Ready to level up your skills and impress your crew?
Explore key techniques to advance your alpine skiing.
Alpine Skiing Fundamentals
For beginners, we always recommend caution when first hitting the slopes. Trails are graded by steepness and difficulty into four levels: green, blue, red, and black.
You'll find these color codes on resort signage and slope markers:
- Green runs feature gentle, wide slopes – perfect for honing basic techniques.
- Blue runs offer steeper pitches for confident beginners seeking speed, with ample space for wide turns.
- Red and black runs require solid technique – these steep gradients (blacks being most extreme) are for experienced skiers chasing intense thrills. Only attempt these if you're comfortable not slowing down expert skiers.
Mastering Your Descent
New skiers often lean back instinctively, disconnecting from the slope and positioning behind their skis' center of gravity. This critical point (located lower on your body) enables proper movement and is essential for control. Your stance determines this balance point and affects overall stability during descent.
The optimal stance involves slight forward flexion at the ankles and knees, keeping your back straight and shoulders parallel to the slope.
When turning, align your skis with your hips. Weight the outside ski and lighten pressure when completing turns to reset. Turning power should come solely from your legs and thighs – rotating your shoulders will only destabilize you.
Pole planting rhythm is equally crucial – it provides balance and fluidity during turns. Properly executed, plant your pole ahead in your intended turning direction to maintain posture control.
Some shin discomfort after skiing indicates proper posture engagement. These minor aches pale against skiing's rewards: pure joy, weightlessness, and freedom amidst breathtaking mountain vistas with loved ones.
