8 Plus Skiing Tips That Will Help Any Skier
If you’re like myself, and grew up skiing on the east coast, then you probably learned how to ski on ice, “loose” granular and EVERY condition possible (we don’t get the nickname, the Beast of the East, for no reason)! Thus, I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks I’ve learned along this 20 year plus journey of skiing, that I hope will help you with your’s. So, let’s get started.
In this post, you will learn about different skiing tips to improve/help your overall experience when skiing. In addition, you will learn, skiing tips for beginners, intermediate, and advanced skiers. As well as, skiing tips for turning, how to get better, for first timers, steep skiing tips, ski carving tips, and more.
Disclaimer: None of these tips/recommendations are in any particular order.
This post is all about various skiing tips.
Skiing Tips:
1. How to Dress
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My first tip when skiing, is on how to dress. How to dress is a great skiing tip for first timers, and/or beginners-intermediates. Typically when I ski, I wear two to three layers. For my arms/top, I will wear, a base layer, kind of like, long johns. Under Armour and or Kari Traa makes great base layers, that I typically wear. Then I will wear a sweatshirt, fleece, or warmer layer on top of my long johns. Then, my final layer will be my winter jacket. I like my winter jackets to be extra big, because I put a lot of stuff, like my GoPro, snacks, and extra neck warmers in my pockets. Thus, I need a lot of space. But, the way you want your jacket to fit, is totally up to you.
Now, for my legs/bottoms, I wear, my long johns, again, I recommend Under Armour and or Kari Traa. Then my next layer will be, sweatpants, but I only wear these if it’s under 15℉. Then the next layer, obviously, are my snow-pants. Now, for my face, I like to wear, a thin face mask. However, if it’s super cold, I will wear, a thicker one over, the thinner one. Also, I will pull the hood of my jacket, over my helmet, then zip my jacket all the way past my chin, to my nose.
Also, for gloves, I always wear mittens, in my opinion, they are warmer. Typically, I just wear my mittens everyday. However, on really cold days, I again, will wear a pair of smaller/thinner gloves inside my mittens. Also, for socks, I highly recommend investing in some Darn Tough socks, they are what I wear for socks and they are pretty warm/thick. Then on colder days, again, I will double layer, and wear a thinner pair of socks as a base layer. Then, my heavier Darn Tough socks on top.
2. How to Eat
My second tip is on how to eat. For breakfast, I will always eat a banana and or oatmeal. Also, I drink PLENTY of WATER. The more water you drink, the more you will be able to ski. Particularly, in higher altitudes, like out west (Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, etc.). Altitude sickness is a REAL thing in the Rockies and other higher altitude places. For me, I have a 32 oz water bottle, that I refill about 4-5 times a day. I NEVER get headaches, I always feel awake, my gut feels amazing, and I swear it’s because of how much water I drink.
To put this into perspective, I am 5’4,” weigh about 135 pounds, and I’m female. So, how much water you need to drink will depend on all these different factors. This article is very helpful in determining how much water you want to be drinking per day. I will pack a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, along with cliff bars, another piece of fruit, and some Gu Packets. I’ll sometimes eat something at the mountain too. However, I usually try and bring food, because eating at the mountain is pretty expensive.
3. How to Pack
This skiing tip will be helpful for again, first timers, beginners, and maybe intermediate skiers. There are many different ways to pack. I use a specific bag that holds my boots, mittens, helmet, food/drinks, and neck warmers. Here is the bag I use. I really like the boot bag I use. I like it because it fits my helmet, and whatever else I want in the middle (neck warmer, gloves, lunch, etc.), then my boots, fit on the sides. And I will just carry my skis and poles.
In addition, on the east coast, most people but their boots on in the lodge and leave their bags there. Whereas, on the west coast, people put their boots on in the parking lot. On the west coast, the lodge is only for eating and drinking. This is just something to keep in mind when planning on skiing at different regions of the country.
4. How to Ski in Powder
My fourth tip, is on skiing in the powder verses skiing on groomed trails. Now for first timers, and beginners, don’t worry about this, stick to your GROOMED trails. When skiing in the powder (deep snow), I suggest skiing with your skis closer together. Because, you will have more power this way, thus, making it easier to burst through the powder/deep snow. Now, on the east coast, “powder,” can be super heavy/wet instead of light/airy snow in the west. So, you will need more power and momentum to burst through the snow.
Also, when skiing in the powder, you don’t need to get on your edges. In fact, this will likely make you fall if you try and get on your edges in deep powder. In the powder, you want power, to burst through the snow. Thus, having a larger surface area, by bringing your skis closer together (like a snowboard), will make it easier to go through the snow. Whereas, when you have a wider stance (skis farther apart), it’s much easier to get on your edges, and dig them into the snow, to make “prettier” turns, instead of skiing through the deep snow. This is how I suggest skiing on the groomed trails.
5. How to Ski Moguls
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Okay, my fifth tip is, for how to ski in the bumps or moguls. This is more of a skiing tip for advanced to intermediated skiers. Anyways, for skiing the bumps, I usually take a quick stop at the top, and try to pick my line (my turns) before I go. Then when I get tired, I will stop again, and rest, then pick my line again. Also, I like to ski in the ruts of the moguls, because then my turns are pre-made for me.
However, if you’re going to ski in the ruts, they can get really icy, or skied off. If this is the case, then, I will ski on top of the bumps, or wherever the snow is. Skiing on the tops of the moguls is fun. To do this, you just ski right to the top of the mogul, then like on a steep run, you point your skis downhill (side step, depending on how big the mogul is) and then make your turns. Then ski onto the next mogul top.
I always say, you can ski anything, as long as there’s snow. If you’re just starting to ski moguls, I suggest, skiing on smaller ones. Or ski on some un-groomed areas, first, then, once you’re comfortable with that, ski bigger, tighter, and steeper moguls.
6. Skiing the Glades
Okay, my next tip is for skiing in the glades or “tree skiing”. As a beginner and some intermediates (depending on the skier and glades), you will NOT be skiing the glades/trees. There are some smaller/more open glades that as a beginner/intermediate I would recommend trying out, but nothing over a blue square for glade runs.
Now, again, when I ski in the glades, I like to pick my line first, if I can. Sometimes, the glades/trees are so tight, you can’t see that far ahead of you. So, you just have to make it up as you go. Also, a smaller/narrower stance (bringing your skis closer together, like a snowboard) is the way to go. Usually, the glades, are covered in powder. So, again, you’re trying to power through the snow, instead of getting on your edges. Please, DO NOT try and get on your edges in the woods/glades, you will fall, and probably slide into a tree.
The glades are too narrow to get on your edges. In the glades or wooded areas, you have to make quick, VERY quick turns, to avoid trees, tree roots, branches, ruts, and other various items you don’t want to ski over. Thus, transferring from edge to edge, will just not work, you will definitely catch your edge on something, then probably crash into a tree.
Thus, a narrower stance, will make it less likely, for your skis to catch on a loose branch, or something. Again, because your skis are close together, you have more power to burst through the trail and keep forward, then to catch one ski on a loose branch.
Also, another tip is on how to stop in the glades. You really want to avoid the “pizza” stance as much as possible. Again, since your skis are further apart when in a pizza stance, this gives your skis more opportunities to catch onto something, and then have you slip and fall. This is also why glades are NOT good for beginners because most beginners only know the “pizza” stance.
Thus, you really want to keep your skis close together like a, “french fry,” stance. And when you need to stop, you just push your skis up and to the side. Pretty much, like a hockey stop, but a little less aggressive. Sometimes you won’t have room to fully dig in your skis and pivot as much as you want, to make that full hockey stop. Thus, if you just slightly push your skis up and to the side, you will stop or at least slow down.
7. Skiing Backwards
Okay, the next tip is for anyone who wants to learn how to ski backwards! Now, before you do this, please check your mountains rules when it comes to skiing backwards, every mountain is different on this. Most mountains, this isn’t an issue, but I know Gore Mountain, in New York, you are NOT allowed to do this. Thus, I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble, solely because you didn’t know the rules.
Anyways, this is more of an advanced skiing technique or just fun in my opinion. So, skiing backwards is just like skiing forwards, only in reverse. Basically, you turn around, make a backwards pizza, or V shape with your skis, while your eyes look over your shoulder, to make sure you don’t hit anything or anyone. Then, turn how you normally would, as when you ski forwards. Then, you can slowly ski without the pizza, like you would normally learn how to ski forwards.
8. Skiing on Ice
The next tip, I have, is for skiing on ice. Now, skiing on the ice, is never ideal, but if you’re from the east, you know, it’s inevitable. I worked as a ski instructor at Jay Peak, for one year, and got some awesome advice throughout my season. One piece of advice that I got from another seasoned instructor, was how to ski on the ice. He taught me, to do skidded turns on the ice, instead of digging in your edges, as you’d normally do.
Skiing on the ice, really has nothing to do with your ability, but more with how sharpened your skis are. If you sharpen your skis, they will get a much better grip on the icy surface, compared to dull edges. However, if you ski over straight ice, nothing will prevent you from sliding, it’s unavoidable. Thus, when you do skidded turns, instead of nice edgy turns, you’re going with the ice, instead of against it.
So, to do a skidded turn, you make your turn, and skid your skis along the ice, kind of like side stepping. I would try this instead of digging your edge into the trail, as you’d normally do when there’s more snow, to get a good grip. Then once you’re off the ice, I advice to go back to digging in your edges. I only advice “skid” turns when it’s straight up ice. Try to find the next snow patch as soon as possible.
9. Skiing on Steep Terrain
My biggest tip for skiing steep terrain is to side step. In my mind, there are two different types of side stepping. The first, is turning to the side and letting your skis/ankles roll down the mountain. You don’t turn, you just let your skis roll by slowing rolling your ankles down towards the mountain. The second, is literally, stepping down the mountain with your skis on. Again, you will turn to one side, then step your downhill ski down the mountain then your uphill ski down, then continue this process until you feel comfortable turning.
Now, if you’re going to do the second method, PLEASE do it on the SIDE of a trail. You will piss A LOT of people off if you do this straight in the middle of the trail, and you might get hit by someone. Also, skiing on the side of a steep trail, is more comforting anyway. Now, you can’t side step the ENTIRE run, I only side step until I can or feel comfortable making a turn on a flatter part.
10. Ski Carving Tips
Ski carving tips is basically how to make “pretty” turns when skiing. These are the turns that everyone RAVES about when skiing, the nice edgy turns that racers make. To make these kinds of turns, you will have to be making parallel turns. To make these turns, you want a wider stance with your skis, so you have the power in your legs, to really dig in your edges. I would say hip with distance apart is good. Then, start skiing and when you start to transfer your turn to the other side, that’s when you want to roll your ankles a little more and really use your legs to dig in your edge of the ski. You’ll start to make carvings in the snow with your turns if you do this correctly.
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And that concludes my skiing tips and tricks. I hope you learned something new, to help you with your skiing. Even if it was just a tip on how to dress warmer or if it helped with your overall skiing experience, I hope you learned something new. Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you can ski/snowboard sometime soon! Thank you and take care!
