Beginner Ski Stance and Position

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The most important part of a beginner learning to ski is stance. With a good stance you will look good and your skiing will become more efficient and enjoyable. Pay attention to maintaining a balanced stance and other skills will fall in place much more easily. Below are tips ski stance and position. First is a video guide on the dynamic basic position so you'll stand correctly making skiing easier. The second tip is applying the basic position to the wedge.

Video Clip from "The way to better skiing"
This video clip will help with position posture and stance

  • Use good posture - Stand centered over your feet with slight bent joints allows you to adjust to position.
  • Put your weight forward so you feel pressure on the tongues of your boots, and keep your arms forward.
  • Keep your feet apart about hip width, if they are to close they will lock.
  • Hold your hands (and your poles) comfortably in front of your body.
  • Look up and ahead of your skis. Don’t look at your feet. Feel your balance rather than looking down at your boots.
 
Snowplow - Pizza - Wedge
wedge turns

Now, from the dynamic basic position, put your skis in a wedge. The tips of your skis become closer to each other than tails. You can step, hop or slide into the wedge. The wedge also called a snowplow or pizza it's the position where most instructors begin. Practice sliding into wedge. The wedge will help you stay in control slow down, stop and turn.

If you have difficulty keeping the tips together:

• Make sure your weight is evenly distributed along the soles of your feet.
• Your shins should be lightly touching the tongues of your boots, but don’t lean against it.

If your tips keep crossing:

• Try widening the distance between your feet.
• Keep equal weight on both feet.
• Check to make sure the skis are relatively flat on the snow.