By: Martin Olson

Everything is A-OK

Is parallel leg position and equal edge angle really necessary for modern skis? Maybe not.

Something caught my eye as I scanned a series of photos from the last World Cup season. The majority of racers had most of their weight on the downhill ski and there were very few parallel shins.

So I reviewed hundreds of photos of excellent skiers and elite athletes. Sure enough, in the edging phase in real skiing there’s still a lot of what we used to call in the old days the “A-frame.”

So stick to the basics, keep your weight on the downhill ski and if you find your legs aren’t parallel, it’s OK—you’re in good company.


Bend ze knees

Both knees, that is. The simple task of making sure both knees are bending will help realign the body and greatly improve balance and edge grip. Check out the difference in these photos— eliminating a stiff downhill leg is a good first step to better performance. Skier: Will Comrie Snow: Panorama Mountain Village


No tipping policy

By comparing two images it’s easy to see the subtle difference between good skiing and fair. Tipping in the edging phase robs you of ski performance. A trick as simple as lowering your outside hand and arm can greatly improve balance and edge grip. Build awareness of how much your head and shoulders are tipping. Try to keep them level and allow your hips to move inside, not your head. Skier: Will Comrie Snow: Panorama Mountain Village