While skiing with some friends on some of the steeper runs at Vail, I noticed that one member of our group was having a difficult time because he would rotate his body through each turn he made.

His technique was to lead and drive the outside hand through each turn, which would cause an overrotation, in which his upper body would follow his skis through the arc of the turn.

Sure, driving the hand can help bring you around the turn in critical situations, but in doing so, you actually give yourself less control, not more. And doing so on steeper and deeper runs turns into survival skiing in which you expend more strength and physical energy.

In the first photo (left box below), the skier actually has his body in a fairly good position in the first half of the turn. However, as his upper body (hands and hips) follows the arc of the skis, he ends up standing directly over his feet at the end of the turn.

This body position negates the tipping action you need to create the turn and blocks the body from moving into the turn.

The solution is to use the hips to your advantage. You want to hold the hips back and not allow them to follow the path your skis are taking: Your body should be "counter" to what your feet and skis are doing.

Because the hips are the connection between the upper and lower body, you must learn to allow the hips to "counter" the action of the feet and skis. Your ability to counter allows for a quicker more powerful turn when you perform the tipping action with your feet and engage your edges.

In a "countered" position, the hips do not follow the feet but, rather, are held back. The secret is the positioning of the hands. If the outside of the hand comes across and in front of the body, the upper body will be rotating through the turn. To avoid over-rotating, hold the hands wide and allow the upper body to counter the lower body after the pole plant has been made. The hands are held wide and the pole plant is made in such a way that it blocks the body from rotating through the turn.

The wrong way

* In the first photo, the skier is in fairly good body position with regard to his hip and upper body. However, the outside (right) hand is coming across the body and causing overrotation.

* When the upper body rotates in the direction of the feet and skis, it releases the grip of the ski edge against the snow. And if you release the ski edges when the skis are pointed straight downhill, you'll be going too fast in short order.

* Rotating the upper body through your turn also keeps the body from moving into the new turn. As you come through the turn, the body is now standing directly over the feet. Your ability to tip the skis on edge is compromised, and balance goes out the window.

* In the second photo, the skier is about three-quarters of the way through the turn, has gained too much velocity and is hanging on for dear life.

* Weight and balance have shifted to his heels, and his body is over his feet. All the dynamics of the turn have been lost.

* The only option for speed control at this point is for the skier to push his downhill ski to the big-toe edge and crank a turn into the hill.

* Now, the skier must gather himself before he begins a new turn. This means finding his balance and setting himself up to make the turn. But all flow has been lost and the skier must start the dynamics of the turn all over again.

* Although you can ski this way, and many do, it takes a tremendous amount of energy and physical strength to negotiate your way down a challenging run.

The right way

* Use the pole plant as a signal to release the ski edges and allow the upper body to move into the new turn. It's at this point that you begin tipping the inside foot (left in third photo) while you pull it back.

* As the body crosses from the uphill to the downhill side of the feet, hold the hips back so they "counter" what the feet and skis are doing.

* Although the body moves across the feet, from the uphill to the downhill side, hold the hips back and do not allow the body to rotate through the turn.

* Notice in the fourth photo that the hips are on the uphill, or inside, of the turn but that they are "countered," or held back, in relation to the feet.

* The left foot is actively tipping and pulled back so it does not slide forward in front of the other. This body position creates greater edge angles of the skis to the snow, thus giving more edge control.

* The hands are held wide and away from the body, so you can see the inner forearms. The skier is in a dynamically balanced position throughout the turn.

* The skier's hips are countered from the previous turn as the legs extend through the arc of the turn.

* As the skier prepares for the new turn, the body is dynamically balanced in anticipation of the upcoming pole plant.

Craig McNeil is a certified Primary Movements instructor. To order his book, How To Ski the Blues and Blacks Without Getting Black and Blue, or to contact him, go to his Web site, HowToSki.net.

Give this a try

There's a simple way to practice using the pole plant to break the habit of over-rotating, but you'll need a partner.

Have your partner stand about 100-200 feet below you on a run. Skiing in the fall line, make controlled turns straight at your partner. Each time you plant the ski pole, open the arm so your partner can see your inner forearm on each turn.

Have your partner shout "Yes" if he or she sees your inner forearm, "No" if it's not seen.

If you show the inner forearm, you are countering with your upper body; if you are showing the back of the forearm, you are rotating through the turn.