This week you’ll be getting TWO tips for the price of one (back to our regular schedule this Thursday)! Sorry for the delay, but here’s #15:

Don’t Oversteer

Turns that are smooth, round and on the ground are a recipe for a fun and enjoyable day on the slopes. To accomplish this, it’s important not to oversteer your skis. Oversteering  your skis  and making “Z” shaped turns will cause pressure to build rapidly, making them feel rowdy and difficult to manage.  This can compromise balance and control.

Instead, think about making “S” shaped turns. Focus on turning your skis with steady, progressive movement of the feet and legs to guide them on a smooth, round path. Let the turn shape’s curved path be your source of speed control, not brute force. As a result, you should find that the forces you encounter are much easier to manage.

Read the rest of the series:
Week 1 – Come prepared
Week 2 – Tune ups
Week 3 –  Early season conditions
Week 4 –  Skills not hills
Week 5 – Use the whole ski
Week 6 – Always be moving
Week 7 – Find your rhythm
Week 8 – Trust your outside ski
Week 9 – Like riding a bike
Week 10 – Carving and Steeps
Week 11 – Edge from your feet up
Week 12 – Enough is enough
Week 13 – Powder & Crud
Week 14 – Separation is key

Derek Althof has 16 years experience in the ski industry and is Deer Valley’s ski school training manager and an alpine examiner and clinic leader for the Professional Ski Instructors of America’s Central and Intermountain Divisions. Derek learned to ski at age 4 and has had a passion for good skiing ever since.

We hope you enjoy our weekly skiing tips. Please remember that they can help but will not eliminate risks, as skiing is a dynamic sport. These tips are meant to help you build skills  for a more enjoyable skiing experience.