When speed helps ski technique

Skiing on my own, that is, well after my ski instructing career, has taught me a lot about the essential role of speed and momentum in skiing.

While technique is extremely important and must be learned at some point or another, in order to reach proficiency in the sport, there are many times when speed can accelerate the process or bridge a certain lack of technique.

Of course, speed entails a certain degree of confidence or fearlessness, hence the main paradox of skiing: Daring to embrace the risk created by speed in order to ski better and more efficiently. Nothing exemplifies that quandary better than skiing crud, for instance.

Yet, while speed is the elephant in the room, as few talk overtly about it when it comes to technique, its role and appropriate use remain what fuels most of the fun found in skiing!