We have Wii Ski now. I really like it, but need to ask a skier a question.

[Ilsa]

When we use the Wii board, the instructions say to shift your weight to the left side to turn left, right side to turn right. I have my board inverted so that my feet act more as rudders: more weight on the left side pushes off from that side to turn right, and the oposite to turn left. It just seemed like it made sense to me.

Anyone want to set me straight? My husband thinks I'm nuts.

[enki23]

1. i could see it going either way, sorta

it depends on whether you're leaning into the direction you'd actually "lean," or you are putting the weight on the leg that will actually be bearing more of the forces. but i'm definitely not an expert skier.

[Ilsa]

2. I see what you mean, I think. Thanks...

I am basing my idea on what it felt like to water ski or skateboard.

I am just now reading a little about skiing, and it tends to promote what I was saying about the body moing in the opposite way of the weight shift:

Learning to turn is as important as stopping because it will (A) put you in control of your direction down the hill and (B) let you steer around other people and pick a path down the hill. To turn to the left, slightly drop your right shoulder toward the tip of your right ski, while increasing the pressure of your right boot on your right ski. Hold that position as you are moving down, and your skis will gently round out a turn to the left.

To turn to the right, gently drop the left shoulder toward the tip of the left ski, increasing the pressure on the left ski and your skis will turn to the right.

http://skiing.about.com/od/beginningskiers/ss/snowplow_3.htm

[InternalDialogue]

3. Your instincts are right.

In snow skiing, your uphill (inside the turn) ski has much less pressure on it -- so you're technically putting left-leaning pressure on your skis to turn left, but you're putting much more of it on your right side, if that makes any sense to you.

So, yes, a real skier puts pressure on the left side of his or her skis to turn left (kind of what the Wii is asking you to do -- the left edges bite into the snow and pull the skis that direction), but overall the right ski is taking much more of the weight on a left turn (sort of what you're saying feels right).