Stretching Your Comfort Zone

Every day when we get out on the hill, we look forward to ripping the mountain and having fun with our friends. But, are we getting the most from our equipment and our time on the snow? Or, are we just doing the same turn on every run? Does that turn challenge our skill level or the design radius of our skis?We turned to the National Ski Academy for tips on how to make the perfect turn.

Varying the steering at the top of the turn and the edge angle you create from the fall line to the turn completion, will add dimension to your experience. By giving yourself a goal for each run or section of a run, you will challenge your skill, the versatility of your equipment and gain valuable experience. For example, you could try making 15 clean short radius turns on the pitch or six inch solid GS type turns. And the great thing about it is that you don’t have to wait until you’re facing that steep bump run at Apex or that wide open cruiser at Sun Peaks. You can gain this experience right here at home on our local hills! Experimenting with turn shape increases balance, spatial awareness, speed control and confidence. So next time you head out to the local hills, shake it up and invest a couple of runs in playing with turn shape and stretch your comfort zone a bit.Learning to ski can be a lifelong process, as there are always new tricks to learn and new skills to master. Just remember to take your time and enjoy it. Skiing is one of life's greatest workouts.