J-turns are turning from a gliding wedge going straight down the hill to perpendicular to the fall line. If we traced out the path that the skis make, it would look like the letter J. A J-turn starts out in a gliding wedge, then to turn we apply pressure to the opposite ski, this engages the inside edge of that ski which is pointed in the direction we want to turn. We must also use some rotation of the skis during the maneuver. Now we should be able to turn away from the fall line. Other things we should do during a J-turn:
- Look in the intended direction of travel.
- Maintain a quiet upper body, turning with the feet and legs. Depending on your students’ Developmental Stage, teach the concept of outside and inside ski of a turn. It may be beneficial to work on a turn in one direction to a stop, or make very small turns in both directions, barely leaving the fall line. Turning the feet and legs while keeping the upper body facing the direction of travel (down the hill) introduces the sensations of “separation” between upper and lower body, and promotes the rotational action in the feet and legs to control the direction the skis point. Emphasizing the subtle shift of balance and pressure to the outside ski introduces inclination and moving the center of mass to the inside of the turn.
Example J-Turn Lesson
Assessment:
- Student should be able to move between wedge and straight while moving and maintaining proper form
- Should be able to evenly increase and decrease pressure across both skis while in a wedge
Goals:
- Learn how to differentially pressure skis and rotate legs in order to create a turning motion
- Form a straight run across the fall line to the left and right
Information:
- A J-turn is when a student, starting from the fall line, turns to the left or right essentially making a “J” shape. The J turn is achieved by making a wedge and then increasing the amount of pressure on the outside foot and rotating the feet in the direction of the turn
- have the student statically practice pressuring individual skis on flat ground. One good way to do this is to have your students imagine there is a button on the knee of their outside ski that they have to push on really hard in order to turn
Practice:
- Obstacle course, throw a snowball, Press the button (as usual GET CREATIVE!)
Understanding:
- Student may not be able to pressure the outside ski which will prevent them from being able to turn
- Student may not be able to steer the ski into the turn
- Student may be backseat
Feedback:
- to fix pressure issues and steering issues have the student practice increasing pressure on one foot until they can stand on one foot.
- Have the student practice pressure by shifting weight from one foot to the other in a straight run.
- Practice some more braking wedges and wedge change ups as these both contain the basic movements of the J-turn. — Techno Jargon: The fundamental skill to execute a J-turn is dynamic pressure and rotation management. The turn is initiated by increasing pressure on the outside of ski of the turn which then causes the ski to flex into an arc in the snow and turn. Additionally, the skier rotates their feet across the hill and in the direction of the turn.