This lesson will improve the finish of your ski turns. Your feet will come closer together, the stance ski (the downhill ski) will carve and grip more, and you’ll be able to ski on steeper terrain or firmer snow without sliding sideways or picking up speed. Starting in a shallow to medium traverse allows you to practice the key movements of a strong turn finish, which you’ll then incorporate into linked turns.

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Above: Overview of parallel, lifted Phantom Move

Above: Free foot actions in parallel, lifted Phantom Move

In ski turns, each of your feet plays a different role. One
foot is the stance foot – you balance primarily on this foot, and it
supports most of your weight. The other foot is the free foot – it
supports very little weight, thus it is light on the snow and you are free
to move it and tip it.

The lightening and tipping of the free foot, called the Phantom
Move, will make the stance ski turn. The Phantom Move, when performed properly,
is smooth, progressive, and barely detectable, hence its name. All the activity
starts with the free foot (for this lesson, the uphill foot). The tipping
of the free foot activates the kinetic chain, up through the pelvis and over
to the stance leg, producing the turning action of the stance ski. Efficiency
and balance are diminished if the actions start higher in the body. Sensations
from the feet tell us how the skis are behaving and how to adjust the feet.
Consequently, focusing on the feet yields precise control.

Preliminary
If you have trouble with this lesson, start with exercise 5.1 in Harald Harb’s
book, Anyone can
be an Expert Skier.

In Brief
On an easy slope that’s well within your comfort range, stand with the
skis pointed across the hill. Aim both skis slightly downhill, parallel, with
the feet at or less than hip width apart, then start to slide across the hill
in a traverse or forward sideslip (look uphill before sliding to avoid oncoming
skiers). From this traverse, pick up the tail of the uphill foot (it becomes
the free foot), tip it strongly toward its little-toe edge, and keep it drawn
in close to the stance foot. Lift the free ski tail just an inch or so off
of the snow; lifting it higher can be awkward. Both skis will arc uphill to
a stop. Be passive with the stance ski.
Practice the parallel, lifted Phantom Move in both directions. Once you can
perform it both ways, perform it again from a steeper initial traverse. When
you’re comfortable with the new movements, link turns on easy terrain
and use a parallel, lifted Phantom Move to finish each turn.

Details
Start Slide forward in a shallow or medium-steep traverse.
Fig. a. Raise the tail of the uphill, free foot (here, skier’s
left) an inch or so from the snow.
Fig. b. Tip the free foot toward the little-toe edge, tipping the entire
ski; keep the ski tail raised (Phantom Move).
Fig. c. Keep the tip of the free ski on the snow while tipping and
drawing the free foot closer to the stance foot.
Fig. d. Press the heel of the free foot against the stance foot while
tipping it.
Fig. e. Reduce the amount of tipping as the skis slowly come to a stop.

Summary
Note the lack of activity in the stance leg. There is no effort of the stance
leg to engage the stance ski, tip it on edge, or twist it. Emphasize the movements
of the free foot and ankle. Balance is easy to maintain because the stance
side of the body is stable and the stance ski is connected to and engaged
in the snow while moving. Now you are carving.