There are two types of skiing. One where you easefully float down a mountain, with the wind gently brushing against your ski jacket; the sort of skiing that feels like blissful gliding. Then, there is advanced skiing: the thrilling pastime of taking on such steep slopes that skiing becomes controlled free-falling. This sort of skiing requires precise, expert training, and for the intermediate skier looking to finesse their style and technique to take on off-piste opportunities, the Warren Smith Ski Academy is the place to begin this journey. Leading this Academy and training all levels of skiers across the world, is the skiing icon Warren Smith.

Celebrity instructor

Arguably one best ski instructors in the Alps, Warren Smith is famous for his talent in training recreational skiers, ski instructors and athletes with his ‘back to basics’, ‘hands on’ approach. He is the ‘go to’ guy for all ski-technique queries and always has a solution for those stuck on a progress plateau. He has taught Prince Harry, turning him into a thrill-seeking skier who is now “not afraid of doing front flips off rock jumps”, and many other celebrities, and all the while remains down-to-earth and modest despite his genius. He has also spent time on the Jump TV Series, where he tutored Jason Robinson, the World Cup try-scorer in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, who Warren describes is as talented in the kitchen as he is on the slopes. What we all want to know is, what is his secret to success? How do we perfect our ski technique? Warren’s answer is that it is all down to the biomechanics of skiing, and that is why he adopts his ‘hands on’ style of coaching, as bringing it back to basics is the recipe for brilliant ski technique.

From Hemel Hempstead to Verbier

Warren began skiing 50 metres away from his mother’s house on a dry ski slope in Hemel Hempstead on what he describes was like a “giant upside-down toothbrush”. Those early years on the dry ski slope taught him the technical skills he needed, as dry ski slopes “are much less forgiving” and crucial for mastering the 73-degree angle rotation one needs to master a parallel turn. After having his passion ignited on school ski trip, he spent every day of his life on that dry ski slope. Now, with years of ski experience behind him, his favourite place to ski is Verbier where he takes on the steepest runs with professional style, feeling completely “at home”.

Warren Smith Ski Academy

The Warren Smith Ski Academy began in 1998 and it was built up from the ground using his coaching methodology: merging ski technique, biomechanics and precision together. He explains how “it is only when you strip back technique to the biomechanics that you can improve.” During lockdown he became the Joe Wicks of the ski world, as people would send him videos of their skiing asking for his advice on how they could improve. Warren describes how the biomechanics of ski technique are about the skier being able to use the ball and socket point in the hip to be able to turn at a 73-degree rotation, which is the precise angle needed to perfect a parallel turn in skis. He explains how most skiers manage a 42-degree rotation, and this is why many intermediate-level skiers reach a progression plateau where they do not progress further, as this limits how easefully they can ski on harder slopes.

After seeing this increased demand for coaching advice, Warren and the Academy decided to start a series of webinars throughout lockdown on Facebook, talking about the biomechanics of skiing, and what people can do to master ski technique. He said, “We got 68,000 views. They asked what equipment to buy, and we helped to assess their technique.” A form of training he often uses with skiers is getting them to do a parallel turn with zero speed: he explains how “once you remove the speed, most skiers go into a snowplow position”, and so without this basic skill in a turn, it would be wrong to “give someone the false encouragement to take on a steeper piste” as they would not have the sharpness of angle needed to control their speed. This is what people would call the ‘short game’ of the skiing world, while the long game of skiing is going down wider slopes with easier turns, like in golf where putting and bunker shots are the short game and the long game is huge drives down the fairway. Practising one’s short game in skiing is so crucial for trying to ski on the steep, narrow slopes as these turns have to be so much sharper and more precise, so this analogy encourages people to take this basic training more seriously, allowing them to achieve greater success when placed in those harsher ski environments.

The Warren Smith Ski Academy is not an extreme coaching school, for only five per cent of their skiers are extreme skiers, while the majority are intermediate level to advanced, but the academy helps intermediate skiers reach their maximum potential in order to take on more advanced, or off-piste ski routes. Warren explains that the Academy is simply ‘hands on’ as they don’t “mess about with confidence-boosting” and “fake positive feedback”. He believes it is vital to be honest and clear with clients, so that they are able to progress more quickly. He also mentions how “the added risk of injury in skiing means it is really important that skiers have the basic technique before tackling the off-piste routes, jumps and steeper runs” as without the necessary technique “it is very easy to lose control and go from 5mph to 40 mph”, endangering the skier. Therefore, in coaching, rather than using the approach of confidence-boosting, Warren strongly believes honesty is the best policy, as it ensures the safety of all his clients.

The upcoming season

For Warren Smith Ski Academy, the upcoming ski season is looking positive as skiers are craving exhilarating experiences, and are seeking out elite instructors like Warren to work up from the progression plateau they have reached. Warren Smith Ski Academy has grown so popular that the early upcoming season has already sold out for two-to-three-week courses, and even six-week courses. The Academy has also started to make more use of online teaching since the pandemic began, and so they are building on the fact that people were sending in videos asking for tips, to start a system where people can send in videos and be given some training exercises to work on there and then to improve. This way the skier may spend an hour working on their feedback before re-joining their group, hopefully having tackled whatever obstacle they came to with their technique. Warren explains how this is a great option for people who are a little rusty getting back into skiing after a long break, or even if they just are struggling to keep up with their group.

Warren is also keen to offer more subscription packages – where skiers can access specific training tailored to them. The Academy is also continuing to run their online webinars, and aims to launch 30 new videos on technique and advise. They are hoping to break down the main areas where skiers go wrong in these videos and how to work on them. The Academy are also offering advice on what skis and ski boots to use, and they do this by analysing a video of the skier’s style and technique when skiing to judge what sort of ski and boot is most apt for them. Warren explains that this is important because of the fact that boots and skis can have a lot of impact on how much rotation a skier is able to achieve in a turn, and so it is important that a skier’s technique is correctly matched with the boots and skis they are wearing.

It is safe to say that Warren and his team have thought of everything: they have you covered from the boot and ski fitting through your training as a skier to go from hanging out on gentle, laid out slopes to finally taking on the steep, free-falling ones with graceful style.

Places to Ski

Warren has skied across the globe, but he claims that Verbier is definitely his favourite. He explained how “it is one of those places where no matter how hard you party you ski just as hard”, so while it is full of five-star hotels he claims it is still “a mecca for après ski.” He also loves the fact that it is a south facing resort as this means it has great terrain both on and off-piste, with famous descents like the Stairway to Heaven, the back side of Mont Fort and the Bec de Rosses. The freeride terrain and steeper pistes are perfect for Warren, as he can soar down them with his perfectly angled turns and explore routes off the beaten track to find some fresh off-piste snow.

While Verbier is perfect for the more extreme skier, Warren also mentioned how it is ideal for intermediate level skiers too, as it offers a great combination of everything you need with top resorts, convenient lifts, talented ski instructors, elite après-ski and a wide range of different slopes to ski on for every level. He describes how in his experience the most successful ski resorts are the ones that provide affordable luxury with convenience: for example, The Lodge in Verbier, while on appearance being expensive, is ideal as it is an all-inclusive luxury package that ends up amounting to being affordable and convenient.

Warren also enjoyed his time skiing in Niseko in Japan, and recalls the time when he and his party got arrested skiing in the sacred trees: “there was untouched powder in the trees, and people had said it was illegal to ski there, but we didn’t think anything of it and ended up in the national headlines for illegally skiing in the sacred trees.” His hunt to find new challenging routes to take on always become a great adventure. He is keen to explore Georgia, as it is becoming “the new trend of ski spots” to go to, and so he is hoping to have it featured in the 2023 Academy programme. Azerbaijan has the same prospects. All these places are on his list to explore, and he is always excited about what new, untouched slopes he will be able to find.

Starting as a young boy messing about on a dry ski slope, Warren Smith has since trained and drilled his technique to become a professional freeride skier. A childhood love has turned into his career, and his immense learning curve on skis has been so profound that he is now one of the leading coaches in the industry, allowing more and more skiers to progress from easy, gentle slopes to speeding down thrilling, steep tracks. He has opened a new door for many skiers, to get their hearts pumping and take their love of skiing to the next level.