Key takeaways
- A hockey stop stops you quickly by pivoting both skis sideways across the direction of travel.
- You edge the sideways skis into the snow to scrape off speed in a short distance.
- It's named for how ice hockey players stop, and is a fundamental control and safety skill.
- Learning it builds the edging and pivoting skills behind parallel skiing.
From the similar stop used in ice hockey.
What a hockey stop is
A hockey stop is a skiing (and snowboarding) technique for stopping quickly by rapidly pivoting both skis sideways — perpendicular to the direction of travel — and edging them into the snow, scraping off speed in a short distance, much like an ice hockey player stops, throwing up a spray of snow.
How to do it
From a straight glide, quickly pivot both skis together so they turn sideways across your direction of travel, while edging them in and angling your body to resist the deceleration (weight balanced, slight edge, absorbing through the legs). The skis skid sideways and scrub off speed until you stop. It takes commitment to pivot decisively without catching an edge.
A skier sees a fallen rider appear around a blind rollover ahead — they pivot both skis hard sideways into a hockey stop, edges biting and snow spraying, and come to a controlled halt well short of the obstacle.
Why it’s useful
It’s a key control and safety skill — stopping quickly and decisively to avoid a collision, control speed, or stop on demand, rather than coasting to a halt. Beyond stopping, it develops the pivoting and edging skills central to the parallel turn and good control overall — a step up from the beginner snowplow toward dynamic skiing like carving.
The bottom line
A hockey stop stops you fast by pivoting both skis sideways across your direction of travel and edging them in to scrape off speed — just like a hockey player's quick stop. It's a fundamental control and safety skill for stopping decisively on demand, and learning it builds the pivoting and edging that underpin parallel skiing. Commit to the pivot, control the edge, and practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hockey stop?
A hockey stop is a technique for stopping quickly on skis (or a snowboard) by rapidly turning both skis sideways, perpendicular to your direction of travel, and digging the edges into the snow. The sideways, edged skis scrape against the snow and bring you to a stop in a short distance — the same way an ice hockey player stops with a quick sideways turn of the skates, throwing up a spray of snow.
How do you do a hockey stop?
From a straight glide, you quickly pivot both skis together so they turn sideways across your direction of travel, while edging them into the snow and angling your body to resist the deceleration (weight balanced, slight edge engagement, absorbing through the legs). The skis skid sideways and scrub off speed until you stop. It takes commitment and practice to pivot decisively and control the edge angle without catching an edge.
Why is the hockey stop useful?
It's a key control and safety skill: it lets you stop quickly and decisively when you need to — to avoid a collision, control your speed, or stop on demand — rather than gradually coasting to a halt. Beyond stopping, learning the hockey stop develops the pivoting and edging skills that are central to parallel turns and good ski control overall, so it's both practical and a building block for technique.
Sources
- Ski instruction — PSIA-AASI
- Snow sports skills — The Mountaineers