How to Ski in Control on Ice

Boiler plate, blue powder, glass, no matter what you call it, ice is a factor all skiers will experience at one time or another especially if you ski in the eastern half of the United States. Ice is formed when temps warm up after a good snowfall. The warm temps cause the snow to melt and compress. When the temp drops below freezing, the melted compressed snow turns to ice.

The primary concern of skiing ice is losing control because of how slippery it is. In order to maintain control while skiing on ice you’ll need to be sure to set the inside edge of your skis in to the ice as you traverse across the slope. In order to set an edge you’ll need to have sharp edges on your skis. Dull edges will not be able to give you the control you’ll need on icy slopes. If you have doubts about how sharp your skis are, check out our ski tune up page for tips on sharpening your skis. Below are tips and exercises that will help your technique of staying in control while on the ice.

Find a safe area to tryout the side slip; a short yet steep pitch on a roomy hill. Stand in the traverse position across the hill so that your skis are on a perpendicular to the fall-line, with your hands in front of you.

With your weight on the inside edge of your downhill ski, roll your feet, ankles and knees downhill so your skis are off their edges and onto their bases. Your skis will begin to slide down the fall-line. Keep your skis across the fall-line as they slide.

When you’re ready to stop, roll your feet, ankles and knees back into the hill again. Dig your uphill edges back into the snow.

Practice this a few times in both direction until you’re comfortable and confident.

            Skiing on ice can be noisy. The sound of your ski bases against the hard ice will create chatter. Many skiers may become frightened when they hear that sound and will flex and stiffen their legs leading to more chatter. Ice chatter can be reduced or eliminated by absorption. Relax your downhill knee and ankle, bending those joints to absorb the chatter. As you absorb the chatter you’ll have more control over your skis while on ice.

• Look ahead while skiing to prepare yourself for any upcoming ice patches. If possible, wait until you’ve passed over the ice before you start your turn.
• Stay in the dynamic position with your upper body facing downhill and your hands in front of you. Reaching back into the hill will cause the tails of the skis to skid out.
• While skiing on ice keep your movements subtle.
• While skiing on ice spread your feet further apart giving yourself a wider stance.
• While skiing on ice keep all your weight on the downhill ski.
• When skiing a run and cross a patch of ice, stay loose and go with the skid.