Why it matters: All skiing techniques start with your feet. Whether you’re carving, skiing moguls, or managing variable snow, where your feet are positioned and how you engage them will dictate how smoothly and precisely you ski.

What to do: Pay close attention to the pressure under your feet. Begin every turn by focusing on lifting the big toe of your front foot, which will create proper pressure on the ball of your foot and engage your edges for tighter, more controlled turns. To practice this, imagine running the nail of your big toe along the ceiling of your boot, while keeping the ball of your foot firmly grounded on the floor of the boot. This simple yet effective movement will keep your body balanced and centered, ensuring more stability during turns and better edge control.

Bonus Tip: Think of your feet as the starting point for every movement. By focusing on them first, the rest of your body will naturally follow with more efficiency and less effort.

Why it matters: Balance is one of the fundamental aspects of skiing. Without it, your turns will be less controlled, and your ability to react to changing terrain will be compromised. Practicing one-ski turns helps you gain an immediate understanding of how to balance and center yourself over your skis.

What to do: To practice one-ski turns, simply lift one ski off the snow while keeping the other firmly planted and engaged. Try making short, controlled turns on your one ski, focusing on maintaining a centered stance and using the ski’s natural edge to guide your direction. This drill provides direct feedback on your balance and helps you become more aware of how to properly pressure the downhill ski during turns.

Bonus Tip: One-ski turns are a great exercise for both beginner and advanced skiers. Even if you’re an experienced skier, this drill will help refine your technique by highlighting whether you’re truly centered over your skis.

Why it matters: Skiing moguls requires a combination of flexibility, timing, and quick reflexes. Bumps can be intimidating, but with the right technique, you can ski through them smoothly while maintaining control and speed. Flexing and extending your legs as you go over moguls will allow you to absorb the shock of each bump and keep your upper body stable.

What to do: Practice the flex-and-extend drill by traversing a bump field. As you approach each mogul, pull your knees and feet up to absorb the bump, then extend your legs as you cross the valley between moguls. The goal is to keep your head at a consistent height throughout the mogul field, using your legs to absorb and release the energy from each bump. By focusing on this fluid movement, you’ll learn to stay centered and minimize the jarring effects of bumps.

Bonus Tip: Start by practicing on smaller bumps before progressing to larger ones. As you improve, you’ll be able to maintain smoother, more controlled movements through even the most challenging mogul fields.