diff --git a/data/stk_config.xml b/data/stk_config.xml
index 0c3e9d4c8..0fd9985a4 100644
--- a/data/stk_config.xml
+++ b/data/stk_config.xml
@@ -183,9 +183,9 @@
            which is used to reduce the turn angle  used to reduce the turn angle. -->
     <skid increase="1.05" decrease="0.95" max="2.5" time-till-max="0.5"
           visual="1.0" visual-time="0"
-          time-till-bonus="1.5 2.5"
+          time-till-bonus="1.5 2.5" 
           bonus-speed="100 200" bonus-time="3.0 4.0" 
-          post-skid-rotate-factor="1" reduce-turn-min="0.6"
+          post-skid-rotate-factor="1" reduce-turn-min="0.3"
           reduce-turn-max="0.8"/>
 
     <!-- Slipstream: length: How far behind a kart slipstream works
diff --git a/src/karts/controller/controller.hpp b/src/karts/controller/controller.hpp
index eaf0664b2..28cafa2ce 100644
--- a/src/karts/controller/controller.hpp
+++ b/src/karts/controller/controller.hpp
@@ -72,13 +72,16 @@ public:
     virtual void  finishedRace       (float time) {};
     virtual bool  isPlayerController () const {return false;}
     virtual bool  isNetworkController() const {return false;}
+    virtual const irr::core::stringw& getNamePostfix() const;
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     /** Default: ignore actions. Only PlayerController get them. */
     virtual void  action             (PlayerAction action, int value) {}
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     /** Callback whenever a new lap is triggered. Used by the AI
      *  to trigger a recomputation of the way to use.            */
     virtual void  newLap             (int lap) {}
-    virtual const irr::core::stringw& getNamePostfix() const;
-
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    virtual void  skidBonusTriggered() {}
 };   // Controller
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/karts/controller/player_controller.cpp b/src/karts/controller/player_controller.cpp
index bd3fdb399..bb6c3fef4 100644
--- a/src/karts/controller/player_controller.cpp
+++ b/src/karts/controller/player_controller.cpp
@@ -245,6 +245,15 @@ void PlayerController::steer(float dt, int steer_val)
 
 }   // steer
 
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/** Callback when the skidding bonus is triggered. The player controller
+ *  resets the current steering to 0, which makes the kart easier to control.
+ */
+void PlayerController::skidBonusTriggered()
+{
+    m_controls->m_steer = 0;
+}   // skidBonusTriggered
+
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 /** Updates the player kart, called once each timestep.
  */
diff --git a/src/karts/controller/player_controller.hpp b/src/karts/controller/player_controller.hpp
index 85a2cde7d..5e85b06a4 100644
--- a/src/karts/controller/player_controller.hpp
+++ b/src/karts/controller/player_controller.hpp
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ public:
     void           handleZipper      (bool play_sound);
     void           collectedItem     (const Item &item, int add_info=-1,
                                       float previous_energy=0);
+    virtual void   skidBonusTriggered();
     virtual void   setPosition       (int p);
     virtual void   finishedRace      (float time);
     bool           isPlayerController() const {return true;}
diff --git a/src/karts/kart.cpp b/src/karts/kart.cpp
index 0c2ea550a..9ebe395ac 100644
--- a/src/karts/kart.cpp
+++ b/src/karts/kart.cpp
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ void Kart::setController(Controller *controller)
     m_controller       = controller;
 }   // setController
 
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 /** Sets the position in race this kart has . 
  *  The position in this race for this kart (1<=p<=n)
  */
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@ void Kart::setPosition(int p)
 }   // setPosition
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 /** Returns a transform that will align an object with the kart: the heading 
  *  and the pitch will be set appropriately. A custom pitch value can be 
  *  specified in order to overwrite the terrain pitch (which would be used
@@ -1627,9 +1628,7 @@ void Kart::updatePhysics(float dt)
     m_skidding->update(dt, isOnGround(), m_controls.m_steer, 
                        m_controls.m_skid);
 
-    float steering = m_skidding->getSteering(m_controls.m_steer,
-                                             getMaxSteerAngle());
-
+    float steering = getMaxSteerAngle() * m_skidding->getSteeringFraction();
     m_vehicle->setSteeringValue(steering, 0);
     m_vehicle->setSteeringValue(steering, 1);
 
@@ -2071,7 +2070,7 @@ void Kart::updateGraphics(float dt, const Vec3& offset_xyz,
     m_kart_gfx->resizeBox(KartGFX::KGFX_ZIPPER, getSpeed(), dt);
 
     Moveable::updateGraphics(dt, center_shift, 
-                             btQuaternion(m_skidding->getVisualSkidOffset(), 
+                             btQuaternion(m_skidding->getVisualSkidRotation(), 
                                           0, 0));
     
     /*
@@ -2105,7 +2104,8 @@ void Kart::updateGraphics(float dt, const Vec3& offset_xyz,
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 btQuaternion Kart::getVisualRotation() const
 {
-    return getRotation() * btQuaternion(m_skidding->getVisualSkidOffset(), 0, 0);
+    return getRotation() 
+         * btQuaternion(m_skidding->getVisualSkidRotation(), 0, 0);
 }   // getVisualRotation
 
 
diff --git a/src/karts/skidding.cpp b/src/karts/skidding.cpp
index 98db91bed..316a4ae74 100644
--- a/src/karts/skidding.cpp
+++ b/src/karts/skidding.cpp
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@
  */
 Skidding::Skidding(Kart *kart, const SkiddingProperties *sp)
 {
-    m_kart             = kart;
+    m_kart = kart;
     copyFrom(sp);
+    m_skid_reduce_turn_delta = m_skid_reduce_turn_max - m_skid_reduce_turn_min;
     reset();
 }   // Skidding
 
@@ -37,28 +38,61 @@ Skidding::Skidding(Kart *kart, const SkiddingProperties *sp)
  */
 void Skidding::reset()
 {
-    m_skid_time   = 0.0f;
-    m_skid_state  = m_skid_visual_time<=0 ? SKID_OLD : SKID_NONE;
-    m_skid_factor = 1.0f;
+    m_skid_time     = 0.0f;
+    m_skid_state    = m_skid_visual_time<=0 ? SKID_OLD : SKID_NONE;
+    m_skid_factor   = 1.0f;
+    m_real_steering = 0.0f;
 }   // reset
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-float Skidding::getSteering(float steer, float max_steer_angle)
+/** Computes the actual steering fraction to be used in the physics, and 
+ *  stores it in m_real_skidding. This is later used by kart to set the
+ *  physical steering. The real steering takes skidding into account: if the
+ *  kart skids either left or right, the steering fraction is bound by 
+ *  reduce-turn-min and reduce-turn-max.
+ */
+void Skidding::updateSteering(float steer)
 {
-    float steering = steer * max_steer_angle;
-
+    if(m_skid_state==SKID_OLD)
+    {
+        float speed             = m_kart->getSpeed();
+        float current_max_speed = m_kart->getCurrentMaxSpeed();
+        float speed_ratio       = speed / current_max_speed;
+        m_real_steering         = steer * m_skid_factor;
+        m_visual_rotation       = m_real_steering /m_skid_max * speed_ratio;
+        return;
+    }
+    // Now only new skidding is happening
     switch(m_skid_state)
     {
+    case SKID_OLD: assert(false);
+        break;
     case SKID_NONE:
-    case SKID_SHOW_GFX:
-    case SKID_OLD:      steering *= m_skid_factor;
-    case SKID_ACCUMULATE_LEFT:
+        m_real_steering = steer;
+        break;
+    case SKID_SHOW_GFX_RIGHT:
     case SKID_ACCUMULATE_RIGHT:
-         steering *= m_skid_reduce_turn_min
-                  * sqrt(m_skid_max / m_skid_factor);
+        {
+            float f = (1.0f+steer)*0.5f;   // map [-1,1] --> [0, 1]
+            m_real_steering = m_skid_reduce_turn_min+ 
+                              m_skid_reduce_turn_delta*f;
+            break;
+        }
+    case SKID_SHOW_GFX_LEFT:
+    case SKID_ACCUMULATE_LEFT:
+        {
+            float f = (-1.0f+steer)*0.5f;   // map [-1,1] --> [-1, 0]
+            m_real_steering = -m_skid_reduce_turn_min+
+                               m_skid_reduce_turn_delta*f;
+            break;
+        }
     }   // switch m_skid_state
-    return steering;
-}   // getSteering
+    m_visual_rotation = m_skid_visual * m_real_steering;
+
+    float st = fabsf(m_skid_time);
+    if(st<m_skid_visual_time)
+        m_visual_rotation *= st/m_skid_visual_time;
+}   // updateSteering
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 /** Updates skidding status.
@@ -92,6 +126,7 @@ void Skidding::update(float dt, bool is_on_ground,
     else 
         if(m_skid_factor<1.0f) m_skid_factor = 1.0f;
 
+    updateSteering(steering);
     // FIXME hiker: remove once the new skidding code is finished.
     if(m_skid_state == SKID_OLD)
         return;
@@ -103,7 +138,7 @@ void Skidding::update(float dt, bool is_on_ground,
     // by m_skid_state:
     // SKID_NONE: no skidding is happening. From here SKID_ACCUMULATE
     //    is reached when the skid key is pressed.
-    // SKID_ACCUMULATE:
+    // SKID_ACCUMULATE_{LEFT,RIGHT}:
     //    The kart is still skidding. The skidding time will be
     //    accumulated in m_skid_time, and once the minimum time for a 
     //    bonus is reached, the "bonus gfx now available" gfx is shown.
@@ -111,7 +146,7 @@ void Skidding::update(float dt, bool is_on_ground,
     //    a potential bonus. Also the rotation of the physical body to 
     //    be in synch with the graphical kart is started (which is 
     //    independently handled in the kart physics). 
-    // SKID_SHOW_GFX
+    // SKID_SHOW_GFX_{LEFT<RIGHT}
     //    Shows the skidding gfx while the bonus is available.
     // FIXME: what should we do if skid key is pressed while still in 
     //   SKID_SHOW_GFX??? Adjusting the body rotation is difficult.
@@ -122,9 +157,14 @@ void Skidding::update(float dt, bool is_on_ground,
     case SKID_NONE: 
         // If skidding is pressed while the kart is going straight,
         // do nothing (till the kart starts to steer in one direction).
-        if(!skidding || steering==0) break;
-        m_skid_state = steering > 0 ? SKID_ACCUMULATE_LEFT
-                                    : SKID_ACCUMULATE_RIGHT;
+        // Just testing for the sign of steering can result in unexpected
+        // beahviour, e.g. if a player is still turning left, but already
+        // presses right (it will take a few frames for this steering to
+        // actuallu take place, see player_controller) - the kart would skid 
+        // to the left. So we test for a 'clear enough' steering direction.
+        if(!skidding || fabsf(steering)<0.3f) break;
+        m_skid_state = steering > 0 ? SKID_ACCUMULATE_RIGHT
+                                    : SKID_ACCUMULATE_LEFT;
         m_skid_time  = 0;   // fallthrough
     case SKID_ACCUMULATE_LEFT:
     case SKID_ACCUMULATE_RIGHT:
@@ -136,14 +176,16 @@ void Skidding::update(float dt, bool is_on_ground,
             // If at least level 1 bonus is reached, show appropriate gfx
             if(level>0) m_kart->getKartGFX()->setSkidLevel(level);
             // If player stops skidding, trigger bonus, and change state to
-            // SKID_SHOW_GFX
+            // SKID_SHOW_GFX_*
             if(!skidding) 
             {
-                m_skid_state = SKID_SHOW_GFX;
+                m_skid_state = m_skid_state == SKID_ACCUMULATE_LEFT 
+                             ? SKID_SHOW_GFX_LEFT
+                             : SKID_SHOW_GFX_RIGHT;
                 float t = (m_skid_time <= m_skid_visual_time)
                         ? m_skid_time
                         : m_skid_visual_time;
-                float vso = getVisualSkidOffset();
+                float vso = getVisualSkidRotation();
                 btVector3 rot(0, vso*m_post_skid_rotate_factor, 0);
                 m_kart->getVehicle()->setTimedRotation(t, rot);
                 // skid_time is used to count backwards for the GFX
@@ -163,7 +205,8 @@ void Skidding::update(float dt, bool is_on_ground,
             }
             break;
         }   // case
-    case SKID_SHOW_GFX:
+    case SKID_SHOW_GFX_LEFT:
+    case SKID_SHOW_GFX_RIGHT:
         m_skid_time -= dt;
         if(m_skid_time<=0) 
         {
@@ -196,35 +239,3 @@ unsigned int Skidding::getSkidBonus(float *bonus_time,
     return m_skid_bonus_speed.size();
 }   // getSkidBonusForce
 
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-/** Determines how much the graphics model of the kart should be rotated
- *  additionally (for skidding), depending on how long the kart has been
- *  skidding etc.
- *  \return Returns the angle of the additional rotation of the kart.
- */
-float Skidding::getVisualSkidOffset() const
-{
-    float speed = m_kart->getSpeed();
-    float steer_percent = m_kart->getSteerPercent();
-    float current_max_speed = m_kart->getCurrentMaxSpeed();
-    if(m_skid_visual_time==0)
-    {
-        float speed_ratio = speed / current_max_speed;
-        float r = m_skid_factor / m_skid_max;
-        return steer_percent * speed_ratio * r;
-    }
-
-    // New skidding code
-    float f = m_skid_visual * steer_percent;
-    //if(m_kart->getSpeed() < m_kart->getKartProperties()->getMaxSpeed())
-    //    f *= m_kart->getSpeed()/m_kart->getKartProperties()->getMaxSpeed();
-
-    float st = fabsf(m_skid_time);
-    if(st<m_skid_visual_time)
-        f *= st/m_skid_visual_time;
-
-    return f;
-
-}   // getVisualSkidOffset
-
-/* EOF */
diff --git a/src/karts/skidding.hpp b/src/karts/skidding.hpp
index 93765a144..ea9a425d3 100644
--- a/src/karts/skidding.hpp
+++ b/src/karts/skidding.hpp
@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@ class Skidding : public SkiddingProperties
 public:
     LEAK_CHECK();
 private:
+    /** This is m_skid_reduce_turn_max - m_skid_reduce_turn_min. */
+    float m_skid_reduce_turn_delta;
+
+    /** This is the actual steering (in fraction of max-steering-angle)
+     *  to be used by this kart. */
+    float m_real_steering;
+
+    /** An additional rotation (heading) of the kart while skidding. This
+     *  is only a graphical effect, the actual physics body is not rotated. */
+    float m_visual_rotation;
+
     /** Accumulated skidding factor. */
     float m_skid_factor;
 
@@ -48,29 +59,38 @@ private:
      *  SKID_ACCUMULATE_LEFT: Kart is skidding to the left and accumulating
      *             for bonus.
      *  SKID_ACCUMULATE_RIGHT: Similar for turning right
-     *  SKID_SHOW_GFX: Shows the gfx, while the bonus is actibe. */
+     *  SKID_SHOW_GFX_LEFT: Shows the gfx, while the bonus is active,
+     *             and the kart was turning left.
+     *  SKID_SHOW_GFX_RIGHT: Similar for turning right. */
     enum  {SKID_OLD, SKID_NONE, SKID_ACCUMULATE_LEFT, SKID_ACCUMULATE_RIGHT,
-           SKID_SHOW_GFX} 
+           SKID_SHOW_GFX_LEFT, SKID_SHOW_GFX_RIGHT} 
           m_skid_state;
 
     /** A read-only pointer to the kart's properties. */
     Kart *m_kart;
 
     unsigned int getSkidBonus(float *bonus_time, float *bonus_speed) const;
-
+    void  updateSteering(float steer);
 public:
            Skidding(Kart *kart, const SkiddingProperties *sp);
       void reset();
       void update(float dt, bool is_on_ground, float steer,
                   bool skidding);
-      float getVisualSkidOffset() const;
-      float getSteering(float steer, float max_steer_angle);
+      // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+      /** Determines how much the graphics model of the kart should be rotated
+       *  additionally (for skidding), depending on how long the kart has been
+       *  skidding etc. */
+      float getVisualSkidRotation() const { return m_visual_rotation; };
       // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
       /** Returns the current skid factor in [1, skid_max_for_this_kart]. */
       float getSkidFactor() const { return m_skid_factor; }
       // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
       /** Returns true if the kart is skidding. */
       bool isSkidding() const { return m_skid_factor>1.0f; }
+      // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+      /** Returns the steering fraction to be used by the physics. This is
+       *  a fraction of the maximum steering angle ( so in [-1, 1]). */
+      float getSteeringFraction() { return m_real_steering; }
 
 };   // Skidding
 
diff --git a/src/karts/skidding_properties.hpp b/src/karts/skidding_properties.hpp
index 2d6c89f3c..5de6bad9c 100644
--- a/src/karts/skidding_properties.hpp
+++ b/src/karts/skidding_properties.hpp
@@ -131,7 +131,6 @@ public:
     float getSkidReduceTurnMax     () const { return m_skid_reduce_turn_max;  }
 
 
-
 };   // SkiddingProperties