Key takeaways
- A jump turn changes direction by hopping the skis off the snow and pivoting them in the air.
- It lets you turn in place on steep, narrow, or difficult terrain.
- Essential for steep couloirs and bad snow (e.g., breakable crust) where normal turns won't work.
- It's controlled but physically demanding and requires commitment, one decisive turn at a time.
What a jump turn is
A jump turn is a skiing technique in which you hop or jump the skis off the snow and pivot them in the air to change direction, landing facing the new way with your edges set — used to turn almost in place on steep, narrow, or difficult terrain where a normal carved or skidded turn isn’t possible or safe.
When to use it
- Steep couloirs and chutes — change direction in a tight space while controlling speed.
- Bad snow — breakable crust, heavy crud, and other surfaces where smooth turning fails, so you pivot in the air to avoid catching your tips.
Descending a steep, narrow couloir, a ski-mountaineer can’t make wide turns — so they plant a pole, spring off both skis, pivot them in the air to face the other way, and land with edges set to check speed, linking decisive jump turns down the chute.
How to do it
Plant your downhill pole, unweight and spring off both skis (an up-motion and hop), pivot the skis in the air to the new direction, and land with edges set to check your speed — then repeat. The challenge is commitment and effort: you must jump decisively on high-consequence terrain, and linking many jump turns is tiring. It’s a staple of steep off-piste skiing and ski mountaineering.
The bottom line
A jump turn changes direction by hopping the skis off the snow and pivoting them in the air, landing edges-set to control speed — letting you turn almost in place. It's essential on steep couloirs and in bad snow like breakable crust, where normal turns won't work. Controlled but demanding, it requires commitment and good timing, one decisive turn at a time down high-consequence terrain.
Frequently asked questions
What is a jump turn in skiing?
A jump turn is a technique where you hop or jump your skis off the snow and pivot them in the air to face the new direction, landing and setting your edges to control your speed. Instead of carving or skidding a turn across the slope, you change direction almost in place, which is invaluable on terrain too steep or difficult for normal turns.
When do you use a jump turn?
On steep, narrow, or difficult terrain: steep couloirs and chutes where you can't make wide turns and need to change direction in a tight space while controlling speed; and in bad snow like breakable crust, heavy crud, or other surfaces where smooth turning is impossible, so you pivot the skis in the air to avoid getting your tips caught. It's a staple of steep skiing and ski mountaineering.
How do you do a jump turn, and what makes it hard?
You typically plant your pole downhill, unweight and spring off both skis (often with an up-motion and a hop), pivot the skis in the air to the new direction, and land with your edges set to check your speed, then repeat. What makes it hard is the commitment and effort required: you must jump decisively and trust the technique on steep, high-consequence terrain, and stringing many jump turns together is physically tiring. Good timing, a solid pole plant, and edge control on landing are key.
Sources
- Steep & backcountry skiing — PSIA-AASI
- Ski mountaineering — The Mountaineers