1. Leaning back
How you notice it: burning thighs, the skis run away from you, turns are hard to initiate. What helps: consciously press your shins into the tongues of your boots and keep your hands visible in front of your body. Exercise: while skiing, alternately place your hands on your knees.
2. Skidding instead of carving
How you notice it: at the end of each turn your skis drift, and the track in the snow is wide rather than a fine line. What helps: start your turns earlier and with more edging; on a gentle slope, ski wide arcs purely “on the edge” and look for the two narrow tracks.
3. Rotating upper body
How you notice it: your shoulders turn with every turn and you lose your balance at the end of the turn. What helps: keep your upper body calm and facing down the valley while your legs turn beneath you. Exercise: hold your poles horizontally in front of you and keep looking down the slope.
4. Not enough edging on hard pistes
How you notice it: your skis slip away on icy patches. What helps: more angulation through the knees and hips, and pressure on the outside ski. Well-sharpened edges also help.
5. No rhythm on steep slopes
How you notice it: long traverses, hesitating before every turn, your speed gets too high. What helps: practise short turns – short, rhythmic turns with an active pole plant give you control and confidence.
Improve faster
These tips help, but everyone skis differently. In a private lesson, your instructor will see within a few minutes what is holding you back. Improve your ski technique with private lessons →
Gerhard Brunner, head of the ski school · October 2026