The best tree skiers are ready for anything at any time. This ability is supported by an athletic skiing stance that allows your legs to be mobile and ready to turn, jump, duck, absorb terrain, or stop quickly. As a skier, you already know the gist of a good athletic stance (ankles flexed, weight centered over your feet, head and eyes up), but when we add trees into the mix, there are some common patterns that tend to get skiers in trouble.

Here are a few things to help you maintain a mobile, balanced stance:

1. Keep your hands in front of you where you can see them. A general rule of thumb for ...