So you’ve been hitting the slopes for a while and you’re getting good, but now you're ready to turn things up a notch.
Whether you're trying to keep pace with your speed-demon kid, tackle more challenging terrain, or ready to get some air, you're in the right place.
But before you dive in, ever thought about a lesson? Seriously. Even the pros get tips regularly—we’re ALL always learning, and a few tips can be a game-changer. Whether you are dialing in your form, or just want to get to new places on the mountain, instructors are the ticket.
Not to mention, they know how to skip those pesky lift lines for more slope time.
Take Your Ski Skills to the Next Level.
Until you get a chance to hit some lessons, here are a few helpful tips and reminders on how to get better at skiing:
Warm-Up is Key: First thing, snug up the boots. Stretch out a little. Then take an easy run to find your groove and loosen up. Twist, turn, and feel your skis.
Find some flats to let them run straight, get on your edges, and get centered over your skis—get in sync with your gear.
Make a variety of turn shapes, long and big arcs or quick and short. This isn't just for beginners—it helps us all get ready to ski our best.
Get Balanced and Ready: It’s always important to find your ready position.
Pro tip: think of catching a heavy medicine ball. The stance you’d use is what you need to be able to respond quickly on skis. Set your feet hip-width, flex your ankles and knees, have your hands ready, and your eyes looking ahead.
It’s all about being ready for anything. And this ready position is the same for the skier making “pizza” turns on the bunny hill as it is for someone that’s popping off cliffs in the back bowls.
Stay Flexy and Flow! To nail those turns and tackle bumpy terrain, you’ve got to be like a spring. This helps us stay over our feet, stay agile, and make adjustments as needed.
Flexing and extending our legs helps us stay loose to absorb the terrain, initiate and finish turns, and not be thrown by those bumps and dips.
It’s a common weakness to be stiff and straight, or to flex from the wrong place. Bend those knees and ankles, not just your waist. Imagine there’s a credit card between your shin and boot—and if you drop it, there goes après!
Speed and Attitude: Skiing's a bit of a confidence game—the more you have, the better you get. So amp it up a notch, lean into the slope, and embrace gravity.
If you face downhill and charge that run, you’ll be in a better position to get on your edges. Avoid leaning back. A defensive stance actually weakens your grip on the hill and requires much bigger movements to get from one turn to the next.
Keep your upper body quiet and facing downhill, like you're showing off a racer's bib number. This will keep you focused on what’s next and allow your feet and skis to twist under you. Rustling up that attitude is always easier said than done. So try to keep your body’s physical attitude forward and your eyes on a focus point directly downhill.
Hands Front and Center: This is a biggie—your hands guide your stance. While our turns start from our feet, an easy fix for a lot of stance issues is right in your hands. Keep your hands up to keep your balance. Keep them in sight, like you’re holding a lunch tray or bike handlebars. When you drop your hands your body naturally falls into that defensive position again. And here's a cool trick: on icy slopes, punch downhill with your downhill hand. This will cause you to stand on that downhill ski and really hold your edge.
Perfect Practice Makes Perfect: Vince Lombardi said this about champion football teams, but he could have been talking about skiing. Plan your run. Look out for bumps, snow conditions, and traffic. Visualize your best turns. If things go sideways, no sweat—stop, recalibrate, and go again. Just remember, practice makes perfect, but only if it's good practice.
Bonus Tip!
K.I.S.S. or Keep It Simple, Skiers. Choose one thing at a time to focus on—maybe something an instructor pointed out.
Then just relax, enjoy the ride, and let the mountains do their thing. You’re already living the dream—skiing, fresh air, surrounded by nature and good company.
As you put in the work, you’ll naturally break through to the next level—opening up new terrain and adventures as long as you ski.
