Pizza and french fry — how to slow down and when to point your skis

“Pizza” and “french fry” are shorthand for two ways of having your skis on the snow. Getting the pizza right is what keeps you in control as a beginner.

What “pizza” means (the wedge)

Pizza = wedge = tips of the skis close together, tails wider apart, so the skis form a V (or a slice of pizza). You press the inside edges of both skis into the snow. That edge contact is what slows you down and stops you.

How to make the wedge work

Pizza = you’re trying to slow down or stop
Think about pushing your heels out and squatting slightly into the wedge so the edges bite — not just pointing the tips together. The power is in the tails and the edges
If you feel unstable, lean forward (shins toward the front of the boot), not back. Leaning back makes you less stable and less in control

When to use the wedge

Use the wedge whenever you need to control your speed:

On the bunny hill
When the slope gets steeper than you’re comfortable with
When you’re approaching other people or obstacles

Always be able to stop before something you don’t want to hit. If you can’t slow down or stop, you’re going too fast or on terrain that’s too difficult — move to an easier slope or get instruction.

What “french fry” means (skis parallel)

French fry = skis parallel = both skis pointing in the same direction, no wedge. This is how more advanced skiers cruise and turn.

When your skis are parallel you have less braking from the edges, so you go faster. As a beginner you’re not ready to stay in control at speed in a straight line.

Don’t “french fry” until you can reliably slow down and stop in a wedge and an instructor has started teaching you parallel turns.

The saying “if you french fry when you’re supposed to pizza, you’re gonna have a bad time” is about exactly that: when you need to slow down or stop, you must use the wedge. Going straight with skis parallel when you’re not in control is dangerous for you and others.

Safe progression

Start with the wedge. Practise on the bunny hill until you can slow down and stop on demand.
Only then work on gliding with skis parallel for short stretches, still on easy terrain.
Parallel turns come after that — usually with an instructor guiding you.

Getting the wedge solid first is the foundation. If you master slowing down and stopping, you’ll feel safer and progress faster.

Next steps

For more on your first day, see Advice for your first time skiing.