Stem (skiing)

The stem technique in skiing is a method for turning the skier. It is usually credited to Mathias Zdarsky, from Austria, who invented it in the 1890s. Its variations gradually replaced the telemark technique in Alpine skiing.

The technique involves stemming the uphill ski. "Stemming" is pushing the tail of the ski outward—skidding it across snow—from a parallel position with the downhill ski to form a V shape, where the tips of the skis are close together and the tails far apart. Initially the stemming ski has relatively little pressure applied—much less than half the skier's weight. After the ski is stemmed, most of the skiers weight is then transferred to it in order to initiate a change in direction.

tem variants

The three variations of the stem turn are:
* The "Snowplough" - (also known as the "wedge") - see snowplough turn
* The Snowplough turn - (also known as the "wedge turn" or "stem turn")
* The Stem Christie

The three variants together formed the basis of the Austrian Arlberg Technique and instruction system developed by Johannes Schneider.

ee also

*Parallel turn - more advanced
*Skiing

References