HOW TO SKI WITH CONFIDENCE WITH AN OLYMPIC SKIER | Ice, Steeps, Fog and Slush

Everybody has felt scared on a mountain at one time or other, whether it’s racing down an icy World Cup downhill, dropping into a couloir, or trying to negotiate a slushy crowded home run at the end of the day. No one can ever conquer the mountain, and even the very best skiers will admit to being scared from time to time.

We met up with 5x Olympic skier, presenter of BBC Ski Sunday, and founder of ‘Perfect Turns’ coaching app Graham Bell and gave him the task of providing the everyday skier with some tips for building confidence, and overcoming fear while skiing. Graham covers some useful coping strategies to help you next time you run into, steep slopes, crowded slopes, icy slopes, slushy slopes, and white-out conditions.

To quote Denzel Washington “There is no such thing as tough, only trained and untrained” The more you can expose yourself to the things that scare you, the better trained you are to deal with it.

Enjoy this video and please leave a comment if you have any questions about this topic or coping strategies that have been useful in helping you become more confident while skiing.!

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Skier: Graham Bell | IG: @skigrahambell
Ski resort: Zermatt, SWITZERLAND
Music Licensed by Music Bed: MB01QKZS6WMI43J

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For more how to ski content make sure to check out our other ski improvement videos:
- How to ski with style:

- How to ski in tough terrain:

- How to ski on ice:

- How to ski with flow:

- Carving with early edge angles:

- 4 Advanced skiing mistakes and how to fix them:

- How to increase your edge angle:

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Timecodes
0:00 - Introduction to lesson
00:59 - Internal vs External Fears
01:50 - Steep slopes
02:39 - Crowded slopes
03:07 - Icy Slopes
03:56 - Slushy Slopes
04:38 - White-outs
05:20 - Visualisation

[CarvSki]

Do you have a confidence building tip of your own? Please share in the comments ⬇️⬇️⬇️

[Benzknees]

Good tips, I'll be keeping my eyes closed when I ski in future.

[michellebeleyme]

As a former racer who is just coming back to skiing after about 25 yrs, I've undergone some anxiety about getting back out there. I've never skied on these new-fangled skis and am not as fit as I used to be - cough, cough. Things I've done to get back out there: 1. Watched videos like these to get my mind around how people are skiing these days. (It has changed some). 2. Researched and bought the right gear for me. Not just gear that'll make me look cool or to try to keep up with the Joneses. (Facebook Marketplace had some surprisingly good options!) 3. I did fork out some cash to get the right boots, properly fitted, molded, punched, and footbeds (Worth it!) 4. Talked to people in the industry (at shops, friends, online). 5. Just got out there, but took it easy. 6. Stopped when I had enough. Like Graham hinted at, accidents happen when you're tired. I for one enjoyed my short, first day out. Turns out I can work these crazy skis after all. :) Happy skiing, y'all!

[wallstreetoneil]

The best advice for low visibility skiing is to ski on the side of the run that has a tree line, or fence, or anything providing contrast. If there is blowing snow, and it is coming across the hill, again, go to the side of the hill that may have some protection from the wind - sometimes it's amazing how there is a narrow path down the edge of the run, that has substantially better contrast and visibility than the rest of the entire hill - also, switch out the lenses for low-light lenses - makes a huge difference.

[javindo]

Thank you for producing this video. It sounds weird but I was dealing with some confidence issues and literally no other video on youtube was helping until I saw Graham who I consider to be an absolute legend and idol. I know I'm nowhere near the level yet to even consider Carv as a product that would benefit me (was a very much beginner into intermediate skier) but I wanted to feed back that once I do finally get my ski legs fully it's something I'd consider buying given how much amazing content you guys have put out

[steven]

As an east coast skier: 1) we get lots of fog and some white outs, we're pretty comfortable with blind conditions as well. 2) Usually for ice esp if you hit it at speed. The advice here is stay neutral do not try to edge unless you have race edges. Stay neutral, glide over it and begin turning once you hit the snow. Also realize what we call ice is not what the western U.S. or EU seems to call ice. I'm talking like hard blue/brown stuff that's glass. The slippery stuff wind blown off the typical piste here out west, pfft. weee this is fun!

[hildewuyts]

my tip would be that when my confidence drops or when I get scared, I ski the technique that I feel most comfortable with. (for me this is skiing short turns over an imaginary line straight down while lowering my core to keep more in contact with the slope. ) thank you Mr Bell :)

[porororoborororo]

Graham really the GOAT when it comes to YouTube ski videos

[sophielt]

It’s a great tip! I’m so glad I always visualise myself skiing and I do so well, so much better than I physically skiing but then I got better out of no where from those visualisation. My problem is confident with height but the recent season I gained so much and went skiing at the level I normally got scared of.
Your video is for us the ones with confident issue rather than technical issues.
I’m intermediate level when I should be higher due to my scared of height it brought me down but I don’t mind slow and steady wins the race.
If I could have you as a coach I’d do so well because you’d know my rooted problem.
Thank you so much for your tutorial video. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[zZ]

really awesome advice. Especially helpful when you haven't skied in months and the season is just starting

[pahiker]

Great tips! I'm looking forward to trying out the tip about shoulders on some steeps this year.

[doBobro]

I can recommend to try race down on straight skis without any turns. Starting from flat slopes progressing to more steep slopes. It helps to feel and push higher a maximum speed you comfortable with and gain confidence in handling of flat skis.

[ven]

Thanks for the tips. The suggestion to tilt the shoulders down the mountain when turning is very helpful

[happyotaku]

I found confidence change so much of the skiing style, and these tips are golds!

[skifamily]

The steeps always has me panicking! Lets hope I can put this advice into practice next
week :)

[CaptainInsano]

Love this! So useful - will watch again before my next trip.

[johnlaporte]

Great tips. Specially the mental aspect of asking! Thanks!. Loved zermat best skiing in the world.

[sanderstar]

The more you can expose yourself to something that scares you the better you will be at dealing with it <3

[davutturk]

I am skiier only for a 3 days, skied like 45 km on totall distance, i can’t do carving or any other technic looks cool for observers ☺️ I am struggling to stand still and dont hit the others, i dont fall too much, like 3-4 time on this 3 days, skiing in “V” shape on general cause i cant do parallell, using narrow turns on steeps on the side of the pist where snow is soft not icy, when i hit the ice i stand still and let it go dont try to turn or stop, to deal with speed and direction later on snowy part. I came to an edge of fall several times, i didnt hug the slope, i say myself calm down and bend your knee and it worked i didnt fall but i am so sure i look so weird from the outside 😂 By the way i am 39 years old and i just want it to share my experiences as a new skiier. If you ever see a guy in some skii resort skiing with weird technic look so struggling and the edge of the fall but keep moving and dont falling, its me 😀

[ivanmaric]

As a beginner I have to say thank you :)