Julian Paul: 5 ski myths, debunked
What actually helps you ski better — and why it matters
There’s no shortage of advice in skiing. Some of it genuinely helps. Some of it sticks around far longer than it should.
Over time, certain ideas have turned into fixed rules — passed on from skier to skier, lesson to lesson. But once speed and forces come into play, many of these “rules” stop holding up.
Better skiing isn’t about copying positions.
It’s about understanding movement, balance, and forces — and knowing why something works.
Here are five common ski myths, debunked — and what actually matters on snow.
Myth #1: Your upper body should always face the valley
Not quite.
Especially in longer turns, forcing your upper body downhill creates counter-rotation. That blocks clean edging movements and pulls you out of a centered, balanced position.
Instead of supporting the turn, your upper body starts working against it.
What works better:
Face the direction you’re actually moving in. Let your upper body follow the skis instead of fighting them.
A simple check: try to keep your ski tips at nearly the same height.
It’s a good indicator that your body is moving with the turn — not against it.
Myth #2: Being far forward is always good
This one is only half true.
Yes — many skiers sit too far back.
But advanced skiing isn’t about aggressively leaning forward. It’s about managing forces.
At higher speeds and higher loads, stability matters more than forward pressure alone.
What works better:
Pressure over the entire foot — forefoot and heel.
Think of a squat in the gym.
You wouldn’t perform it on your toes only.
Stability comes from balance.
Myth #3: You need an extremely wide stance to carve
It may look wide — but it usually isn’t.
From the side, a carving stance can appear exaggerated. From above, however, the skis are often not much farther apart than usual.
Think of cycling:
One leg extended, the other bent.
There’s a height difference — not a massive sideways separation.
Carving works the same way.
Height difference, not excessive width.
Myth #4: You change edges at the fall line
That’s true — but only at slow speeds.
As soon as centrifugal forces increase, the main part of a carving turn is already completed before the fall line.
At one point, your skis are actually above you — and it can feel like you’re being pulled head-first down the slope.
That sensation can feel uncomfortable at first.
But here’s the key:
Once you trust the forces and position yourself with them — instead of resisting them — your skiing changes dramatically.
Myth #5: “Bend your knees!”
Good advice — at the beginning.
For beginners and intermediates, knee flexion helps with balance and absorption. But once you’re carving at speed, constant deep flexion becomes inefficient.
At higher loads, you need structure.
What works better:
Stay longer on your outside leg to resist high G-forces — sometimes up to four times your body weight.
Again, think strength training:
Which position can you hold load more easily — very deep or slightly higher?
The answer is the same on skis.
Why understanding makes the difference
Better skiing isn’t about memorizing positions. It’s about understanding forces, movement, and timing — and knowing when common advice no longer applies.
That same way of thinking is exactly how we approach ski design at ORIGINAL+:
not generic solutions, but skis that work with the skier — not against them.
About the author
Julian Paul is an ORIGINAL+ Ambassador and ski coach. He has spent many years studying movement, forces, and how they interact on skis. His focus is on helping skiers move more efficiently, with greater control, and in balance with the forces acting on them.
