How to Walk in Ski Boots

Learning to ski can be intimidating--after all, you're sliding down a mountain on nothing but two planks attached to your feet. One of the first skills involved with skiing is getting used to moving around in ski boots--large, stiff boots with numerous straps and zero ankle movement. The natural movement of the lower leg, ankle and foot while walking is completely gone, replaced with rigid, forceful movements. Take some time to get the hang of walking in your boots so that you don’t take your first spill of the day before you put your skis on.

Instructions

    • 1

      Find a place like a long hallway where you can practice walking. Pay attention to the way your hips move as you slowly make your way down the hallway, in relation to your feet, you should notice that the right hip moves forward with the right foot and the left hip moves forward with the left foot.

    • 2

      Pay attention to your shoulders as you make your way back down the hallway. Notice that your right shoulder moves back as your right foot moves forward and your left shoulder moves back as your left foot moves forward. Keep walking slowly down the hallway.

    • 3

      Exaggerate the motion of your hips, shoulders, legs and feet as you walk.

    • 4

      Walk while keeping your shoulders stiff and allowing the whole right and left side of your body to move with each corresponding right and left foot forward movement. These exaggerated exercises will get your body used to the exaggerated sensation of walking in ski boots. When you feel you have a feel for how your body moves with each step and are comfortable with the exaggerations and balance of each, move on to the next step.

    • 5

      Put on the ski boots and fasten them to your feet. If you can not get them tight enough, have a friend or family member help close the straps. Practice walking down the hallway again, using the walls for balance. Use the exaggerating movements to find your balance in the boots.