Troubleshooting Stance for All Skiers

Tips for a Better Stance

The correct riding stance is one of the most dissected elements of skiing. Many claim to know "the right way" to teach stance, but in all reality every skier has a different body and needs to practice a unique stance. Sure there are the fundamentals: be compact, be athletic, and stay forward. No one will argue with those tips, but what else should you know that will work for everyone? And what is the perfect stance? I can't tell you for sure, but here are some tips that won't do anything but help.

Ski with a functional stance width

It's impossible to ride with the same stance width across different types of terrain. While some will preach a stance set under the shoulders, others stand by a narrower or wider base. It's important to ride with all types. For example, in powder or moguls, it is more efficient to execute a narrower stance. In contrast, a wider stance can be very beneficial on steeper terrain or when traveling at higher speeds. Never move to extremes, meaning outside your comfort level or to any point your hips no longer support your legs, those stances won't help. But don't be afraid to play around and see what works best for you, especially when dipping in and out of the trees or into mogul fields. Try to figure out which stances work best to maintain your balance point. Which nicely leads to…

Find Your Balance Point

It's easy to instruct a skier to stay forward when skiing, maintaining constant pressure on the tongue of your boots. However, skiing in coordination with your balance point is more important than just staying forward. Skiing balanced makes you a more responsive and powerful skier. To find your balance point, take off the skis and boots for a moment, and stand with your knees slightly bent, eyes closed. Now slowly rock back and forth, feeling your balance move with you. Once you've found your center point, remember the feeling. Repeat the exercise with your ski boots on. Remember the feeling. Once the skis are back on, mimic the exercise again, even though you won't be able to actually rock back and forth. Do it again while skiing, and feel how the balance point works with your stance. Of course staying forward is very important, but riding in tune with your balance point allows your body to more effectively respond to your decisions.

Stay loose

In general, skiing with a relaxed upper body translates to a better skiing stance. A relaxed upper body is part of an athletic stance and allows your torso to do what it is meant to do — direct your body. Your arms should be out in front, but also relaxed and loose while they plant poles. Mogul skiers are the most obvious examples of the benefits of a relaxed upper body. While absorbing impacts and quickly changing direction, a good mogul skiers' upper body never flinches. Try to practice the same technique no matter what type of terrain your skiing.