Ski Technique
Overview: Understanding the physical movements used by elite skiers will improve your skiing and racing ability. These movements include using an athletic stance, flexing ankles, moving the body forward, and stacking the outside leg. Demonstrations show how these movements apply pressure to the outside ski, create edge angles, and facilitate carved turns.
Introduction
Anyone can learn the technique used by elite skiers and racers by understanding the precise physical movements they use. Mikaela Shiffrin, the most successful alpine ski racer of all time, demonstrates these movements in the following video.
Ski Technique
The physical movements used by elite skiers are presented in the following modules. Click on the related pictures to learn how elites perform these movements.
Videos, pictures, graphics, and descriptions have been carefully crafted and selected to make this an engaging learning experience.
Mikaela Shiffrin showcases skills highlighted below.
Learn from the Very Best
Imagine yourself performing the following technique, so each movement flows into the next, creating a continuous and evolving carved turn.
- With an Athletic Stance,
2. Flex your outside ankle towards your big toe, feel pressure under the ball of your foot, roll your stacked outside leg inward, firmly press your foot against the outside ski.
3. Move forward by using your back and abdominal muscles to move your core and chest over your feet and down the hill. Feel pressure build against your outside ski.
4. Roll your inside leg way from your outside leg so your shins are parallel to increase edge angle.
5. Stack your outside leg and core keeping your shoulders level to the snow by separating just below the shoulders, and resist the pressure pushing back against your foot.
6. Shorten your inside leg to create greater edge angle.
7. Release pressure against your outside ski once your skis are moving towards the next turn. Level your hips, plant or touch your outside pole on the snow and return to the Athletic Stance, ready to start your next turn.
Where in the turn these physical movements are performed is shown below.
Edge Angle, Bend the Ski and Carve
To review the four movements described above to create and increase edge angle; Click below.
Ski the Steeps
To learn how to ski steep terrain; Click below.
Videos
Watch World Cup racer Dave Ryding for an excellent demonstration of these movements. Look for each component of the Technique including returning to the Athletic Stance between turns, moving the body forward and not up and stacking the body over the outside ski.
Focus on the movements of the racer in the following video as he rips some awesome turns!
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the physical movements of skiing is essential for improving your skiing skills and safety as an alpine ski racer. It provides valuable insights into how your body’s movements impact your performance on the slopes.
- The specific physical movements include maintaining an athletic stance, flexing the outside ankle towards the big toe to feel pressure under the ball of the foot, moving the body forward, stacking the outside leg and core, rolling and shortening the inside leg for increased edge angle, and releasing pressure against the outside ski between turns. Patience, practice, and a positive attitude are are important.
Suggested Learning Modules
Return to Slalom
To learn how words were selected to describe Technique in this module; Click below.
Quick Access to the Drills included in the Alpine Race Method; Click below.
Return to Experienced Adult Racers
Return Home and use the Navigation Bar or scroll down to interact with the other Learning Modules.
Important Note: Skiing and ski racing inherently involve risks, including the potential for serious injury. Participants must acknowledge these risks and are strongly advised to ski responsibly, adhering strictly to their personal skill level and comfort zone. It is the responsibility of each participant to evaluate their own abilities and conditions on the slopes, making informed decisions to mitigate risks.
