Snow Skills

Balance is the bottom line in skiing and it can be tough to maintain when the pitch is steep and the snow is uneven. Add in many different body movements occurring at once and the challenge of balance can become confusing. You can settle everything down and create all the balance you want in skiing if you focus on separating your upper and lower body.

Try a turn called a pivot slip to improve your upper and lower body separation. On easy, groomed terrain, push off in a straight run right down the trail. Steer your feet promptly across the trail, bringing your skis up onto edge and to a complete stop. While keeping your shoulders and hips oriented together, focus on isolating your torso from the more active movements of your legs. Keep your shoulders with your body such that your hands end up roughly over the tip and tail of the skis.

Try a couple to each side and then try some moving pivot slips where your legs are swinging back and forth while your body generally stays facing down the hill. The most effective technique allows your body to generally stay aligned across gravity while allowing the legs to swing in unison from side to side like windshield wipers.

The resulting effect to balance is to allow you to focus solely on how you’re building balance up from your feet. If your body and limbs are too active, you’ll detract from this effort and struggle to build a good base of balance.