Tree Skiing

Instructor's Message

    Presumably, tree skiing is hard on your body. I hear this from non-tree skiers all the time. After skiing trees for many years I have no problems with my body, no pain at all. I guess that's because I haven't hit any trees. Touch wood, if you'll pardon the pun.

    Tree skiing has some similarities with mogul skiing in terms of short-radius turning, side-to-side motion, leg strength, and the use of the same muscle groups. However, there are significant differences. With a wide-open glade run you can pick a line, but when you're on a dense tree run, aka a bush run, there are no lines to pick.

    In addition, skiing dense, tree runs requires a technique geared to dynamically altering your path due to changing terrain, and/or snow conditions.

Safety is your First Priority

    I should also mention that you tend to sweat a lot more in the trees. Not out of fear, but mostly because you need to work harder in the glades, especially in dense bush runs.

    Trees are obstacles that don't move so you need to respect them. You need to think safety first, ski in control at all times, and develop the proper technique so you can alter your path in a split second to avoid the unexpected.

Tree Skiing Lessons

    There are two tree skiing lessons in our web-based training course that are designed to teach you all about skiing in the trees. Lesson #8, entitled Trees 101, revisits short radius turns for glade skiing and covers tree skiing on gentle glade runs. Lesson #9, dubbed Trees and the Expert Skier, deals with skiing down dense, tree runs, as well as the combination of moguls and trees.

Time to Tame the Trees

    If you want to learn how to tame the trees, sign-up for the ski club on your right. After you become a member of the club you will gain immediate access to the online ski lessons in the Skills of the Expert Skier.

For those on tour....

    If you prefer, you can continue the tour and learn about our online steep skiing lessons. If so, click the Next button. If you wish to return to the previous page, click the Previous button.