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Ski Tip #3: Lateral Balance

The second basic to proper skiing is lateral balance. This is your side-to-side balance and deals with weight shifts from one foot to the other.

It's no different than when you’re walking. For example, we could have you freeze in mid-stride and you could balance on that foot, because you’ve made a definite weight transfer. The same theory applies in skiing. To ski properly, you must transfer weight from foot to foot each and every turn. Once you’ve mastered the first basic, fore/aft balance, it makes it much easier to transfer weight laterally.

At a slow pace on gentle terrain while traversing, practice picking up the uphill ski. (Make sure to check uphill for skiing traffic before you start your traverse) Are you able to balance on one foot easier? We all have a strong side. Go one step further, traverse picking up the downhill ski. If the tip of the lifted ski is up or down, this generally means you’re either sitting back or leaning forward.

Tip #2 Fore/Aft balance comes back into play. Look back at the track the edge of your ski has left in the snow. Is it crisp or kind of a wide smear? Keep adjusting your fore/aft balance until you can leave a crisp edge track in the snow while traversing either on the uphill or downhill ski.

Now add a turn into the mix. Traverse on the downhill ski, transfer weight to the uphill ski (the new turning ski) then lift the downhill ski and turn. Remember to move forward as you transfer your weight to your uphill ski before you start your turn. This creates the habit of an early weight transfer with proper balance, which helps you prepare for the new turn.

Slow everything down. Make your turns the shape of a C not a Z. Think of an edge change and then a direction change. Too often we make a direction change then the edge change.

Tip # 3: WEIGHT TRANSFER, WEIGHT TRANSFER, WEIGHT TRANSFER!!!

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