First reduce the speed by a vigorous “stem,” taking care not to turn up-hill in so doing. Then, keeping both ski rigidly flat and holding the heels far apart and the points of the ski close together, turn the body down-hill. Lean forward, and throw all the weight on to the outside (lower) ski.
You will then, if you have followed these directions in every particular, come round with a delightful swish and find yourself starting off comfortably in the other direction.
Change the stick to the other side of the body when about half round, because at that instant one is almost stationary for half a second or so.
The more one pulls the heels apart the shorter and neater the curve will be.
If success does not follow, it is due to some mistake, such as not leaning forward (one will then sit down), or edging the ski (they catch in the snow and overthrow the runner), or not tearing the heels sufficiently apart and throwing the weight on to the lower ski (which causes one to go off at a tangent instead of completing the arc).
The words of command for the curve are, then: Lean forward! Ski flat! Heels apart! Weight on the lower ski!
The diagrams pp. 73 and 75 should be of assistance in enabling the beginner to understand what is meant. On a really steep hill it requires a considerable amount of nerve to make up one’s mind to plunge for an instant headlong downwards. One’s natural inclination is to hang back and lean inwards, but this is precisely what one must not do.
The stick will be found to be of considerable assistance in making this curve, a little touch with it in the snow just as one is coming round being a great help to the balance. When shifting it across as above described, hold it rather short and place it in the snow well in front of you. This will assist you in leaning forward. Do not, however, attempt to spin round leaning on it; to do so throws the weight inside, which is quite fatal. It is, of course, perfectly possible to make the turn without a stick at all, but to do so is difficult on very steep ground. Practise on a moderate slope to begin with; when you become proficient move on to steeper and yet steeper places; but, of course, look out for avalanches!
Fig. 25.—Positions 1-5 arranged on a curve. It must, however, be remembered that in nature the movements follow so closely that the ski on the drawing would have to overlap. The sweep of a well-made curve clears a semi-lunar space with a wall of snow at its lower rim.