How to Get Better at Skiing
If you have finally hit the slopes and learned the basics of skiing, you are probably ready for new challenges. Developing strength, style and technique is all about your desire to improve your skills. Learn how to get better at skiing by practicing, learning and testing your limits.
- Exercise and tone your muscles to prepare yourself for skiing. Consider joining a gym or working out at home to develop and strengthen muscles. Set up a weekly schedule for exercise during the off ski season to keep in shape. Bicycling, swimming, jogging and other outdoor sports are a great way to stay in shape so you are ready for skiing.
- Work to improve your balance. Learn how to flex your ankles and relax your toes. This technique provides more flexibility to the lower portions of your body making it easier to absorb jolts and bumps in rough terrain.
- Practice the basic lessons you have learned about body and hand placements. With more practice this will become second nature and allow you to concentrate on more advanced skills.
- Increase skiing speeds by waxing your skis. Waxing skis reduces friction, make skis slide easier and increases speed.
- Practice using your hips to help guide your turns. By moving your hips towards the direction of a turn you can achieve more control and take faster speeds.
- Learn leg exercises to strength leg muscles. If you wish to get better at skiing, you should strengthen your leg muscles to provide the power needed for advanced slopes. Some skiers even hire trainers to teach them the proper exercises for improving specific muscles of the legs.
- Navigate bumps easier and with a faster response time by learning to keep your feet close together pointed towards the same direction. Practicing a tighter stance will give you the control needed when skiing through rough or bumpy terrain.
- Learn better maneuverability and control by keeping your shins against your boot tongues. Resist the urge to lean back and your body will stay centered making it easier to turn.