Snow Plow Open Hip

The "Snow Plow" is the term used to describe the motion of the foot turning with the toe inwards. This is opposite to a "Punch Stop," in which the toe faces outwards. The "Snow Plow" is similar to the classic pizza stop taught to beginners, but it is done using only one foot. While it is sometimes thought of as a beginner-type skating move, the "Snow Plow" is important to learn and has elite applications since it is so quick and subtle. When combining it with the open hip push it allows you to change directions more quickly than a stop and backwards crossover. It also gives you more angles of exit, as you can control how much you open your hip based on what direction you want to go. Lastly, it sets you up for the option to do the "Snow Plow Shimmy" and continue on in the same direction you were going. Many top level players also use it to change speeds and create separation when they are looking for time and space to make a pass.