How to Freestyle Ski

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

Rate: (74 Ratings)

If you are interested in learning to ski freestyle, then you should be an experienced skier or snowboarder. The art of freestyle skiing primarily consists of tricks and jumps that are done by skiers who have a high intermediate-to-expert knowledge of skiing. It also helps to be proficient in a sport such as gymnastics or skateboarding to understand the mechanics of performing certain skiing tricks.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Snowboard
Freestyle terrain park
Experience skiing or snowboarding
Correct freestyle-type skis

Learn to Freestyle Ski

Step 1

Purchase the correct skis or snowboard for what you are doing. Skiers that are interested in performing extreme freestyle moves should consider the length and width of their skis before entering the designated terrain at a ski area. Most use a snowboard, but skiers should use shorter and wider skis than in Alpine skiing to perform the same tricks.
Step 2

Begin with the basic moves such as a mogul. A mogul is an advanced move performed with regular skis. Although the shorter, wider skis can get through the terrain of moguls, skis of standard length and width work the best.
Step 3

Try the ramps in a freestyle ski park because many ski areas now have designated sections where extreme skiers can go to practice and show off their freestyle moves. The most basic component is the ramp. There are different sized ramps for different levels of skiers, but each requires exceptional balance to not only ride the ramp, but to land on your feet without injury.
Step 4

Ski the half pipe in an extreme terrain park at your local ski area. The half pipe is a section of snow that has two snowy sides on either side of the trail. Freestyle skiers can go up and down the snow-walled sides for some extra fun.
Step 5

Experiment on the rails. These rails are similar to skateboard rails and are primarily used by snowboarders. In many ski parks, the rail is at the top of a ramp, so the skier can ride the rail, then ski down a ramp and perform a jump trick.

Comments

helliskier said

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on 10/24/2008 "Learn to freestyle ski." -- "Thing You'll Need:" .... surely not a SNOWBOARD!!! And a "Mogul" is not a move performed in a terrain park. The terminology of this "eHow" article is way off and provides no useful information. All 5 steps are sincerely wrong. I've never before heard a more incoherent description of a half pipe. "a section of snow that has two snowy sides on either side of the trail". Snow with snowy sides??? And 2 on either side?? So does that equate to having 4 sides?? You don't have to be a freestyle skier to laugh at this eHow Article. Booooo!!!

foolwhat said

on 6/3/2008 Just some constructive critisism you can take into consideration:

First off that was so wrong in so many ways. you have absolutly no clue what youre talking about. you sound like some kind of old highschool gym teacher who skis once a year at your local 5 foot high mountain. you should have your balls chopped off to prevent you from spreading your seed. you make tons of generalizations and sorry but "freestyle skiers" dont own a snowboard, they own skis.why? because they ski ****.and they especially dont have snowblades. what the ****!? and what the hell are 'correct' freestyle skis anyways?? ive only ever heard of twintips. who ever is new to skiing do NOT even bother taking any of this "eHow sports and fitness editor's" advice. He's obviously a dumbass whos overly proud of the mogul he did 50 years ago and is unconciously trying to get noobs killed. Trust me all you need to START fr