Practice skiing on a two-footed platform to improve balance and float when skiing powder. Ideal for advanced skiers looking to refine their technique.
The Platform Skiing Drill is designed to help you ski powder with better balance and control by focusing on a stable, two-footed stance. The goal is to keep your skis moving together as one unit, which improves float and prevents you from losing control in soft snow.
Start on groomed snow where conditions are predictable. Begin by making smooth turns with your feet about hip-width apart, making sure you’re applying equal pressure to both skis. This balanced stance is the foundation of the drill. You want to feel like your skis are connected, almost as if they’re bolted together and must move in sync. This helps prevent one ski from drifting ahead or lagging behind, which can cause instability.
Once you’re comfortable with this on groomed terrain, take the drill into powder. The key here is to maintain that same narrow, two-footed platform. It’s common to want to step out or stem one ski to regain balance, but resisting that urge is crucial. Keeping both skis weighted equally allows you to “float” over the snow rather than sinking or catching an edge.
Focus on smooth, controlled turns rather than speed. Aim for 20 to 30 turns on groomed snow before heading into powder. When you switch to powder, start with gentle slopes and gradually increase difficulty as you gain confidence.
Common mistakes include letting one ski lead, which causes uneven pressure and loss of float, or widening your stance too much, which reduces control. Another is leaning too far back—stay centered over your skis.
If you want to build on this, check out the related “Powder Turn Fundamentals” skill page for more tips on adapting your technique to soft snow.
With consistent practice, the Platform Skiing Drill will help you ski powder with a smoother, more controlled style. Turn Lab highlights this drill as a reliable way to build the balance and feel needed for advanced powder skiing.
Equal weighting helps maintain balance and prevents one ski from sinking or sliding out, which improves float and control.
Yes, start on groomed terrain to get comfortable with the two-footed platform before moving into powder.
Aim for 20-30 controlled turns on groomed snow to build muscle memory before testing the drill in powder.
Turn Lab organizes mental cues, drills, and progression milestones into a structured path from beginner to expert. Free for all beginner skills.
Download Free for iPhone