The invention of the Parallel turn in skiing is credited to Austrian Toni Seelos in the 1930s.

The technique involves setting the uphill ski so it runs along its big-toe edge, and applying pressure to it. Because of the way skis are shaped (narrower under the foot) the ski will turn (to the left if the pressure is to the right ski, to the right if the pressure is on the left). As the turn progresses the two skis remain parallel, and the second ski also starts to run along the inner (little-toe) edge.

The turn can only be made if travelling at some speed, since the speed of the skier generates the pressure needed to turn the skis properly as the skier banks into the turn.

Turning the ski using a parallel turn without skidding is known as carving the ski. In the 1990s ski design developed to make this easier to accomplish.

See Also

• Stem Christie - a simpler, lower speed turn

• Skiing and Skiing Topics