Ski racing combines skill, technique and a winning mindset. Alpine racing requires skill to negotiate the gates and turns. Proper technique is necessary to accelerate and maintain the fastest speed possible. Although refining your skills and technique is important, a winning mindset is your motivation to become a better and faster skier. You improve as a racer by skiing in amateur competitions as often as possible to develop certain techniques.
The Start
Step 1
Take your position at the staring line with your skis parallel at body width. Stand erect and plant both ski poles just ahead of your bindings and at shoulder width. Relax and conserve your energy instead of tensing up.
Step 2
Push down on your ski poles for leverage as you slide your skis forward and back in a straight line to develop momentum. Listen to the starter's countdown. Your goal is to have your skis back and your arms and poles ahead at the starting signal.
Step 3
Grip both poles firmly and pull hard as you launch forward at the start. Reach ahead with both poles again. Plant them firmly and pull hard to accelerate quicker. Flex your knees 90 degrees and bend forward at the waist to accelerate toward the first turn.
Turns
Step 1
Approach each turn with your knees flexed 90 degrees and your skis parallel at body width or slightly wider. Keep your head erect and your eyes on the outside pole of the gate. You turn faster by starting your turn as early as possible and completing it quicker.
Step 2
Plant your inside ski pole firmly and push your lower legs and skis outward so the bottoms of your skis are angled upward and off the snow. Rotate your upper body. Keep your head directly over your racing line instead of off to one side, which affects your balance.
Step 3
Load your weight on both bindings. Carve the inside edge of your downhill ski and the outside edge of your uphill ski as you turn. You turn faster when the effective edges of your skis are the only contact you have with the snow.
Acceleration
Step 1
Exit a turn by shifting your upper body back to center over your skis as you bring your legs under at the same time. You accelerate quicker by taking the steepest downhill line possible instead of across the face of the slope.
Step 2
Accelerate with your skis flat on the snow and your knees bent 90 degrees. Lean forward at the waist so your upper body is directly above your knees. Tuck your ski poles under your arms and crouch lower to reduce wind resistance and improve your aerodynamics.
Step 3
Keep your skis parallel at body width. Use your knees as shock absorbers instead of lifting or lowering your upper body, which slows you down. Bring your hands back to waist level after a bump or mogul and go back into your tuck to accelerate.
Step 4
Attempt to go faster than you have in the past each time you race. Technique and desire are more important than style. Expect some spills as you attempt to improve as a ski racer.
Tips and Warnings
- Study faster racers as they compete. Look for subtle things, such as when they start a turn, how they use their arms and poles and how effectively they go into their tuck. Many accomplished racers learned by emulating the best of their time.
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