What is the purpose of the stem christie-like move at the very beginning of the video?
A stem-step like what Richie does at the start of that video gets you to initiate the turn from the big toe edge of the old outside/new inside ski. You lift the old inside ski/new outside ski while continuing the old turn on the BTE of the old outside ski.
Then you have to get your CoM to cross over that stance ski. This will roll it onto its new edge and start the new turn. It's like a white pass turn. With one ski lifted, you can't push yourself across the skis. You need to shorten that inside stance leg to place the new outside ski down in a wedge, and this flexion releases the BTE and allows the body to cross. This all happens as one unit when things go well.
Additionally, when your weight goes to the outside ski, it takes over and shortens the turn because of its angle to the direction of travel of the other ski. There are tactical reasons to do this sometimes.
I have a trainer that frequently has my group doing it as a drill - at speed - on a pitch - with medium and short radius turns. The reason given is that the movement needed to get it to work is the right movement to start a turn.
In other words, the goal is to shorten the new inside leg to get the body to cross over the skis and to get them onto the new edge. The stem step requires a flexion release, which clearly is a big deal for Richie Berger.
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