Key takeaways
- A phone or action camera is enough — the value is in the analysis, not the gear.
- Film from the front and the side to see angulation and fore-aft balance.
- The coach reviews the edge change and hip position frame by frame.
- Seeing your own error explains in a minute what a whole season on snow does not.
- The correction turns into specific drills for the following week.
Upload your run and get correction from a World Cup coach.
See programmesWhy video is essential for improving in skiing
The skier cannot see themselves while skiing. Their kinaesthetic perception tells them how they think they are moving, but that perception is systematically biased by consolidated habits.
When an instructor says "lean further forward", the skier believes they are already doing it. When they see themselves on video, they discover their posture is completely different from what they perceived. Video eliminates this bias and makes correction objective, verifiable and measurable.
How the video technical analysis process works
Step 1 — On-piste recording
The skier is filmed from multiple angles while executing turn sequences on different terrain and gradient. Recordings are made with a high-speed camera so frame-by-frame analysis is precise.
Step 2 — Technical analysis
A specialist coach reviews the footage identifying movement patterns, biomechanical errors and asymmetries. The material is annotated frame by frame with specific notes.
Step 3 — Correction plan
The skier receives a plan with the errors identified, the cause of each one and specific exercises to correct them. Not generic advice: exact corrections for that specific skier.
Step 4 — Follow-up
In subsequent weeks, whether the correction is integrating is verified and the plan adjusted. Without follow-up, the skier tends to revert to previous patterns.
When to use video analysis in skiing
- When you've been skiing for years without real technical progress
- When you have physical pain (back, knees) after skiing
- When you want to understand why you can't master difficult terrain
- When you want to maximise the performance of every day on the mountain
- Before an important season to arrive with refined technique
Online vs. in-person video analysis
Online analysis is equally effective as in-person for technical correction, with the additional advantage that the coach can review the footage as many times as needed without the time constraints of an on-piste session. The skier films their runs with a phone or action camera and sends the footage for analysis.
What is analysed in each phase of the turn
| Turn phase | What is analysed | Common error |
|---|---|---|
| Initiation | Timing of the edge change | Starting late and correcting with the trunk |
| Steering | Angulation and pressure on the edge | Leaning in without angulating the hip |
| Completion | Extension and weight transfer | Sitting back and losing the tip |
Frequently asked questions
Is ski video analysis only useful for advanced skiers?
No. It's especially useful for intermediate skiers who have hit a technical ceiling. The analysis identifies exactly where the block is and how to overcome it.
How long does it take to see results from video analysis?
Most skiers notice a difference in the first sessions after applying the corrections. Full integration of the correct pattern requires 4-8 weeks of consistent practice.
How do I film my runs for video analysis?
A smartphone or action camera (GoPro, Insta360) mounted on the helmet or a selfie stick is enough. The lateral or rear angle is the most informative for technical analysis.
Does video analysis detect differences between right and left sides?
Yes. Technical asymmetries between right and left are very common and rarely perceived by the skier themselves. Frame-by-frame analysis detects them precisely.
Ski Lab offers video technical analysis with personalised feedback from a coach with over a decade on the FIS World Cup circuit.
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