Snow Skills

The ways to describe skiing are infinite: one of my favorite is that skiing is gliding on snow.
The concept that skiing is gliding on snow is an excellent mental image for a skier of any ability. The image of gliding brings thoughts of smoothness, precision, and ease of effort. Compare those sensations to the following:

• Any hard, forceful movements will result in an excess of effort, leading to a loss of efficiency.
• Any sudden, uneven movements will result in a lack of smoothness, leading to a loss of balance.
• Any scraping, braking efforts will result in a loss of precision, leading to unnecessary forces that now have to be compensated for.

Gliding on snow can be achieved through a higher awareness of the direction and degree of edging that you’re applying. The relation of your edges to the snow surface is the condition that most effects the three negative situations described above. Focus on controlling your edges with deft, measured movements of your knees and ankles to allow the skis to slide along the snow’s surface, instead of pushing through. Add a firm, balanced stance to good edging movements and you’ll be skiing by gliding down the hill.