5 Secrets of Great Skiers
How to mold yourself into an expert

by: Kristopher Kaiyala

"Truth is, lessons are far less painful than our novice egos think they are," says John Byorth, contributing writer to Skiing and Powder magazines. "Sure, you may bruise your bum, but resorts design lessons to enhance the skiing experience. They want you to get down in one piece, artfully."

1. Hang out with better skiers. Great skiers challenge themselves every day by pushing their limits. You can test yours by skiing with people who are faster, stronger and more aggressive than you are. You may not always feel comfortable with the terrain they lead you into, but isn't that the point? The best thing to do is watch them closely. Study their moves. Note what they do in crucial situations. Then do your best to emulate them. Before you know it, you'll be the one mentoring others.

2. Don't be cheap when it comes to gear. Ski equipment prices have risen dramatically over the past five years, but so has quality. Believe me, you'll be happy you paid more. Byorth says ski boots are the most important piece of equipment because you use your lower leg to steer your skis. "Boots come in every fit imaginable, so there is no excuse for wearing poor fitting boots and enduring the dreaded 'black toenail' that comes with them. Actually, the biggest favor you can do yourself is throw out your old boots."

You should also consider buying custom-molded footbeds. "After a proper boot fit, the biggest favor you can treat yourself to is custom-molded footbeds," says Byorth. "I know ski bums who swear these are your most important piece of gear."

3. Ski all day and in many different conditions. Don't head for the bar as soon as clouds roll in. Tough it out. Great skiers can rip through every kind of snow because they don't shy away from weather. Test yourself on ice. Get a feel for fog or flat light. Soon you'll learn to love them all. The key to improving your overall skill level is becoming well rounded in every snow and weather condition, barring a complete whiteout, of course.

4. Buy and study the latest ski movies at home. Not instructional videos, but feature films by the likes of Matchstick Productions, Teton Gravity Research, and Warren Miller Entertainment. You'll want to watch, rewind, watch again, rewind, watch in slow motion, pause or go backwards one frame at a time. This is the next best way to visualize how to handle serious exposure and difficult terrain. Movie-star skiers study each other's moves this way, and so should you. Besides, these movies will get your fires burning for skiing like nothing else. Isn't that what it's all about anyway?

5. Stay in shape in the off-season. It sounds obvious, but great skiers stay active throughout summer and fall. Many choose trail running or mountain biking because they love to be outdoors. But gyms are great too. Other ideas: train for a half marathon, do push-ups and sit-ups, or take a kickboxing class. Yoga and stretching will keep your joints flexible. Your body needs to be in shape to absorb those moguls and little cliff drops. And the more toned you are, the less chance you have of becoming injured.

Skiing is just like any endeavor: Practice makes perfect. You won't get any better just dreaming about it. Fortunately this is one activity - unlike, say, bricklaying - where the practice is tons of fun.