Anticipation, key to superior skiing

Over three years ago, I was promoting an fundamental element of skiing, called “anticipation.” I wont rehash the technical elements built inside that topic, read that particular blog if you wish, I simply wanted to underscore how important it is to becoming a strong skier. The subject was brought back to me in observing a photo-montage featuring Cyprien Richard, one of the best giant slalom specialists at the moment.

The main point, is that it permanently needs to be brought front and center in the skier's mind. Unlike most skiing movements, this one isn't intuitive, especially under duress. It's seems almost impossible to cultivate it into a life-long ski habit, particularly when fear, technical difficulty and fatigue enter the equation. It almost always is an element of last resort that, like a grenade or a pack of dynamite, will make the seemingly impossible or doubtful turn happen. So once you master a minimum of technique, the three only words you must sear into your skier's brains are “remember to anticipate!” and then, forever, “never forget to remember.” That later part is the hardest.