There are several ways to improve the way that you ski so that you are safer on the trails while still having fun. All it takes is to change a few positions and a few turns for you to experience a difference during the winter season.
Turns should be made as short as you can while maintaining control over the skis. Think about a parallel line when making turns as this is what they should look like while going down the slopes. Your speed can usually stay constant as you get from the top of the slope to the bottom by making shorter turns. Use your legs when you turn your skis. This will provide a solid base that gives more control instead of using your arms or your waist.
Carving
If you enjoy speed, then try to carve as much as possible. This is a maneuver that often works best on open slopes without a lot of other people around. The skis should be on their edge early on in the turn so that a proper carve occurs. Your weight will be distributed from one ski to another in the first few moments after getting on the slope. Your body will be extended after you have the right balance on the outside ski, giving you more speed to get down the hill.
Steep
Steeps are sometimes challenging, but they can make you feel like you’re floating down the hill instead of skiing. You’ll use both an upward movement and a downward movement to get down the hill while almost jumping from one side to another. The body should be facing the direction you want to go in order to check your descent.
Ice
If there’s a lot of ice on the slope, then it can greatly increase your speed before the ice melts and makes the course bumpy. Maintain your speed so that it’s lower than what you would normally use to get down the slope. Don’t lean back as this can cause an uneven weight distribution while skiing. As the ice melts, your skis will begin to dig deeper into the snow, which can often result in better turns.
Leaning back while skiing will usually make your leg muscles begin to ache as well as your lower back. Try to get the shoulders and legs involved in turns instead of your waist.