Stem Christie
Encyclopedia
The stem Christie is a technique in skiing
for turning. It is a refinement of the basic stem
technique, where prior to the turn the uphill ski is stemmed (tail skidded outward) from being parallel with the downhill ski to form a V shape.
The turn was named after Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway, where the name Kristianiasving was used for the parallel turn, differentiating it from the Telemark turn.
The technique was introduced to central Europe in 1910 by the Austria
n ski guide Johannes Schneider. Along with the other two stem techniques, it formed the basis of his Arlberg technique and instruction method.
The technique was popular and widely used up until the late 1960s, when its use diminished in favor of the parallel turn
, inspired mostly by ski racers. Radical side-cut skis, developed in the late 1990s, have accelerated the obsolescence of the stem Christie.
It is still occasionally taught to intermediate and advanced skiers to demonstrate the difference in efficient movements with less efficient movements.
Once the turn has commenced, the new uphill ski is stepped (lifted and rotated) to be parallel with the stemmed ski as the turn is made so that at the end of the turn both skis are parallel and pointing in the new desired direction of travel.
When properly applied, the leading stem on the outside ski is blended seamlessly into the lifting of the inside ski. In this case the skis will remain parallel throughout the turn. A perfect stem christie is thus difficult to distinguish, visually, from a true parallel turn. The techniques are very different in action, however. The stem christie is applied largely by shifting weight onto the uphill ski to start the stem, while the parallel turn is started by moving the lower leg to roll the ski onto its edge. Parallel turns are often helped by lifting weight off both skis to help initiate the turn, further confusing the two techniques as seen by an outside observer.
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
for turning. It is a refinement of the basic stem
Stem (skiing)
The stem technique in skiing is a method for turning the skier. It is usually credited to the Austrian Mathias Zdarsky who developed it in the 1890s. Its variations gradually replaced the telemark technique in Alpine skiing....
technique, where prior to the turn the uphill ski is stemmed (tail skidded outward) from being parallel with the downhill ski to form a V shape.
The turn was named after Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway, where the name Kristianiasving was used for the parallel turn, differentiating it from the Telemark turn.
The technique was introduced to central Europe in 1910 by the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n ski guide Johannes Schneider. Along with the other two stem techniques, it formed the basis of his Arlberg technique and instruction method.
The technique was popular and widely used up until the late 1960s, when its use diminished in favor of the parallel turn
Parallel turn
The parallel turn in alpine skiing is a method for turning. It is based on the idea of rolling the ski onto one edge, allowing it to bend into an arc. The ski then follows the arc shape and turns, without sliding. This is in contrast to earlier techniques like the stem Christie, which accomplishes...
, inspired mostly by ski racers. Radical side-cut skis, developed in the late 1990s, have accelerated the obsolescence of the stem Christie.
It is still occasionally taught to intermediate and advanced skiers to demonstrate the difference in efficient movements with less efficient movements.
Terminology
- Uphill Ski refers to the ski that is in a position higher up the hill.
- Downhill ski refers to the ski that is in a position farther down the hill.
- Outside ski is the ski farthest away from the center of the circle the skier is turning about.
- Inside ski is the ski closest to the center of the circle the skier is turning about.
Technique
Having brought the skis into the V shape mentioned above, more pressure is applied to the uphill (or outside) ski which causes the skier to turn in the other direction.Once the turn has commenced, the new uphill ski is stepped (lifted and rotated) to be parallel with the stemmed ski as the turn is made so that at the end of the turn both skis are parallel and pointing in the new desired direction of travel.
When properly applied, the leading stem on the outside ski is blended seamlessly into the lifting of the inside ski. In this case the skis will remain parallel throughout the turn. A perfect stem christie is thus difficult to distinguish, visually, from a true parallel turn. The techniques are very different in action, however. The stem christie is applied largely by shifting weight onto the uphill ski to start the stem, while the parallel turn is started by moving the lower leg to roll the ski onto its edge. Parallel turns are often helped by lifting weight off both skis to help initiate the turn, further confusing the two techniques as seen by an outside observer.
See also
- Snowplough turnSnowplough turnThe snowplough turn is a ski braking and turning technique taught to beginners. The front tips of the skis are brought together and the tails pushed wide apart, with the knees rolled inwards slightly...
- also known as the wedge turn or stem turn - Parallel turnParallel turnThe parallel turn in alpine skiing is a method for turning. It is based on the idea of rolling the ski onto one edge, allowing it to bend into an arc. The ski then follows the arc shape and turns, without sliding. This is in contrast to earlier techniques like the stem Christie, which accomplishes...
- Skiing TopicsSkiingSkiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....