Professional ski racers have an uncanny ability to move smoothly and precisely through the entire arc of a ski turn, says former Olympic champion Deb Armstrong, director of skiing at the Steamboat Resort. The Professional Ski Instructors of America advises that controlled, directional movement holds the key to precise and graceful skiing.
Centered Stance
If a skier is completely centered, a plumb line attached to his belly button and pointed toward the snow would align with the toe pieces of his binding while standing still, and the tips of his skis while in motion, says Jessica Baker, head coach for the Ski Diva Clinics in Jackson Hole. The centered stance makes it easy to move your entire body into the direction of the turn. This sends a clear message to your skis regarding the direction in which you would like to turn. An off-centered stance is like listening to directions in a country where you don't know the language. It confuses you, and might lead you in the wrong direction.
Stance, Balance and Direction
Ski balance is never static. It transitions from front to back, and side to side. Balance and stance have a close relationship, with significant distinctions. You might have a centered and functional stance, but if your balance is insufficient, you will not be able to maintain your stance once you start moving. Balance, combined with stance, affect your ability to control direction. A balanced skier can selectively choose any directional movement that is appropriate to the terrain or the obstacles in front of him. If you frequently ski at crowded resorts, you encounter both the balanced and unbalanced skier. The balanced skier carves a neat turn around you, and avoids hitting you or any other skier on the slope. The unbalanced skier has no directional control. He is a danger to anyone in his path.
Forward Pressure
Edging, pressure and rotary movements control turn direction, and they depend on stance and balance. The ski turn begins when the skier tips his skis onto their edges, shifts his body weight into the direction of the turn to add pressure, and steers with his feet and ankles to guide the turn. The pressure helps commit to the turn. If you over-rotate your upper body -- a common trait among novice skiers -- you release pressure from, and commitment to, your downhill ski, and you put more pressure on the inside edge of your uphill ski. Your skis get confused, and your turns lose directional precision.
Tips for Directional Control
Every instructor has his own tip for teaching directional control. Ski instruction tips are like keys in a keyhole. Some will unlock the doors to learning new skills, while others fail. Some instructors, for example, tell you to imagine your belly button as a third eye, and advise you to keep your eye open and focused on the direction of your movements. Others advise you to ski down the slope while keeping both eyes focused on a building in the base area. Many people find that initiating a ski turn with their big toe requires less coordination than initiating with their little toe. To turn right, pull your right big toe toward the top of your boot. To turn left, pull your left big toe toward the top of your boot.
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