Tom GellieBig Picture Skiing Pty Ltd · Coach/Director

Playing with Terrain helps improve your skiing

12 Nov 2024 · 0 min

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In this instructional monologue, Tom Gellie explains how deliberately using terrain features—specifically the edge of a run acting as a mini‑ridgeline—can train skiers to manage unweighted moments during turns. He suggests alternating between attempts to get more air and keeping the skis close to the snow on successive laps, thereby creating small, self‑imposed problems. By continuously presenting these micro‑challenges, skiers are encouraged to push their abilities incrementally, leading to overall skill improvement. Gellie urges viewers to look for such opportunities the next time they ski.

Playing with terrain is one of the best things you can do for your skiing. Here I'm using the edge of a run like a mini ridgeline, helping me to learn to manage unweighted moments in my turn. On one of the laps you could try and get more air, and the next time around you could try and keep your skis closer to the snow. By continuing to give yourself little problems to solve, you'll keep pushing your skills higher and higher, making you a much better skier. Look for this next time you go out on the snow.