Snow Skills

Develop balance that uses the location of the body to allow the skis to turn with ease.

The position of the body in relation to the feet is critical to balanced skiing turns. With your skis across the slope, stand balanced on your uphill edges with slightly flexed ankles and knees. Simultaneously release your edges just enough to begin sideslipping and move your torso slightly ahead of your feet. You will begin to move forward diagonally to gravity; now move your torso slightly behind your feet and move backward diagonally to gravity. Begin to make alternating redirections that sweep forward and backward, similar to the manner a leaf falls from a tree.

Later, do five redirections and, on a frontward movement, fully release the edges to allow the skis to enter a turn. Keep doing sets of five redirections and one turn; focus on the sensation of having your body slightly ahead of your feet as the skis drop into gravity. Now, make gentle parallel turns and focus on moving your body into gravity with the skis as a single unit.