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Every instructor sees the same mistakes over and over. The good news: once you know them, they’re easy to catch. Here are the big ones.
Mistakes skiers make
1. Leaning back
When you feel speed, your instinct is to lean away from the hill. It shifts weight onto the tails, the skis accelerate and turning becomes almost impossible. Fix: press your shins into the front of the boots, keep your hands forward where you can see them.
2. Looking at your skis
Your skis won’t go anywhere without you. Fix: look 5–10 metres ahead, towards the next turn.
3. Stiff, straight legs
Locked knees can’t absorb bumps. Fix: keep ankles and knees soft, as if you’re about to sit on a high stool.
4. Turning with the shoulders
Rotating the upper body to force the skis around throws you off balance. Fix: keep your chest facing slightly downhill and steer with your legs.
5. Weight on the inside ski
Leaning into the turn like on a bicycle puts weight on the wrong ski. Fix: stand on the outside (downhill) ski through the turn.
6. Holding a snowplough for too long
The wedge is a great start but exhausting on steeper runs. Fix: work towards parallel turns once you’re comfortable on blues.
Mistakes snowboarders make
7. Weight on the back foot
Leaning back when the board points downhill makes it impossible to turn. Fix: front foot pressure, 60/40.
8. Catching the downhill edge
The most painful beginner fall. Fix: keep a slight edge angle on the uphill edge, especially on flats and cat tracks.
9. Straight legs and bending at the waist
Fix: bend the knees and ankles, keep your back straighter, like sitting on a chair.
10. Counter-rotating
Twisting your upper body opposite to the board. Fix: lead the turn with your head and front shoulder, keep hips aligned with the board.
Mistakes everyone makes
11. Boots that are too big or badly buckled
Loose boots mean no control and lots of pain. Fix: heel locked in the back, toes just brushing the front, buckles snug. One thin pair of socks, tucked in smoothly. See boot fitting.
12. Going too steep, too soon — and the “last run”
Skiing terrain you can’t handle teaches fear, not technique. And tiredness causes injuries. Fix: master the easy runs first; stop before you’re exhausted.
Other frequent slip-ups
- Wearing cotton, jeans or multiple pairs of socks (see layering).
- Forgetting sunscreen — sunburn at altitude is severe.
- Stopping in the middle of a run or just below a ridge where others can’t see you (see FIS code).
- Skipping breakfast and water.
- Not taking lessons.
Film yourself. Ten seconds of video will instantly show whether you’re leaning back or looking down — even when you feel like you aren’t.
