parallel turn help/

I have a problem when doing a right parallel turn, the left turn is easy no problem, when doing the right turn the left ski turns fine but the right ski refuses to follow.

Been told to practice, been practicing for three years

Any suggestion? Please.

Do you mean the right ski stems (wedges) when you turn right? That may be caused by a difference in the way you move forward to start the right turn. Or it may be a canting issue - does it feel like the ski tail gets stuck?

Have you had lessons?

Probe, have your alignment checked by a boot fitter. You may need a tiny wedge in 1 boot, to help you unweight the ski on that side. 3 years is way too long, it's not you!

Probe wrote:I have a problem when doing a right parallel turn, the left turn is easy no problem, when doing the right turn the left ski turns fine but the right ski refuses to follow.

Been told to practice, been practicing for three years

Any suggestion? Please.

No the ski just continues and so I end up with crossed skis, have to force the ski to turn or take some weight off the ski so it turns, but doing this I sometimes loose balance and fall.

Had a instructor today who thinks that my left turn is perfect on my right turn I do not lean into the mountain enough once I made the turn. but as I pointed out the problem starts when I ask the skis to change direction

I will try hiring some different skis tomorrow.

I will try the boot fitter too

This may or may not help directly, but it may give you a better idea of what may be happening. It very much sounds like your right skis is on it's inside edge. When a ski is tipped on edge and some weight is put on it, it will want to turn to the edged side. This likely why it wants to go straight when you try to turn right. To allow it to turn to the right, the ski must either be flat, or have no weight on it. My guess is that you may not have enough speed to balance on the outside ski (which is why you feel unstable when you try taking all the weight off the right ski), so then you need to flatten that ski. This can be done by rolling your right knee outwards in the direction of the turn. Be careful not to lean into the turn to accomplish the knee roll as that would move all your weight on the right ski at a time when you want the pressure to be on the left (outside) ski.

Try it statically first. Standing with a very slight wedge, notice how both skis are on the inside edges slightly. Now (without leaning to that side) roll a knee to flatten that ski. Try some slow easy turns just using the knee roll to flatten the inside ski at the start of the turn. Ignore the outside ski, as it pretty much takes care of it's self.

Hi Probe, welcome to J2ski.

A change of skis might help a little, although taking cognisance of the 3 year trial, this is like to have a limited effect. Slightly shorter and softer skis may help.

Here is a self-analysis and learning drill:
Stand, facing directly downhill on a slope which feel comfortable on ~ preferably on a Tbar or short chairlift run, where you can carry out repeat drills on same steepness and conditions.

Let the skis run freely down the fall line, and when you are at turning speed, initiate a left turn exactly as you would normally do. Your instructor has already identified this direction turn is proficient.

Your left hip should be forwards and inwards, knees and weight forwards, and keep facing down the hill. You know you can do this, but do it 4 or 5 times, each time thinking about what you are doing, how it feels.

Then start again, facing down the hill, let the skis run, and initiate a right turn. This time, think about what you are doing that feels different from a LH turn. It will be something specific. One common issue is not pushing the hip as far forward or inward, as you do on your good side, but it could be something else.

Your objective is to get your turn actions to emulate those of your good direction, and this drill reduces and removes extraneous influences.

If you make progress and identify what you want to change, then change the drill slightly so that you cross the fall line. Build this up until the turn directions are equal.

Are you by any chance, left-handed?

Been meaning to post and say ta for advice given. After a couple more days of frustration I once again hired an instructor. A very attractive Italian lady in her 30s and although she identified my problem I had a different one, that of concentration :)

Actually she told me that when I was turning right I was slightly leaning off on my right boot.

Late Friday I skied down a 3km blue run and it was sooo easier then before.

Desperately looking for a way of going skiing for a long weekend someplace.