The Bullfighter turn is used by skiers of all abilities and is essential for the beginner to know. It's a stationary turn and although it may look difficult at first, it's easy if the correct technique is used.

Practice the Bullfighter "turn" on flat terrain and when you are comfortable, proceed to try it on a very gentle slope.

• Position your skis across the hill.
• While keeping your skis stationary across the hill, turn your upper body towards the bottom of the hill until your shoulders face down the hill (they should be perpendicular to your skis.) Don't let your skis follow!
• Hold the top of the pole grips in the palm of your hands.
• Now, like a bullfighter, point your poles (at shoulder width) down the hill and "plant" them downhill, well down the hill from you. Be sure to maintain your balance and don't let the skis unwind yet.
• Keeping your poles firmly planted and your arms straight, slowly lean forward onto the poles and support your weight with the poles, which will keep you from sliding forward.
• Now slowly step around in a circle until your skis point down the hill. Use tiny steps. You have basically "unwound" yourself and now you're facing down the hill--ready to ski.

The tricky part is to keep your body weight fully supported by your arms and poles. This becomes a lot easier when you realize that if you hold your arms (elbows locked) and the poles in a straight line (no angles,) very little strength is required.

If holding yourself is too difficult, the slope may be too steep for you. If so, sidestep down to a gentler part of the slope.

Once in position, you are ready to ease off and slide "through" your poles in a straight run. As you start your slide, relax your arms, grasp the poles by the grips and continue holding them in a relaxed way.