How to Stop on Skis: Beginner's Guide to the Pizza, Hockey Stop & More
Learning to stop is the most important skill in skiing—more important than going fast! This guide covers every stopping technique from complete beginner to advanced.
The Stopping Techniques Progression
| Technique | Skill Level | Speed Control | Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza/Wedge | Beginner | Low-Medium | Green runs |
| Wide Wedge | Beginner | Medium | Green runs |
| Hockey Stop | Intermediate | High | All terrain |
| Parallel Slide | Advanced | Very High | Steeps, powder |
1. The Pizza (Snowplow Wedge)
This is where everyone starts. Also called the "wedge" or "snowplow."
How It Works
Point your ski tips together and push your heels apart, forming a "V" or pizza slice shape. The inside edges dig into the snow, creating friction.Step-by-Step
- Start on flat ground standing in a slight wedge
- Tips together, heels apart (about 2-3 feet wide)
- Apply pressure to the inside edges by rolling knees slightly inward
- Push outward with heels to widen the wedge
- The wider the pizza, the more braking power
Common Mistakes
Tips crossing - Keep a fist-width gap between tips Leaning back - Stay centered over your skis Stiff legs - Keep knees slightly bent Looking at skis - Look where you want to goPractice Drill
On a very gentle slope:- Start in pizza, glide slowly
- Widen the pizza to slow down
- Narrow it to speed up
- Widen fully to stop
- Repeat until automatic
2. The Widening Wedge (Emergency Stop)
When the pizza isn't enough, GO BIGGER.
When to Use
- Gaining unexpected speed
- Need to stop NOW
- Approaching a hazard
Technique
- Widen your pizza dramatically - heels as far apart as comfortable
- Sink your weight down - lower your center of gravity
- Press hard on inside edges
- Push knees inward and forward
- Dig in and commit!
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3. The Progressive Speed Wedge
Before attacking the hockey stop, learn to control speed smoothly.
How It Works
Instead of constant pizza, alternate between:- Narrow wedge (more speed)
- Wide wedge (less speed)
- Full pizza (stop)
Practice
On a green run:- Start with medium pizza
- Narrow to pick up speed
- Widen to slow down
- Find your rhythm
- Use terrain to practice—speed up on flat, slow down on steeps
4. The Hockey Stop (Parallel Stop)
The hockey stop is the goal. It's efficient, looks cool, and works at any speed.
Prerequisites
Before attempting:- Comfortable controlling speed with pizza
- Can link basic parallel turns
- Comfortable on blue runs
- Can shift weight between skis
How It Works
Both skis turn perpendicular to the fall line simultaneously, edges digging in to create a rapid stop (often spraying snow).Step-by-Step
Phase 1: The Setup- Build some speed on a moderate slope
- Keep skis parallel, shoulder-width apart
- Knees bent, weight centered
- Rotate your feet/skis 90° to one side
- Both skis should move together
- Upper body stays relatively stable
- Roll both knees into the hill (uphill)
- Dig in with your uphill edges
- Apply pressure through your feet
- Weight slightly more on downhill ski
- Push through the stop
- Spray snow!
- End facing across the hill
Hockey Stop Drills
Drill 1: Falling Leaf- Slide sideways on a slope
- Practice edging to stop movement
- Builds edge awareness
- Stand across the hill
- Release edges to sideslip
- Apply edges sharply to stop
- Repeat many times
- While traversing, gradually increase edge angle
- Progress from gentle stop to sharp stop
- Build to full hockey stop
Common Hockey Stop Mistakes
Going too slow - Need momentum for the skis to slide Leaning back - Stay centered, lean slightly into the turn Only using one ski - Both skis must be engaged Upper body rotating - Keep chest facing downhill Incomplete rotation - Commit to the full 90° turn---
5. Advanced: Parallel Slide Stop
For experts in steeps, powder, and variable terrain.
When to Use
- Steep terrain where hockey stop is too abrupt
- Powder where edges don't bite
- Variable snow requiring adaptation
Technique
- Enter a carved or skidded turn
- Continue the turn past 90°
- Feather edges to control slide
- Adjust pressure for terrain
- Come to gradual or rapid stop as needed
Stopping on Different Terrain
Flat Ground
- Pizza still works
- Push with poles if needed
- Skate to position
Steep Runs
- Quick hockey stops
- Chain multiple stops together
- Use traverses between stops if needed
Icy Conditions
- Edges must be sharp
- Commit harder to edge pressure
- Slower approach helps
- Avoid sudden edge sets
Powder
- Wider stance for stability
- Hockey stop less effective
- Speed wedge works well
- Powder provides natural braking
Safety Rules for Stopping
- Always look uphill before stopping - Skiers behind have right of way
- Move to the side after stopping - Don't block the run
- Never stop where you can't be seen - Below rollovers, in blind spots
- Wave off approaching skiers if stuck
- If you fall, get up quickly and move aside
Practice Plan
Day 1
- Master the pizza on bunny hill
- Practice widening and narrowing
- 50+ stops
Day 2-3
- Pizza on green runs
- Progressive speed wedge
- Introduce sideslipping
Day 4-7
- Sideslip drills
- Falling leaf
- Beginning hockey stop attempts
Week 2+
- Refine hockey stop
- Practice on increasingly steep terrain
- Both directions equally
When to Take a Lesson
If after several hours you can't reliably stop, get a lesson. A professional can:
- Diagnose your specific issue
- Provide immediate feedback
- Give you targeted drills
- Prevent bad habits from forming
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Ready to practice? Find your nearest ski resort and hit the slopes!