The term steering angle is used a lot in these articles.

It’s a simple concept. Most turns aren’t fully carved. The skis are rotated through an angle prior to engaging the edge to start carving. That angle is called the initial steering angle. If you want to carve a turn with radius shorter than the capability of the ski, you will need to establish a steering angle first. The shorter the turn, the greater the initial steering angle. Look at pictures of World Cup racers and you will see them using steering angles all the time (see Ron LeMaster Ultimate Skiing).

There are three ways to establish a steering angle at the beginning of a turn:

1. Rotate the skis while they are flat during crossover
2. Jump the skis round in the air
3. Use an uphill stem followed by a step of the inside ski

Again, you can see examples of all of these in Ron LeMaster’s Ultimate Skiing.