How to Traverse Ski Maneuver

Traverse, what's that? As stated in our glossary to "Traverse" is to ski in a direction across the fall line instead of skiing down the hill. Traversing is useful when you have to cross a ski slope. Traversing is also a good way to control your speed. Acceleration is least when you ski across the fall line.

Before you begin to traverse across a slope, think of the skiers responsibility code and check to make sure that you won’t be skiing into the path of oncoming skiers.

Start by facing across the hill with your skis parallel, standing still in the dynamic position with your knees bent. Shift your weight forward putting pressure on the tongues of your boots. You should feel more weight on the downhill foot.

Your center of mass has to be over your downhill ski so turn your upper body, chest, arms and head downhill so that the uphill hand is directly above the uphill ski.

Roll your ankles and knees into the hillside, causing pressure to be placed on the inside edges of your skis, setting your skis on edge.

Begin gliding across the hill keeping your skis parallel and maintaining the same body and leg position.