Stem Christie
You'll unlock a more dynamic, flowing turn style that feels halfway to full parallel and builds your confidence for the next step.
Stepping the uphill ski tail out into a V-shape to initiate a turn before bringing the skis back together — the classic bridge between wedge and parallel skiing.
Watch & Learn
Not clicking? Try a different teaching style below:
Key Moments
Step the uphill ski tail out to form a V at the start of each turn
Shift weight onto the stemmed ski to commit to the new direction
Draw the lower ski parallel once you are past the fall line
Reduce the size of the stem each run as confidence builds
What It Should Feel Like
- ✓A deliberate step out with the uphill ski like opening a door with your foot
- ✓Weight committing to the new ski with a satisfying shift across the fall line
- ✓The skis snapping together at the end of each turn as momentum does the work
Common Mistakes & Fixes
Stemming too late in the turn
Push the uphill ski out before you reach the fall line — start the stem earlier
Not closing the skis after the stem
Actively draw the lower ski to match — practice the close deliberately each turn
Leaning back during the stem
Stay centered over the balls of your feet throughout the turn initiation
Practice Drills
Stem and pause: perform the stem, pause for two seconds with weight on the new ski, then close — slows down the movement for analysis
Mirror the tracks: look back after a run and count how many turns show a clean stem-then-close pattern versus a dragged wedge
Shrink the stem: on each consecutive run, consciously try to use a smaller stem — aim to halve it by the third run