Ski equipment
Ski videos
Ski technique books
Step 1
Enroll in a multiday ski clinic. Most ski resorts offer three- to five-day clinics. You should work with the same instructor each day who performs video analysis and feedback about your technique.
Step 2
Visit a professional ski boot fitter and have foot beds installed in your ski boots. The boot fitter should also adjust the alignment of your boots, which helps you assume a more efficient stance during skiing.
Step 3
Perform balance training exercises such as squats and lunges on a balance board and crunches on a stability ball. Improved balance gives you more confidence on the slopes, and enables you to ski advanced terrain.
Step 4
Practice inline skating in the off-season. Some companies even make roller skis that you can use with ski boots and skin poles to practice your technique on dry roads.
Step 5
Purchase ski instructional videos and ski instructional books. Watch the videos and read the books in between visits to the ski resorts.
Step 6
Ask a skilled skier if you can follow him down the slopes. Try to stay in his tracks.
Step 7
Watch professional ski racers on television and note their stance and postural alignment.
Step 8
Sign up for and participate in online ski message forums, which are common cyberspace hangouts for professional instructors. Post photos and videos of your skiing and ask for feedback.
Step 9
Practice new skiing skills on easier terrain. When you feel comfortable with the skills, try them on more challenging terrain.
Step 10
Book a ski vacation to a Southern Hemisphere ski resort during the summer. When it's summer in North America, it's winter in South America and Australia.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are a sea level skier, and you plan to ski at high altitude, take a day to acclimate. Acclimation helps your concentration skills.
- Low blood sugar and dehydration impede your concentration skills. Eat a decent breakfast and drink plenty of water.
Things You'll Need
- Skiing involves sliding down slippery slopes in below freezing weather with your feet attached to two long, skinny sticks. None of your activities of daily living bear even a vague resemblance to this challenging and counterintuitive sport. The short ski season and the time and expense involved in getting to the ski resorts makes it even harder to improve your skills. Mastering ski technique requires dedication and an unswerving willingness to maximize your on- and off-slope learning experiences.
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