Snow Skills

One of the keys to good balance in skiing and riding is to understand that your balance is not built on the base of the skis, but on the edges:

Unless you’re in the lift line, you’re almost never standing on the flats of your skis/board; a skiing turn occurs only because the skis are on edge. If the ski/board is flat, it has no grip. You can put your gear on and stand in your living room all day long, but practicing your stance on the bases on a firm, flat, and stationary surface is basically worthless.

A mental image of a stance at a standstill has only limited value and the sensation of a stationary posture doesn’t equal what you feel on the slopes. Building good balance must happen on the hill and is most effective if you work on it while moving.

Try some easy turns on easy, groomed terrain. Focus on balancing your weight on the sides of your feet (skiers) or toes and heels (riders) and use that image to concentrate your energy into the snow through the edges, not the base(s). Skiers will feel their balance along their boots on the little toe/big toe, alternating from side to side. Focus on tipping the boot back and forth without twisting it. Riders will feel the balance at the ball of their foot and heel by moving their ankle, similar to the way you push toward and pull away from the gas pedal while driving.