, not where your skis are pointing.
• Always keep your skis slightly on their uphill edges. If their downhill edges catch, you will go over. Similarly, if you ski over your poles, it's curtains.