A slalom maneuver is a type of skiing technique that involves quickly turning from side to side in order to navigate a course of gates. The two crossword solutions, SIDESLIP and ESS, are both related to this maneuver. SIDESLIP is an 8-letter word meaning to move sideways or obliquely, which is what skiers do when they perform a slalom maneuver. ESS is a 3-letter word meaning a series of turns, which is also an essential part of the slalom maneuver.