Skiing gets a lot more exciting as you get better at it.
The best skiers are always learning, and each little “aha” moment boosts their confidence, makes the experience more rewarding, and opens up new possibilities for their next run down the mountain.
But lets be honestmost people hit a plateau. Whether youre sliding cautiously down easy blue runs or carefully maneuvering through tight chutes, its common to feel like your progress has stalled.
No matter where you are in your skiing journey or what goals you have, here are 10 tips to help you improve and get even more out of your time on the slopes!
1. Commit 100% (Skiing Mental Game)
Commitment is the key to any downhill or adrenaline sport. If youre hesitant or half-hearted, youre already at a disadvantage before you even get started. Your skis are designed to move forward and downhill, so to stay balanced, your body needs to follow that same motion.
Skiing defensively throws you off balance. This not only makes it harder to control your skis but also forces your muscles to work overtime. Worst of all, it robs you of the best part of skiing the joy of effortlessly gliding.
That said, being overly aggressive can be just as risky. A gung-ho attitude can quickly land you in situations youre not ready to handle.
The best way to improve is by practicing challenging moves on runs where you feel comfortable. Skills take time to become second nature, and when they do, youll have the confidence and ability to fully commit when youre ready to push your limits.
2. Fix Your Stance
A good, balanced stance makes skiing so much easier. Staying athletic and centered over your feet gives you the control you need to pull off smooth maneuvers, so nailing your body position is super important.
Stance: Intermediate
Start with your feet. Since your skis are directly connected to them, small adjustments in your feet translate instantly to the skis. Your upper body is heavier than your lower body, so the less you move it, the more efficient you’ll be. Think of your feet doing the work while your upper body just enjoys the ride.
Heres a quick drill:
- Make a few turns and focus on where you feel pressure on your feet. Aim to keep your balance over the arch of your foot by letting your feet move naturally under your body.
- Try skiing over small bumps or rollers. Keep your upper body on a smooth, straight path while your ankles, knees, and hips bend to keep your balance over the arches of your feet.
Stance: Advanced
To create a stable base, focus on three contact points in your foot:
- The back of your heel.
- The ball of your big toe.
- The ball of your little toe.
With this stable base, pull your toes up inside your boots until your toenails touch the top. This engages the muscles in your shins and presses them into the front of your boots. This stance helps you control the front of your skis and adds a power steering effect at the start of each turn.
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Stance: Expert
Adjust your stance to match the terrain:
- Moguls: A narrower stance helps both skis fit into the rutline and hit bumps together.
- Ice and steeps: A wider stance gives more stability and makes you harder to tip over.
- Powder: A narrow stance keeps your skis closer, helping them float and move as one unit. This is especially useful with thinner skis. Youll also need to add more tension in your legs to push through the snow and keep your feet under control. Boot skiing on smooth slopes can help you get the feel for this.
Be ready to adapt to changing terrain. For example, if you’re heading into a steep bump, stay tall and extended so you can absorb the impact. If the ground suddenly drops away, crouch low and be ready to extend to keep your skis connected to the snow.
3. Understand Your Ski Equipment
Intermediate Skiers
Skis work best when theyre sliding in the direction their tips are pointing. When you let them glide naturally, they bend to adjust to changes in the snow, giving you a smoother, more fluid ride. Modern shaped skis are specifically designed for round, easy turns, so learning to let them do the work will take a lot of strain off your muscles.
Your boots are the connection between you and your skis. When your boots move, your skis move too. Thats why its so important to have boots that fit snugly, especially around your lower legs. When you shift your leg, you want your bootsand your skisto respond instantly.
Pro tip: Never let your foot or leg rattle around in your boots. A secure fit is key for smooth skiing.
Advanced Skiers
For advanced skiers, having the right gear makes a big difference:
- Narrow skis are great for finding and holding an edge.
- Wider skis are better for floating in deep snow.
- Short skis make turning and spinning easier, while longer skis provide more stability at high speeds.
- Soft, flexible skis are forgiving and maneuverable in bumpy terrain. On the other hand, stiff skis are ideal for carving precise turns at high speeds.
Boots matter, too. A well-fitted boot boosts performance, but dont rely on the stiff plastic to hold you up. Stay active in your stance instead of leaning too much on your gear.
Heres a fun mental exercise: Imagine skiing on super short skis (just the length of your boot) and wearing soft leather boots. That setup would force you to stay active and balanced every secondwhich is exactly the mindset you want when skiing at an advanced level.
4. Understand Gravity in Skiing
Gravity is what makes skiing possibleits what pulls you down the hill. But lets face it, many people are scared to let gravity take over and allow their skis to glide freely.
The trick is to think of your turns as a way to work with gravity, not fight it. Heres how:
- When your skis point downhill (into the fall line), they naturally pick up speed and glide smoothly.
- When you turn your skis across the hill (away from the fall line), they slow down.
Once you accept that gaining speed is a natural part of the first half of a turn, you can use that momentum to guide your skis smoothly back across the hill and slow down. Its all about finding a rhythm and trusting the process!
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5. Focus on your Outside Ski
If you feel like you could lift your inside foot off the snow while dragging the downhill pole, youre on the right track! To get your ski to grip properly, imagine youre sidestepping uphill without the ski sliding out from under you.
For Advanced Skiers
To shift your balance to the outside ski, you need to take the pressure off the inside ski. Heres how to do it:
- Lighten your inside leg: Flex it slightly so the foot feels unweighted. It should feel like the ski is regaining its natural curve underfoot.
- Soften your inside body: Let your torso relax and shift toward your balance point over the outside foot. You might feel a stretch along the side of your body.
- Increase the edge angle: Bend your inside leg, letting your knee float toward your armpit. This helps set the edge firmly in the snow.
Transitioning to the New Outside Ski (Expert Tips)
Shifting your weight from one ski to the other should feel smooth and seamlessthink of it like shifting gears in a car. Sudden, jerky movements can throw off your balance.
- End of the turn: Let your outside leg bend while staying balanced on it.
- Gradual weight shift: As your skis flatten, feel your weight move evenly from one foot to the other. The transition should feel natural and fluid.
- Step into the new turn: Gently step onto your new outside ski as you start the next turn.
Look ahead and practice timing this process so each turn flows into the next without hesitation. Smooth transitions are the secret to great skiing!
6. Mix it up and vary intensity
Many skiers find their comfort zone and stick to it. Some prefer cruising at a relaxed pace, always in control, while others love the thrill of pushing themselves to the edge every moment. Both approaches have their place, but neither will help you reach your full potential. To keep improving and mastering new skills, you need to train across the full spectrum of intensity.
The key is finding balance in your practice. Unfortunately, we all tend to stick with what we enjoy most, often avoiding the other end of the scale.
- Take it slow: Spend time skiing within your comfort zone. This is where you can focus on fine-tuning your technique and making small improvements without the pressure of speed or challenging terrain.
- Challenge yourself: Ski on terrain thats a bit outside your comfort zone, where youre closer to your limits. Mistakes are part of learningfiguring out how to recover will help you develop the small adjustments needed to stay in control. Pushing your boundaries also shows you which skills need more work on easier runs.
Mixing these two approaches will help you build confidence and continue progressing on the slopes!
7. Make drills count
Drills and exercises are a great way to improve your skiing when done right. Here are some tips to make the most of them:
- Target your weaknesses: Pick drills that focus on areas where you struggle. Not every skier needs to practice touching their kneesits about what you need to work on.
- Notice the feeling, not just the results: Pay attention to how your body feels during the drill. This helps you carry that awareness back into your regular skiing.
- Challenge yourself gradually: Once youve nailed a drill on easy terrain, mix it up. Try different speeds, turn shapes, and move to more difficult slopes. You need to practice the movement in all kinds of conditions.
- Carry the improvement forward: When you stop the drill, focus on keeping that new feeling and aiming for the same results. Some drills can be phased out gradually to help the transition.
With a little focus and practice, these exercises can help you build better habits on the slopes!
8. Ski with flow
Watching a master skier is like watching art in motionevery move flows into the next, and their momentum keeps them gliding effortlessly down the mountain. This is where skiing starts to feel like true freedom.
Heres how you can work toward that same smooth flow:
- Look ahead! Dont stare at your skistheyre not going anywhere without you. Looking ahead gives your brain time to prepare your body for whats coming, making your movements feel natural and smooth.
- Use pole plants to find your rhythm. Count in your head as you turn and aim for consistency. Try to keep the same time and distance between each pole plant, and practice different turn shapes and patterns to build versatility.
- Let your skis glide. Even if its just for a moment, allow your skis to run flat between turns. That tiny bit of glide ties everything together and creates a seamless flow.
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When the terrain gets tricky, adjust your approach:
- Pick your line. For example, in a narrow chute with a wide-open area at the end, you can let the skis run because you have room to recover.
- Plan ahead. If a flat section is coming, carry enough speed to glide across. If youre approaching a steep drop where you cant see the bottom, finish a turn across the slope so you can peek over the edge and decide your next move without slamming on the brakes.
Master these tips, and youll start feeling that same effortless freedom in your own skiing!
9. Know your own learning style
Everyone learns differently. Some people pick things up by watching others, while some learn best by jumping in and doing it. Others prefer to understand the bigger picture so they can figure it out themselves. Which one sounds like you?
The better you understand your learning style, the smarter you can be about your training and make the most of your time. No matter your preference, though, getting a mix of input can be super helpful when youre working on a new skill. Heres how to approach it:
- Dive in and practice: Just get out there and give it a try. It might feel messy at first, but building new skills takes time and repetition.
- Watch and learn: Find a skier you admire and study their technique. What are they doingor not doingthat sets them apart from less experienced skiers?
- Understand the theory: Talk to an expert or read up on the mechanics of the skill. Knowing the why behind the movements can help you avoid common mistakes.
As you refine your skiing, start focusing on how it feels. Pay attention to the feedback youre getting from the snow and your body. This awareness will help you spot problems and fix them as you go, making your improvement even smoother.
Also Read: What are the Best Budget-Friendly Ski Gear Brands?
10. Check in regularly
No matter what your goals are, getting feedback from others is key to staying on track. Tools like Carv can help you understand where youre at, while a lesson from a pro can show you what to work on next.