Snow Skills

Do you find yourself skiing the same locations on the same trails? Do you automatically make the same size and shape of turns? Do you avoid some trails because you’re intimidated by the terrain? There’s a fine line between having favorite runs and skiing or riding in a rut. Ski some new snow and develop new tactics by changing your outlook; get mentally tough!

Try to ski familiar terrain in a different manner to challenge your skills. For example, if most people take skier’s left side of a pitch, move to the right side and explore that area. Challenge yourself with various turn shapes and patterns; ski a trail starting with larger turns and steadily making each turn smaller to a definite stop. Another challenging pattern is to make round turns that start large, reduce to small, and return to large. Need to build confidence? A good step is to be able to move steadily over a change in pitch without stopping. Anticipate the increase in gravity by choosing to make a turn that ends right on top of the break; it puts you in a controlled position to select the location for your next turn. For safety, ski within your vision and use quick glances to avoid obstacles and other skiers.