Learn the difference between pizza and french fries skiing techniques. Master these basics to control your speed, stop safely, and build skiing confidence.
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Are you learning to ski and keep hearing about "pizza" and "french fries"? These two terms are everywhere when you start out, and they describe the most important ski moves for beginners.
Pizza and french fries skiing help you control your speed and direction on the slopes.
When you make a "pizza" shape with your skis, you slow down and stop more easily. "French fries" means keeping your skis straight and parallel to go faster.
These moves are simple to remember, and honestly, they make learning to ski feel a lot less intimidating.
Key Takeaway
Pizza and french fries are basic skiing skills for beginners. They will help you start your skiing journey safely before you graduate on to parallel and more advanced turns.
Pizza and French fries skiing are beginner skills that help you control speed and direction when skiing. These moves keep things safer and make learning to ski a bit less scary.
In skiing, “pizza” and “french fries” describe the shape of your skis. When you make a pizza, your skis form a wedge or triangle—tips close together, tails far apart.
This is the snowplow. You use the pizza shape to slow down or stop. Shifting your weight to one ski helps you turn.
The “french fries” position is when your skis are straight and parallel, just like two fries. This lets you go faster since there’s less resistance on the snow.
Ski instructors use these terms with kids and beginners all the time. Pizza to slow, french fries to go—pretty easy to remember, right?
Here is a comparison table showing the main differences:
In the pizza stance, you press your ski edges into the snow for more control and balance. This is best for beginners or on steeper slopes.
The french fries stance works better on flat or gentle slopes. You need more balance and a bit of confidence to handle the speed.
Switching between these two shapes lets you ski safely and enjoy the mountain, even if you’re nervous at first.
Learning to ski really starts with getting comfortable with "pizza" and "french fries." These basic moves help you control your speed and turn, which is key when you’re just wobbling around in your ski boots on the snow.
The pizza technique—also called the snowplow—is your go-to move for slowing down. To do it, point the tips of your skis toward each other and push your heels apart, making a wedge shape.
Press your ski edges into the snow by pushing outward with your heels. This creates friction and slows you down. Want to stop? Make the wedge wider. To slow down, keep the wedge big; to go a bit faster, make it smaller.
Key tips:
Most ski lessons start with pizza. It’s the easiest way to control your speed and stop when you’re figuring things out.
For the french fries stance, keep your skis parallel and pointing straight down the hill. This is for going faster—there’s less resistance from the snow.
Stand with your skis side by side and your feet about hip-width apart. Make sure your ski boots are centered and snug.
Try to balance your weight evenly on both skis. Use your poles lightly for support, but don’t lean on them. Keep your chest up and look ahead, not at your feet.
Use french fries only when you feel steady and ready. If you need to slow down or stop, just switch back to pizza. This stance helps you get used to gliding and picking up speed as you learn.
When you start skiing, you’ll probably use special areas and equipment made for new skiers. Knowing how these work helps you build skills and feel safe out there.
The magic carpet is a moving walkway that carries you and other beginners up gentle, small hills. Just stand on it with your skis, and it does the work—no fiddling with tricky lifts.
Beginner areas are wide and have a gentle slope. That makes stopping and turning safer and less stressful while you’re practicing.
Ski instructors usually start lessons in these spots. They help you get comfortable standing, practice shifting your weight, and work on basic safety and speed control.
Tips
After you practice making a “pizza” shape with your skis, you’ll learn to slow down and stop. Pizza is the best way to control speed when you’re just starting out.
Over time, ski instructors show you how to move from pizza to “french fries”—when your skis are straight and parallel. This helps you pick up speed and start turning smoothly.
Switching from pizza to french fries can feel awkward at first. You might use a mix of both, especially when you need to slow down in a hurry.
You’ll practice this on gentle slopes. Instructors will encourage you to glide with both skis straight, then turn a bit to keep your speed in check. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel moving around the mountain.
Once you’ve got the basic pizza and french fries moves down, you can use them to start linking your turns and fix common problems on the slopes. These skills let you handle steeper trails and stay safe near things like snowbanks, rails, and busy areas at the ski resort.
When you’re ready, the next step is learning to turn smoothly down the slope. Linking turns means moving from one turn right into the next, not just making one at a time and stopping.
Start with a pizza shape to slow down. As you get ready to turn, gently point your skis into a french fries stance to pick up a bit of speed.
Then, press down on the inside edge of the downhill ski while steering with both legs.
Practice this on wide slopes away from the crowds. Work on making your turns smooth, not sharp or jerky.
Most beginners run into the same issues. Sometimes your skis cross in front, and down you go. That usually happens when your pizza is too narrow or your knees aren’t bent enough.
Another common mistake is leaning back instead of keeping your weight over your toes. If you lean back, it’s tough to control your skis—especially near snowbanks or if you hit a rail at the resort. Try to keep your shins pressing gently against your ski boots.
Ways to fix mistakes:
Small tweaks to your stance and paying attention to what’s around you help you ski with more confidence—and fewer wipeouts.
The right gear makes learning to ski a whole lot easier—and safer. Picking good boots, skis, and safety stuff keeps you comfortable and lets you focus on practicing pizza and french fries moves.
Ski boots should fit snug but not pinch. If your feet hurt or slide around, your balance and control will suffer. Renting from a ski shop with help from a ski instructor makes it easier to get the right size.
Beginners should use skis that are short—ideally, not much taller than your chin. Short skis are easier for both pizza and french fries techniques. Adjustable ski poles help, but for kids, instructors might skip them at first.
Dress in layers. Waterproof pants and jackets keep you dry. Gloves or mittens? Go with whatever keeps your hands warm. Goggles protect your eyes, but sunglasses work on sunny days when there’s no snow falling.
Here’s a quick checklist for gear:
Safety should always come first. Always wear a helmet. Even if you are just starting out with pizza and french fries, helmets prevent head injuries.
Don’t forget sunscreen—sunburn is common at high altitudes.
Beginners learn best from professional ski instructors. Instructors teach you how to stop and control your speed. They also show you how to get up safely after a fall.
Safety tips to remember:
With the right equipment and a few basic safety steps, you’ll feel more ready to practice skiing with the pizza and french fries methods. And hey, you might even have some fun along the way.
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