When skiing, you have nothing to worry about if you can stop, and the basic tool for stopping is the snowplow and a platform from which all your skiing skills can develop. To master the snowplow, you need to choose an open, gently slope. By practicing on this easy slope you can establish a better understanding of how skis behave. To start practicing, find a nice flat spot and point your skis in the direction down the slope of a hill (the fall line). Stand comfortably, with your feet apart about the width of your hips. Drop your hands and slowly bring them up so you can just see them in the bottom of your vision. Gently push (or step) the heels of your skis out, so that the tails are wide apart. Rest the weight of your body, through your legs, on the inside of the skis. Once your skis are apart, don't push down hard on the skis - your body, from the waist up, provides enough weight or pressure to control the skis. The exact width of the skis is not important, as long as you feel comfortable, and you feel you could always push them wider apart if necessary. Relax in this position - look up around you and enjoy the view. Now push yourself foreword using your poles. You should slide foreword in the direction of the fall line. As you start to slide down the slope, rock backwards and foreword gently until you find the most comfortable position, still keeping your weight equal on both skis. This is your ideal snowplow position.

Once you have the hang of it, practice stopping at predetermined imaginary targets in the snow. If your ski tips cross, that means you're trying too hard and pushing your knees together too much. Just relax your legs and be a bit more patient. Try to find a longer slope so you can bring rhythm into how frequent you snowplow. Practice until you are confident in your abilities.

The basic snowplow is the platform from which all skiing can develop. Practice this maneuver on easy terrain until you feel comfortable and can stop well.

---