MySkiScore.com
A different approach to skiing
See
How you move
Compare
To Ski Moves
Improve
With clear goals
First time failure Video
81 percent of first timers who take a lesson do not become skiers. More than half don't take a lesson and have an even harder time.
Skiing with friends
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.
Harder than it looks
People think skiing will fun like tubing without much planning, knowledge, or preparation. But only 19 percent succeed with this traditional spontaneous approach. The expectation that it is easy leaves most disappointed and feeling that they do not have what it takes to become skiers. The "just do it" approach does not work for most.
A game changing approach
MySkiScore.com provides clear goals beyond just skiing harder slopes to guide and motivate your skiing.
Golfers have a score to measure their performance and now skiers do too. The goals also shows you how to improve.
Natural moves
Skiers 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 three natural moves can provide a sense of success, but make it hard to ski slower, make smaller turns, parallel turns, and ski in control.
Feel and see
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.
Beginner lessons
Taking a lesson provides guidance and feedback, but less expensive beginner group lessons are often large with a range from fast learners to those who need a much slower pace. Fast learners can feel bored and just want to go at a faster pace.
If you need a slower pace you may feel frustrated and think you don't have the ability to ski. Then after your lesson your friends take you on runs that seem easy to them but are too difficult.
Pacing
Your friends may think you know how to ski after a lesson and just need more challenge. That can make you frustrated and reinforce natural defensive moves that put you in survival mode. When it is over you are relieved, and don't plan to return for more of that 'fun".
Safety
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 and everyone will be safe.
Private 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.
Conditions
it is not a great experience if a blizzard, temperatures far below zero, a rain storm the day before followed by a freeze, or a 60 degree heat creating thick sticky snow are forecasted, you should reschedule to avoid an expensive mistake. The attitude is that "we can handle anything", but the reality is that does not work for 81 percent of first timers. Careful planning creates success.
If you return
Most skiers are self taught, the 19 percent who return are often athletic, thrill seeking, and may enjoy learning on their own. The main goals are usually skiing more challenging runs and going faster.
This approach can be fun but normally lead to skiing with defensive natural moves that slow improving, limit progress, and are less safe. Many people like learning on their own, it works especially well for those with a lot of inspiration and talent in music, art, but is skiing there is the safety of others to be concerned about. Some instruction usually creates more success faster.
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.
Most people don't look at top gymnasts and think, "I could do that", but many 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.
Clear goals
Only about 7 percent of skier visits involve lessons. It is hard to know how well you ski, many think they are better than they are, others are recreational skiers and do not want to work 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.
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.
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.
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.
MySkiScore.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.