The Alpine Skiing Fundamentals

As you start to understand the skills concept, you can begin to identify the five fundamentals of skiing; these are the movements that help a skier achieve ideal ski performance.  The five fundamentals are:

• Control the relationship of the Center of Mass to the Base of Support to direct pressure along the length of the skis.

• Control Pressure from ski to ski and direct pressure toward the outside ski.

• Control edge angles through a combination of inclination and angulation.

• Control the skis rotation (turning, pivoting, steering) with leg rotation separate from the upper body.

• Regulate the magnitude of pressure created through ski/snow interaction.