Shaped skis are wider at the tip and tail than conventional skis making them easier to turn at low speeds. They are also a delight in powder skiing since flotation of the ski is achieved at a lower speed. The photograph below shows a comparison of a shaped ski (bottom ski) to that of a conventional ski (top). As can be seen the front or shovel of the ski is about 20% wider making the ski easier to turn at low speeds by merely edging the ski.

In order to turn on a shaped ski the skier must roll the skis in the direction of the new turn. Little unweighting or forward leverage is required. As shown in the photographic sequence above, the skier on the left has rolled the skis to her left and is performing a left turn. The center image is the neutral or straight run position. The skier on the right has rolled her skis to her right performing a right turn. There are many other descriptions of the rolling of the skis movement such as tipping the body in the direction of the turn or moving the knees in the direction of the turn.

The image above shows how the skis, when placed on edge, form an arc that turns the skis

The image above shows angulation of the knees and hips and some inclination of the body which edges the skis. Edging of the skis is the key to the characteristic ease of turning found with shaped skis.


As shown above in motion, a skier rolls the shaped skis on edge, resulting in a controlled carved turn with little effort.



To facilitate the turn, raising the inside ski at initiation forces all the body weight to the outside ski which engages it in the snow early in the turn.

Video snow ski wedge to parallel turn lesson with normal speed and slow motion

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