Fore-Aft Balance
You'll stop getting pitched forward or left behind by terrain changes — centered balance is the foundation of adaptability on any slope.
Maintaining your center of mass over the middle of the ski from tip to tail — preventing the back-seat and tip-heavy positions that cause loss of control on any terrain.
Watch & Learn
Not clicking? Try a different teaching style below:
Key Moments
Your weight centered over the middle of the ski — not pressing the tails (back-seat) or the tips (diving)
Shins pressing gently against the front of the boots throughout every turn — this is the centered position
Steeper pitches pull you back — you must consciously drive forward to compensate as the slope pitches
Fore-aft balance is not a fixed position — it adjusts constantly as speed, terrain, and turn phase change
What It Should Feel Like
- ✓Shins in light continuous contact with boot tongues — not pressing hard, just touching
- ✓Tails of the skis feel light and responsive, not dragging or heavy
- ✓A centered, springy athletic position that can react to anything the terrain does
Common Mistakes & Fixes
Sitting back on the tails when the slope steepens or speed increases
Drive your shins forward into the boots whenever it feels fast or scary — leaning back makes both worse
Pressing too far forward and diving onto the tips
Equal shin contact, not aggressive forward lean — the tips should feel engaged, not overloaded
A static body position that doesn't adjust to changing terrain
Move constantly fore-aft as the run changes — think of your body as continuously finding center
Practice Drills
Shin contact check: every few turns, consciously notice whether your shins are touching your boot tongues — this single check resets your balance instantly
Toe-to-heel roll: while traversing, roll your weight from toes to heels and back — find the midpoint where the ski feels most alive
Steep entry focus: before every steeper section, drive your shins forward preemptively — don't wait for the slope to pull you back before correcting
Prerequisites
Level Up Next
Your Progression
← Previous
Outside Ski Pressure
Level 4
Current
Fore-Aft Balance
Level 4
Next Up →
Terrain Park Basics
Level 5