Pick a fairly steep slope and start the stem christie in a traverse that points more down the slope than across the slope so that you'll pick up a little speed. You need some speed to take advantage of momentum and gravity to make your skis react properly against the snow in the turn. This is the way it goes:

Moving right along in the traverse, stem your uphill ski briefly, accompanied by a slight sinking of your body. With a smooth up-and-forward motion, transfer your weight to the stemmed (outside) ski and immediately bring the unweighted (inside) ski parallel and slightly ahead of the ski your weight is on. As you begin the christie phase of the turn, combine angulation with a gradual sinking motion in your knees. When you have completed the turn, rise to a new traverse. So here's the four steps again (all flowing smoothly together):

1. Sink and stem the uphill ski
2. Up-unweight to transfer your weight to the outside ski and bring the inside ski parallel
3. Gradually sink forward, keeping your weight on the outside ski throughout the arc of the turn
4. Rise to a new traverse.

If you have acquired a good stem christie and if you have practiced closing your skis well before the fall line after a very brief, small stem, then the parallel christie is going to be easy to learn.

Prepare for the parallel christie with a pronounced down-motion. This is followed by an up-and-forward catlike spring to unweight. It enables you, at this unweighted moment, to start the skis turning in a new direction. Immediately transfer your weight to the outside ski. As your parallel christie continues, gradually employ a sinking motion combined with angulation of your body and forward pressure of your knees. These control the arc of the turn and establish your new direction as you rise to a new traverse.

Word on Bumps

Don't ski around every little bump in the slope, as most skiers do. When you see a nice little bump ahead, turn over the top. Only the middle of your skis should be in contact with the snow as you are right on top of the bump. At that exact moment the skis are easy to turn. Let your skis sink down across the downhill face of the bump to carve your turn. Plant your poles right on top of the bump, and use them again as you start another turn farther down the hill.