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A game changing approach Video
More than 80 percent of first timers who take a lesson do not become skiers. But fewer than half take a lesson and the ones who do not have an even harder time. Make a plan to create first time success.
Most learn on their own or from family or friends who go to runs that are too difficult and it causes fear, frustration, or accidents. The ones who take a lesson often go with friends to slopes that are too difficult after the lesson thinking that a beginner lesson is all they need to ski with their experienced friends.
People expect skiing is a fun activity that is easy and are then disappointed or feel that they do not have what it takes to become skiers when they discover that it takes planning and preparation to be successful. Thinking you can just do it because it doesn't seem that hard leads to a lot of failure.
Less expensive beginner group lessons are often large and have a range of people from fast learners to ones who need a much slower pace. If you need a slower pace you may feel frustrated and that skiing is not for you. Then your friends take you to runs that seem easy to them but that are too difficult, they think you just need more challenge to figure it out. That makes more frustrated and using even more defensive survival moves. When it is over you are relieved, and don't plan to return.
If you go to slopes that are too challenging, it is dangerous for you and other skiers. It seems obvious that you can't try skydiving without training but people often think it is ok to put on skis and head down a slope on skis and they will be fine.
it is not a great experience if a blizzard, temperatures well below zero, a rain storm the day before followed by a freeze, or a 60 degree heat wave creating thick sticky snow are forecasted, you should reschedule. The attitude is we can handle anything, but the reality is that does not work for more than 80 percent of first timers. Careful planning creates success, it is a game changing approach.
If you return
You are often athletic, thrill seeking, enjoy speed, and like the freedom of trying to do it on your own. Your main goals are more challenging runs and skiing faster.
For the 20 percent who become skiers, this approach leads to skiing with defensive natural moves that makes improving harder and is less safe.
Only about 7 percent of skier visits involve lessons. It is hard to know how well you ski, many think they are good and do not need to improve. Others are recreational skiers and do not want to focus on improving. Some think they can't improve.
People usually take lessons when they want more control on challenging slopes or to ski in more difficult conditions. Parents often want their kids to be able to slow down and turn more on steeper slopes or to ski with their skis parallel. It takes more than one lesson to reach these goals and the longer they ski on their own the harder it is to change.
If you become a high level skier that participates in slopestyle, big air, freeskiing, racing, or moguls there are clear goals. But having clear goals from the start creates more success, especially for the 80 percent who do not become skiers.
Before skiing
The goal is to replace the way you move naturally with simple Ski Moves. But simple does not mean easy, it takes patience, clear goals, and specific feedback to improve and maintain Ski Moves.
Practice Ski Moves before skiing for the first time to know what to do and how to do it.
73 percent skiers ski less than six times a year, more practice before skiing helps you to improve.
The way we move naturally is opposite the moves we need for skiing. Skiing without knowing what to do makes learning more difficult, reduces safety, and causes a lot of people to not become skiers.
Lessons
Everyone learns in their own way and at their own pace which makes private lessons better. Your progress depends on your age, fitness, ability, goals, and amount of quality practice. Many think they just need one lesson and will figure the rest out, but it takes more than one lesson.
Private lessons with a good instructor provides guidance and feedback, but they can be expensive and hard to find especially at busy times of the season. Beginner group lessons can be large and contain fast learners but also people who need a lot of extra help.
Ask your instructors to help you improve your ski moves, they want to help you reach your goals. A first time skier is not ready to ski the same slopes as experienced skiers after a lesson. Choosing the proper terrain is critical to improving.
Do it yourself video
You can ski more, watch others, and follow good skiers, but it is easier if you know what moves to make.
It is hard to know how your moving, our comparisons help you to see if you are making Ski Moves. Partner with a friend to video each other and work as a team to analyze your video.
People don't look at top gymnasts and think, "I could do that", but they think they can ski like top skiers because they do not know the amount of time, talent, and training involved. Focus on how you ski rather than just skiing harder runs.
Ski in control
Ski in control is the first item on "Your Responsibility Code", but many cannot ski in control. Skis with a lot of side cut make caving easier and it is like giving a sports car to new driver.
An emphasis on carving results in many people skiing faster then they can control. Apps that track vertical feet, maximum speed, and create leader boards make the slopes less safe as skiers compete for top places and push those last runs when they are tired.
Hitting another skier or tree at 30 MPH is like falling off a three story building which causes catastrophic accidents and deaths. Most skiers taking a lesson are looking for more control on steeper slopes and in more challenging conditions.
As skiers age they may quit if they feel skiing is too hard on their body because they can not ski slower. Skiing slower with some skidding gives you more control and helps you ski longer.
Your ski score
There is no score in skiing like in golf so many skiers do not know they could improve. Even top competitive skiers have coaches to guide their improvement. Our ski score allow you to compare video of your skiing to Ski Moves and shows you how to improve.
Skiers often like the challenge and freedom of trying to learn on their own, but most end up back on their skis and turning from the top down with their shoulders and leaning inside the turn.
These natural moves can provide a sense of success, but make it hard to ski slower, make smaller turns, parallel turns, and ski in control.
It is hard to know how you ski, our visual approach allows you to compare how you feel to the moves you are actually making, so what you feel can get closer to how you really want to move.
Simple and Consistent
Skiing moves are simple, but that does not mean easy because Ski Moves that are opposite how we naturally move.
It takes time to replace natural moves with Ski Moves and they are a constant challenge to maintain.
Ski Moves are timeless, it is about good execution. A consistent focus is needed. Looking for different ways to say the same thing is helpful, but looking for new techniques makes learning harder. You hear comments like, "physics doesn't change so good skiing doesn't change" which contrasts with the idea that "skiing is constantly changing" and then there are many national techniques that do not exist in other sports like golf, soccer, swimming, or basketball.
Precise timing is the formula that describes how to make Ski Moves, it goes beyond a list of fundamentals.
Ask your instructor to help you improve your ski score, they want to help you reach your goal and can take video of your skiing.
About
There is endless debate about what good skiing is so you can hear things like, "we can't agree on how to describe it, but I know it when I see it", or "it does not matter just have fun. But many people do not have fun and do not become skiers, and the ones who do often struggle to improve, or lack control and make the slopes dangerous for other skiers.
SkiMoves.com was developed, tested, and refined for more than 20 years using video analysis software with skiers of all levels from beginners to top athletes looking at what moves people have in common not just the differences. We worked with US Ski Team's National Development System, the Professional Ski Instructors of America, National Ski Patrol trainers, the US Special Forces trainers, and training directors from major resorts like Vail to small local resorts. Thanks to all the coaches and instructors we worked with over the years especially Walt Evans, the former director of the National Development System.