Better Balance for Skiing

My Top Core Exercises for the Slopes

When clients ask me how to get better balance on skis, they’re usually expecting a list of wild balance drills. But here’s the truth: general balance training doesn’t transfer to skiing.

Research shows that balance is task-specific, which means if you want better balance while skiing, your training needs to mimic the way you move on snow. That’s why instead of fancy tricks, I focus on four essentials: core stability, power, strength, and ski-specific drills.

In this blog, we’ll tackle the first piece of the puzzle, which are my favorite core exercises for balanced skiing.

Why Core Strength is Your Skiing Base

On skis, your true base isn’t your feet, it’s your core!

A strong, stable torso acts like the foundation of a house, letting your legs work as shock absorbers underneath you. This gives you control and power through variable snow conditions, so you can handle whatever the mountain throws at you.

Exercise 1: The Rock-Solid Plank

Start with the basics: a solid plank.

• Keep your hips level (no sagging or lifting).

• Aim for a steady burn in your core, not in your back.

• Try balancing something light on your back to check for movement.

Once you’ve mastered the plank:

• Unlock your knees into a floating kneeling position, then extend back out.

• Progress to lifting arms or legs while keeping your torso stable.

These small tweaks will challenge your ability to hold tension, just like when you’re skiing through bumps or uneven terrain.

Exercise 2: Banded Anti-Rotational Squats

Skiing is full of twisting forces, and it’s your core’s job to resist them.

• Anchor a light resistance band at chest height.

• Hold it at the center of your torso.

• Corkscrew your feet into the floor, then sink into a quarter squat.

The band will try to pull you sideways, but your goal is to stay tall, squared, and steady. You’ll be surprised how much your core fires up here!

Exercise 3: Banded Step-Back Lunges

Take it up a notch with step-back lunges.

• Same band setup, but alternate stepping back with each leg.

• Keep the band tucked into your chest.

• Stay tall through your torso, resisting rotation as you move.

This one teaches you to stay precise under pressure, just like when you’re transitioning through turns.

Aim to build up to 1 minute per exercise, but focus on quality first. If that means starting with 20 seconds, that’s perfect. Take equal rest between sets.

Build Balance Before the Season

These moves (and more) are part of our 8-Week Pre-Ski Training Program, designed to help you build the strength and stability you need before winter.

Not sure where you stand? Try our popular Ski Quiz. It identifies your strengths and weaknesses so you can make the most of your turns this season.

Core stability is the foundation of ski balance. Once you have that, you’ll be ready to move on to power training.

Have a WILDR week, and I’ll see you on the slopes.