The Skier's Blog

Skill Development:Pants Pullers are such a versatile drill with variations suitable for everyone from first timers on snow to experts

January 16, 2021

Patience For Powder – Tips & Tactics for Skiing Fresh Snow

Environmental, Tactical

Novice Maneuvers, Skiing Goals & Objectives

Everybody loves skiing powder. Okay, everybody loves the idea of skiing powder, but many actually find it a struggle. Here are

December 1, 2020

Beginner Skiing Progression – Basic Mobility And The First Moves On Snow.

Okay, so we’ve got most of our gear on and made our way over to the bunny Slope. Once you

November 6, 2020

The Foggy Goggles Guide For New Skiers

Equipment

Skiing is a pretty active sport, and with all that exercise you’ll be getting hot and steamy... and so will

November 5, 2020

What to Wear Skiing? A Beginners Guide

Equipment

Novice Maneuvers, Ski Demonstration Library

It’s cold out there on the mountain. Let’s get dressed for your first day of skiing? The main goal is to

October 28, 2020

Beginner Skiing Progression – Situational Stem Turns

Novice Maneuvers, Ski Demonstration Library

Objective:Situational Stem Turns can be used as part of a progression for novice skiers to move towards parallel turns, or

October 28, 2020

Beginner Skiing Progression – Wide Track Parallel

Diagnostics & Skill Assessment, Ski Teaching

Objectives:Wide Track parrallel can be a good option for novice skiers to progress from a wedge towards their first parallel

August 8, 2020

Simplifying Skill Assessment for Skiing

Sometimes ski instructors get caught up giving feedback simply because that's what they are expected to do. But to offer

July 14, 2020

Body Folding – Armpits, Chins, Ears, Noses & Toes

Lateral, Q-Corner, Rotational

Intention: Grip is essential for steering... and 'angulation' is the key move to control edging and lateral balance. Angulation is simply

June 21, 2020

Clock Face Twisters

Q-Corner, Rotational

Intention: A classic visual for intermediate skiers, the clock face concept is great for those who have trouble managing speed and

June 6, 2020

Get a Grip, Decide When to Slip and Manage Your Turn Shape

Ski Technique

Skiing Goals & Objectives

Without grip, you won't change direction. If your objective is to carve cleans tracks. You'll need to eliminate any sideways slippage

June 6, 2020

Carving Clean Tracks

Carving clean tracks is an easily measured objective. You can simply look back at the marks left by your skis

April 30, 2020

The Trampoline Effect

Lateral, Q-Corner, Timing & Coordination, Vertical

A Classic Cue: Frequently used by instructors to help students understand the sensation of loading the skis towards the end

April 26, 2020

Lateral Leapers

Drill Library, Dry Land Drills, Lateral, Physiological, Timing & Coordination

Drill Library, Dry Land Drills, Rotational, Timing & Coordination

Skill Development: Strength and Conditioning - Core stability, agility, power, balance and quick feet! Lateral balance and stacking against the

April 14, 2020

Knee Cones

Skill Development: Trains rotational moves to lead with the legs (femur rotation) Develops cues for upper and lower body separation

April 6, 2020

Stork Turns

Drill Library, Fore / Aft, Lateral, Rotational, Vertical

Skill Development Foot placement & fore/aft balance Lateral balance to the outside ski to the outside ski. Strong outside leg

April 5, 2020

Pick Up Sticks

Drill Library, Fore / Aft, Lateral, Vertical

Skill Development: Very versatile drill that can be adapted to address nearly any symptom Promotes a round turn shape Lateral

April 5, 2020

Booty Taps

Skill Development: Primarily used to develop angulation and edge control Lateral balance Mobility in hips and other joints How to

Power Plow

Skill Development: Emphasis on steering and edge control How to Perform: Use a 'snowplow' (a.k.a. wedge or pizza) to establish

2×4 Squats

Drill Library, Dry Land Drills, Fore / Aft, Vertical

Skill Development: Develops fore/aft balance Developes mobility in the joints Helps to find cues for balance point under foot Uncouples

Pole Drags

Drill Library, Fore / Aft, Lateral, Vertical

Skill Development: Can be used to develops lateral balance and edging Can be used to develop fore/aft balance Emphasises a

Ridge Plant

Skill Development:Develops pole plant timing and anticipationDevelops tactics for terrain adaptation... great progression towards bumpsHelps with edge change and turn

April 2, 2020

Trust Falls

Skill Development:Helps to understand the concept of toppling and allowing the mass to follow it's momentum through the turn transitionCommitment

April 2, 2020

Intermediate Hopping

Drill Library, Fore / Aft, Novice to Intermediate, Vertical

Drill Library, Fore / Aft

Skill Development: Mobility in all joints. Play with fore/aft balance and vertical moves. Good generic mobility drill that can be

April 2, 2020

Wheelie Turns

Skill Development: Fore/aft balance Exaggerates a move to push the feet forward (or the centre of mass backwards) towards the

April 1, 2020

Follow The Leader

Skill Development:Decision training for Timing & CoordinationLearn line, tactics and decision making for different situationsConsolidation or refinement of specific maneuversCan

April 1, 2020

Funnel Turns

Skill Development:Timing & Coordination... increasing tempoGreat warm up or progression towards short turnsAdjust steering blend... amount of pivoting vs edging

March 28, 2020

Pole Walking

Skill Development:Isolates pole plant to easily pattern move into your subconscious.A great way to pattern the pole swing on shallow

March 27, 2020

One Ski – Short Turns

Advanced & Expert, Drill Library, Fore / Aft, Lateral, Timing & Coordination, Vertical

Advanced & Expert, Drill Library, Timing & Coordination

Skill Development:Challenge balance in all planesChallenge timing & coordinationDevelops strength & conditioningGreat for toppling and committing to transitions How to Perform: Take

March 25, 2020

Texas Two Step

Skill Development: Challenge timing and coordination Develops mobility in all joints How to Perform: Texas Two Step is kind of

March 22, 2020

Spiess and Baby Spiess

Advanced & Expert, Drill Library, Fore / Aft, Kids, Lateral, Rotational, Timing & Coordination, Vertical

Drill Library, Timing & Coordination, Vertical

Skill Development:Great for timing and coordinationDevelops mobility in the jointsDevelops steering skills (leading with the lower body)Develops pressure controlFore/aft balanceEdge

March 21, 2020

Avalement

Skill Development: Pressure Control Range of motion in all Joints Play with different timing of flexion extension Exagerate a retraction

March 7, 2020

Knees to Trees… Lower Body Leads

Q-Corner, Rotational

The Move: Turning the femur in the hip socket is the primary move to create a steering angle and lead

March 7, 2020

Hip Angulation – Butt Lift

Lateral, Q-Corner

The Move:Maintaining a relatively level pelvis and upright torso... to help maintain balance towards the outside ski while tipping the

Stacked – Activate The Glutes

Q-Corner, Vertical

The Move:Keep the outside relatively leg long and strong with your bones stacked and the big muscles activated in order

Hip Angulation – Pinch & Stretch

Lateral, Q-Corner

The Move:As the inside leg continues to bend and tip the skis on edge... counter balance with the upper body

Foot Roll – Femur Rotate

Lateral, Q-Corner, Rotational

The Move: Turning the femur in the hip socket is the primary move to lead the turning effort... combine this

Inclination – Bend & Balance

Fore / Aft, Lateral, Q-Corner

Balance through the middle of the outside ski...The Move:Inclination: Bend the inside leg to allow the 'Center of Mass' to

March 1, 2020

Hip Box Transition

Fore / Aft, Lateral, Q-Corner

The Move:To transition from one set of edges to the other, joints of the outside (downhill) leg will typically bend,

February 19, 2020

Femur Rotation – Resistance Band

Q-Corner, Rotational

The Move: Turning the femur in the hip socket is the primary move to create a steering angle and lead

January 12, 2020

Dwarf Turns

Drill Library, Lateral, Vertical

Skill Development: Mobility in all joints Pressure control Isolating vertical movements from fore/aft movements Can also be used for angulation

January 8, 2020

Spaghetti Legs

Skill Development: Foot rolling and leg rotation movements for edge control Trains moves without the need for lateral balance How

January 7, 2020

Backwards Skating

Drill Library, Fore / Aft, Rotational, Timing & Coordination

Skill Development: Develops edge control Develops upper and lower body seperation How to Perform: Find a slight a flat slope

January 7, 2020

Double Pole Plants

Skill Development: Stabilizes the upper body Helps develop cues for leading the turning effort with the legs Can assist moving

January 6, 2020

Javelin Turns

Drill Library, Rotational

Skill Development:Lead the turning effort with the lower body and develop seperationBalance against the outside skiGives skier immediate feedback when

January 6, 2020

Jabberwockies

Skill Development:Develop cues for turning the femur in the hip socketExagerate or isolate upper and lower body seperationGood progression towards

January 2, 2020

The Gravity Dance – Physics 101 For Ski Bums

Ski Technique

Skiing is all about manipulating forces... Gravity: Gravity is the universal force that pulls two objects together. Here on this

January 2, 2020

Hockey Stops

Drill Library, Drills & Games for Kids, Fore / Aft, Lateral, Rotational, Timing & Coordination

Skill Development:Lateral balance and edge controlLeading the turning effort with the legs and feetFore/aft balancePole plant timingEasy for instructor to

January 2, 2020

Braquage

Skill Development:Fine tune edge controlEdge change and turn transitionsDevelop rotational moves with the lower body to create steering anglesFoot and

Absorption Tank

Drill Library, Fore / Aft, Timing & Coordination, Vertical

Skill Development:Develops mobility in the jointsDevelps pressure control for terrain features such as bumpsHelps to isolates vertical moves from fore/aft

Low Ceiling

Drill Library, Vertical

Skill Development:Develops mobility in the jointsDevelps pressure control for terrain features such as bumpsHelps to isolates vertical moves from fore/aft

Air Plow

Skill Development:Develops lateral balanceImproves edging skills. Can help maintain upper and lower body separationIncreases awareness of a particular ski's turn radius How

T&C Tactical Mashups

Skill Development: Develops decision making Skill blending Timing and coordination for specfic objectives How to Perform: Set up cooridors of

Drill Library, Fore / Aft

Dolphin Turns

Skill Development:Develops fore/aft balance and recoveryActivates ankles, knees and hipsDevelopes an understanding of cause and effect with regards to fore/aft

1000 Steps

Drill Library, Rotational, Timing & Coordination

Skill Development:Develops lateral balanceImproves edging skills. Developes foot rolling moveHow to Perform: Through a large radius turn, repeatedly step off edge of

December 17, 2019

Plant-O-Line

Skill Development:Develops pole plant timing and anticipationHelps with edge change and turn transitionDevelops steering and turn shape for speed managementCan

December 16, 2019

Roller Blade Turns – Progression

Drill Library, Lateral, Rotational, Timing & Coordination

Skill Development:Develops carving skills using the ski design (self steering effect of the sidecut)Develops lateral balanceImproves edging skills including the

December 12, 2019

Tuck Turns

Skill Development:Develops lateral balanceImproves edging skills. Developes ability to lead turning effort with the legs Promotes upper and lower body separationHow to

December 12, 2019

X-Wing Fighters

Skill Development:Promotes equal edge angles on both inside and outside skiDevelops lateral balanceImproves edging skills. Can be used to help maintain

December 10, 2019

Hyper Plow

Skill Development:Develop cues for running a ski through a clean trackDevelop edging skills Increases awareness of a particular ski's turn radiusAllows

December 10, 2019

Crazy Leg Traverse

Skill Development: Develops lateral and rotary moves with the foot and leg Improves edging skills Develops edge change Develops understanding

December 10, 2019

One Legged Roller Blades

Skill Development:Challenges lateral balanceFine tune edging skills. Develops quick feetDevelops edge change, toppling and transition movesHow to Perform: Carve clean tracks in

Backside Norwegian Groomer Gropers

Skill Development:Develops lateral balanceImproves edging skillsCan assist with rotational balance (in the case of too much separation) Increases awareness of a

Hippy Penguins

Skill Development:Improves hip angulation and edging skills. Develops lateral balanceMaximize the skis self steering effect How to Perform: Ditch your poles! Hold your

Glove Golf

Skill Development:Develops lateral balanceImproves edging skills. Increases awareness of a particular ski's turn radius How to Perform: Find a quiet wide open run

Full Circle

Advanced Maneuvers, Intermediate Maneuvers, Ski Demonstration Library

Skill Development: Develops lateral balance Improves edging skills. Increases awareness of a particular ski's turn radius How to Perform: Find

December 3, 2019

Intermediate Plus… Short Radius

Advancing beyond the intermediate plateau requires the confidence to increase speed and difficulty of terrain. At this point many people

Beginner Skiing Progression – Linked Wedge Turns

Now that a skier can turn both ways... it's time to start linking turns together and exploring the mountain. Most

Beginner Skiing Progression – Isolated Wedge Turns

It's often easiest for a skiers first turns on snow to be done one at a time... typically in a

Beginner Skiing Progression – Braking Plow

The ‘Braking Plow’ (AKA. a Snowplow / Wedge / Stem / Pizza / Pie... or any other triangle analogy) is

Beginner Skiing Progression – The Gliding Straight Run

It's your first day on skis! You've figured out how to get your gear on and shuffle around on the

Equipment, Novice Maneuvers

Beginner Skiing Progression – Getting Out On Snow & Getting Used To The Gear

Physiological, Training & Skill Development

A first time skier often feels like they've just stepped off their space ship onto an alien planet. Ski boots

April 10, 2019

Wild+United Ski Fit

The S8 Interns

A couple of weeks ago, we, the Section 8 Interns, had the opportunity to join a ski-fit class in a

March 14, 2019

Preventing ACL Injuries in Skiing

Physiological

Lissa Fraser

Preventing Knee Injuries in SkiingBy Lissa Fraser MScPT Registered Physiotherapist, recreational skier and owner of Fresh Tracks PhysiotherapyAll sports and

July 5, 2018

Perception vs Reality

Training & Skill Development

Advanced Maneuvers, Expert Maneuvers, Ski Demonstration Library

Is your training regimen actually making you ski better? Improving your ski technique can be tough without an instructor… but

February 15, 2018

Hip Flexibility in Skiing

Physiological

Sam

Have you ever tried to learn some specific ski technique but was unable to perform it no matter how much

November 24, 2017

Slushy Bumps – Various Turn Shapes

Advanced Maneuvers, Expert Maneuvers, Ski Demonstration Library, Uncategorized

This old Piste to Peak Volume 2 teaser shows some seriously slushy spring bump skiing filmed one May day on

November 24, 2017

Carving – Various Turn Shapes

Ski Demonstration Library, Ski Technique, Skiing Goals & Objectives

This demonstration video may appear to be a shameless promotion for Piste to Peak Volume #3. That's because this is

November 10, 2017

There’s nothing wrong with your ski technique…

Intermediate Maneuvers, Ski Demonstration Library

...unless of course you want something else to happen!Technique isn't about looking pretty or trying to match some technical model

October 16, 2017

Basic Parallel

Referred to by many “Medium Parallel” or "Intermediate Parallel" this is a good goal for anyone wishing to cruise a

Environmental, Skiing X-Factors, Tactical

Skiing in a White Out

Everybody would prefer to ski on a beautiful blue bird day... but you just spent 3 hours driving to the

Are your ski boots helping you be a bad ass skier… or a bad skier?

I get made fun of a lot in the snow school locker room because I'm constantly tinkering with my boots.

Ski Tuning & Maintenance Issues that Affect Your Performance

If symptoms indicate, be on the lookout for any of these ski tuning issues that may be a contributing factor.Dull

Perfect Poles

There's all sorts of marketing magic out there trying to convince you to spend hundreds of dollars on the latest

Ski Design 101