Retraction Turns
Your turn transitions will go from clunky weight-shifts to silky, athletic flows — a noticeable leap in the quality of your skiing.
Initiating turns by actively pulling the feet up and retracting the legs rather than extending them — the technique that makes high-speed carved transitions effortless.
Watch & Learn
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Key Moments
Most skiers extend up to initiate — retraction pulls the feet up instead, keeping the body low and stable
At the end of the arc, retract both knees toward your chest — the skis unweight and switch edges naturally
Unlike extension turns, your head and hips barely rise — only the legs move up and down
Retraction turns shine at race pace — the low stable body position handles G-forces far better
What It Should Feel Like
- ✓Like pulling your knees up at the transition rather than pushing your body up
- ✓Your core working to hold the body steady while the legs do all the moving
- ✓A flowing, liquid quality to the transitions that extension turns cannot match
Common Mistakes & Fixes
Still extending up out of habit
Film yourself and watch for head bobbing at each transition — bobbing means extension, not retraction
Retracting too late — after the arc is complete
Start pulling the feet up just before the fall line — the retraction triggers the transition
Collapsing the core when retracting
Keep your core firm and torso tall — only the legs move, the trunk is rigid
Practice Drills
Flat-ski retraction drill: on a gentle slope, just pull both feet up rhythmically while skiing straight — feels odd but builds the physical awareness
Retraction to stop: ski at medium speed, retract both legs fully and hold the position until you slow — proves you can control the unweighted moment
Slow-motion video: record yourself at 120fps and watch the transitions — retraction turns show almost no vertical head movement between arcs