Progress on Snow Isn’t a Lightbulb Moment — It’s a Series of Tiny Sparks
By Andrew Elsdon, CSIA Member since 1984
Preamble & Disclaimer
Before you dive in: this isn’t a warm, feel-good, motivational article about skiing magically getting easier overnight. There are no shortcuts, no instant breakthroughs, and no sugar-coated promises.
What it is, however, is a lens shift — a way of thinking about your skiing that can transform how you approach improvement. This article is about training with purpose, embracing the messy process, and valuing incremental progress. It’s about understanding that real development often comes in small, barely noticeable steps that accumulate into lasting skill.
From my perspective — shaped by 40 years of teaching, my experience training for CSIA Level 4, and a lifetime of puzzling out skiing technique — the key to improvement is never giving up and always training with focus. I approach skiing as a student of movement first, and as an instructor second, with a passion for learning, experimenting, and passing that knowledge on to my students.
If you’re willing to shift how you think about progress, accept that some days will go well, some okay, and some poorly, and see value in improving 1% at a time, then this article is for you. Otherwise, you may find it blunt. But for those who stay curious, the payoff is sustainable, meaningful, and deeply rewarding.
The Rule of Thirds: Accept the Reality of Learning
If I’ve learned one thing in four decades of teaching skiers, it’s this: progress rarely looks like the highlight reel you imagined. There’s no dramatic “aha” moment when everything finally clicks. Instead, learning to ski better is more like the classic rule of thirds:
- About one-third of the day, your skiing feels good, almost effortless.
- Another third feels just “okay”—you’re experimenting, adjusting, wondering if anything is sinking in.
- And the final third feels like a struggle, where nothing seems to work and you’re ready to throw your gloves in the snow.
If you’ve only skied on the good days, you’d think improvement should be fast and fun. But most of the real development happens quietly — through consistent, incremental gains that, over time, become skills you don’t even think about anymore.
Why Small Progress Matters More Than You Think
Science confirms what experience has shown me: progress is rarely dramatic. Studies on motor learning describe it as a relatively permanent change in movement behavior, usually achieved through repeated, intentional practice rather than sudden breakthroughs. (PMC)
Progress is rarely dramatic.,
From a teaching standpoint, that aligns perfectly with what I’ve seen on thousands of lessons:
- The student who barely changes their edge timing today is often the one skiing more smoothly next season.
- The person who adds just a few degrees to their stance alignment eventually becomes more balanced and less reactive.
- The skier who improves their turn initiation 1% at a time ends up skiing with much greater confidence overall.
Incremental improvements are the foundations of real change — not only in skiing but in how your brain and body learn to move efficiently.
The Myth of the Breakthrough
We’re wired to love dramatic moments. Early on, we all hope we’ll have that instant breakthrough: “Once I figure this out, everything will suddenly be easier.” But here’s the truth: lasting skill rarely shows up with fireworks.
The learning curve in skiing — and in almost every motor skill — is filled with plateaus, sideways steps, and slow, barely noticeable improvements. Some days you ski like a champ. Others it feels like you’re back at the beginning. That’s normal. That’s development.
Your brain and body need repetition, reflection, challenge, and recovery to build a new movement pattern that’s dependable. (PMC)
I remember a student who spent months struggling with pressure control through turns. Day after day, we worked on small adjustments: a bit more front-foot engagement here, a slight timing tweak there. At the time it felt like inchworm progress. But six months later, that same skier was confidently navigating bumps and varied snow — because those tiny improvements had fused into muscle memory.
The Rule of Thirds in Practice
Understanding the rule of thirds changes how you approach improvement:
1️⃣ One‑Third “Great Days”
On these days, you feel strong. Turns feel connected. Your body remembers what to do. This is where progress looks obvious — but it’s often the product of everything you’ve done on the other two types of days.
2️⃣ One‑Third “Okay Days”
Here you’re in a rhythm of experimentation. You’re testing variations, exploring options, and your body is collecting data even if it feels awkward. These days are deceptively powerful for learning.
3️⃣ One‑Third “Tough Days”
Nothing feels right. You frustrate easily. You wonder if you’re even improving at all. These are the days that build resilience and real adaptability. On tough days, your nervous system is forced to find solutions — and that’s where deep learning happens.
Instead of avoiding the tough ones, embrace them — they’re a necessary part of the journey.
How to Progress Without Burning Out
If slow gains feel frustrating, here’s the key:
- 100% improvement isn’t required for a successful day.
- 3–5% improvement is huge — especially when it becomes consistent.
- Repeating a movement with intention is where the magic starts.
The brain doesn’t rewire overnight. It needs time, repetition, and varied experiences like different snow, terrain, speed, and body positions to build a robust motor pattern.
This is why skiing with varied focus — sometimes challenging your balance, other times refining pressure transitions, and other times just exploring terrain — accelerates motor learning. The brain learns best when it’s solving problems, not just repeating the same thing.
A 40‑Year Perspective on Teaching and Learning
Over the years I’ve taught skiers who expect rapid results and those who are content with small steps. Guess which group improves faster (and enjoys the process more)? The latter.
The skiers who stick with it — even on the days that feel “meh” — end up with skiing that’s not just better, but consistent and reliable across all conditions.
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned as an instructor is that confidence grows not from perfection, but from consistency. When a movement becomes predictable and repeatable, your nervous system stops hesitating — and that’s where true performance lives.
Just the other day, I had one of my students (DL) comment about how everyone in the group was really progressing. We skied together consistently and through 5-6 days of training per year, there was significant progress. She sounded surprised that everyone was noticeably skiing better and then I provided my comment (what I call my cheesy but true)… “I don’t just teach skiing, I engineer progress!” Skiing development and progress is a slow sustainable process. Give it time.
“I don’t just teach skiing, I engineer progress!“
Practical Tips for Sustainable Progress
Here are principles that will help you develop ski skills intentionally:
Focus on process, not outcome
Instead of expecting epic breakthroughs, look for small consistencies:
- smoother balance transitions
- less gripping with your poles
- more even pressure through the turn
- Smoother transition
- Edge Change before Direction Change
- Stronger alignment at faster speeds.
Repeat with purpose
Repetition without meaning is a rut. Repetition with intention — using variations of terrain and feedback — builds robust skill.
Celebrate tiny gains
If something feels just a touch better than last time, that’s progress — and it matters more than you think.
Expect all three kinds of days
Great, okay, and tough days are all part of learning. The key is to stay curious, not critical.
Final Thought: Improvement Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
If you want to ski better — really better — you have to embrace the truth that progress is slow, nonlinear, and often invisible. It isn’t about dramatic breakthroughs. It’s about building dependable skills and processes that embrace variability, challenge, and repetition.
Tiny improvements that stack over seasons are more powerful than fleeting leaps that fade by spring.
So next time you’re on snow and nothing feels perfect, remember:
You’re not failing — you’re developing.
Keep moving forward — one thoughtful turn at a time.