The Skier's Edge

The Skier's Edge is one of those rare books that translates the technical expertise of elite skiers into easy-to-understand, practical terms for serious skiers. It not only explains the mechanics of great skiing; it also shows how it looks-step by step-and describes how it should feel.

The first step to improving is to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanics of superb skiing. Technique expert Ron LeMaster explains how the skis interact with the snow and then reveals how to manipulate your skis, boots, and poles to achieve the carved turns, jumps, and pinpoint control that make skiing one of the most exciting winter sports.

But that's only the beginning. LeMaster goes on to present the most effective techniques for executing skiing's five most important body movements:

- Vertical movements
- Fore-aft movements
- Lateral balancing movements
- Rotary movements
- Edging movements

Each major point on technique is accompanied by kinesthetic descriptions to give you a keen sense of how these key movements should feel. You'll also learn how to apply your newly acquired skills in a variety of skiing situations:

- mogul skiing,
- skiing on very hard snow and ice,
- powder skiing,
- skiing steep terrain,
- and skiing fast.

And it doesn't stop there. The Skier's Edge augments its instruction with photographs of some of the best skiers in the world, including World Cup racers and top-ranked instructors. Much more than ordinary snapshots, these unique photomontages clearly illustrate correct techniques with multiple images, guiding you through the sequence of movements from start to finish.

Luckily, you don't need to be a biomechanist or physicist to understand The Skier's Edge! LeMaster puts the scientific principles and mathematical equations underlying his instruction into common terms and relates them to experiences familiar to even less experienced skiers.

If you're dedicated to achieving your skiing potential, this book will help you boost your performance to the next level. If you teach or coach skiers, this book is an excellent resource for expanding your knowledge base and increasing the effectiveness of your instruction.

Ron LeMaster has spent more than 25 years as a ski instructor and race coach. Currently an instructor, trainer, and lecturer at the Vail/Beaver Creek Ski School, he has also taught at the Aspen Ski School and coached with the Aspen Ski Club and the University of Colorado.

Certified and accredited by the Professional Ski Instructors of America, LeMaster has spent much of the past six years lecturing at ski schools in the Colorado Rockies on the topic of ski technique and biomechanics. A frequent contributor to skiing magazines, he coauthored a 16-page article on ski technique for Snow Country's best-selling issue. He has also written technical literature for the Professional Ski Instructors of America. LeMaster lives in Boulder, Colorado. Aside from skiing, he enjoys kayaking and cycling.