How to Stop on Skis

Stopping while skiing is an essential skill. Different types of terrain require different ways to stop. In the beginner section we covered the snowplow, or wedge, which is a good stance for beginners on gentle slopes. A more advanced skier on a steeper slope and in a different stance will need another way to stop.

Traverse with your skis apart across an intermediate slope so you have some speed. When you'd like to stop, set you skis on edge by rolling your feet and ankles uphill. Your edges will grip the snow.

You can begin again. Just release the grip of your edges by rolling them back to their original traverse position and traverse again. Try stopping again once you have some momentum. Notice how the skis react and how the edges feel when you roll your feet and ankles.

Tip: Keep your edges sharp. Setting your edge is much more effective when they are sharp. You'll appreciate a sharp edge on a icy day.

As the name implies, the hockey player stops by keeping his feet parallel and twists his lower body 90 degrees and sets the edges of his skate blade into the ice. Although terrain may differ, the hockey stop is the most efficient way to stop when skiing fast. It gives the most possible resistance. On slower runs other maneuvers may work just fine.

To do the hockey stop maneuver on skis, start on an open intermediate trail with some space, steep enough to get some momentum but not too steep. Think of whether you want to turn your skis to the right or to the left. Point your skis straight down the hill and let em' rip. When you’re ready to stop, quickly turn your skis 90 degrees simultaneously with your ankles knees and hips against the upper body which should remain facing the fall line. Put pressure on the uphill edges of your skis by tilting into the hillside. The goal in a hockey stop is to stop while maintaining balance and weight over the downhill ski.