THE CHRISTIANIA SWING
A Christiania is any turn in which the outer ski does not lead, and the skis are not held convergently, i.e. the skis may be either parallel or divergent, and either held level or with the inner leading.
This swing is, according to the purpose for which it is used, and the state of the snow, either an extremely difficult or the very easiest way of turning or stopping.
It is easiest on a hard icy crust (not a breakable one) either with or without a shallow covering of loose snow, and therefore for learning it one should find snow of this sort. Most practice-grounds, trodden hard by ski-tracks, are just the thing. The gradient is not so important, for it is quite as easy to learn this swing on a steepish slope as on a moderate one. I have already shown ([p. 138]) how an uphill Christiania may be started from a traverse by side-slipping, and also how a stemming turn may be finished as a Christiania ([p. 143]). The following method is more generally useful, and a steadier way of making the swing at a high speed.
Uphill Turn to the Right.—In the normal position, run across the slope at a gentle gradient with the hill on your right, your weight on the left ski, the right ski about a foot in advance.
Fig. 38.—Uphill Christiania swing to right (a from a traverse, b from a direct descent.)