I believe three of the most essential Keys to the Kingdom are the ability to side-slip in a 'Killy Stance', the Squeegee Move, and Balance Migration. Here's why.

1) Side-Slipping in a ‘Killy Stance’

Side-slipping is a lost art in ski instruction, yet it is essential for advanced skiing. Begin by simply slipping gently down the 'fall line' (where a basketball would roll) on a groomed blue run. See if you can control the slipping in each direction down a corridor (not going back and forth on the slope). Repeat and notice in which foot you feel your balance. When you can slip and come to a stop with your balance primarily on the top foot, you're ready to start adding a pole touch and turn. Repeat the corridor slip in both directions. Now start adding shape to your slip turns. Make medium radius turns with a focus that your balance is primarily on the top foot at the end of each turn. You'll know you got it right when your feet are even, toe to toe at the end and beginning of each turn. This is exactly what we call 'cascading' to control speed in the bumps. This skill is mastered when you add "Parking the Car in the Wrong Garage" (See ‘Parking the Car’ in our DVD "Finding the Love Spot").

2) Wake up your feet with the 'Squeegee'

This is the skill of simply scraping a foot under your center of mass to re-center (balance) from foot to foot. This scraping will also add turn shape without any forced jerky turning movement.  This simple move is how great skiers change their balance from foot to foot (rather than 'transfer weight' back and forth over the feet). This is also how they control their turn radius when they're not carving. (See it in "Four Words for Great Skiing")

When John talks about scraping, he's talking about about the same move that's described as the Squeegee Move in the book and DVD.

3) Balance Migration

Balance Migration may well be the simplest, yet most difficult, and also the most rewarding Key to the Kingdom. With patience and ‘Balance Migration’ practice, skiers immediately ski bumps with control, confidence, and style.

(See this simple great Key in "Finding the Love Spot”).

John calls these basic skills and exercises the Keys to the Kingdom - see what the Brave Ski Mom has to say about the Keys.

Own These 3 Keys

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