STOP HIP DUMPING, START SKIING SMARTER
If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of your turns on video and thought, “Why am I leaning like a lounge chair?”—you may be guilty of hip dumping. It’s a common biomechanical hiccup that throws even seasoned skiers off their game.
But the good news? You can fix it.
In this article, we’ll break down what hip dumping is, why it crushes your carving potential, and how to correct it so you can become a better aligned skier. Whether you’re chasing more grip, flow, or style in your turns, eliminating hip dumping is your gateway to precision.
What Is Hip Dumping (And Why Should You Care?)
Hip dumping happens when the pelvis collapses toward the inside of the turn instead of staying stacked and aligned over the feet. It creates an illusion of angulation, but it’s more of a cheat than a win.
When you hip dump:
- Your outside ski loses grip.
- Your spine rotates awkwardly.
- You rob yourself of edge control.
- And worst of all—you look like you’re melting into the mountain.
For intermediate to advanced skiers aiming for biomechanical efficiency and high-performance turns, eliminating hip dumping is one of the fastest ways to level up your skiing.
It’s Exactly the focus I had training with Warren Jobbitt at Sunshine Ski Area in Alberta, Canada. (AE)
THE SCIENCE BEHIND A BETTER TURN
The Role of Pelvic Alignment in Skiing
Proper pelvic alignment stabilizes your spine and hips, allowing your legs to move independently and efficiently. Think of your pelvis as a suspension bridge—if it tilts too far to one side, everything else sags.
When you maintain a neutral pelvis:
- Pressure distributes evenly through both skis.
- You maximize edge angles safely.
- You reduce spinal stress.
- You improve your rotational control.
Why Hip Dumping Happens
Hip dumping often comes from:
- Weak glutes and core muscles
- Tight hips and hamstrings
- Poor proprioception (body awareness)
- Misguided attempts to get “low” or “aggressive” in turns
Many skiers unknowingly adopt it as a habit, mistaking the movement for good angulation. It’s especially common in skiers who focus more on upper body positioning than hip and knee stacking.
SIGNS YOU’RE HIP DUMPING
1. Video Doesn’t Lie Film yourself skiing from the front or behind. If your inside hip collapses toward the snow without a corresponding edge angle from your skis, that’s a dump.
2. One Turn Feels Weaker Than the Other Hip dumping tends to be asymmetrical. Your “bad” side is usually your dumping side.
3. You Lose Pressure on the Outside Ski If you feel your outside ski washing out or skidding mid-turn, you’re probably off-axis.
4. Your Back Hurts After Skiing Poor alignment through the pelvis and spine often leads to low back strain by the end of a ski day.
FIXING HIP DUMPING: STEP-BY-STEP
1. Build Hip Awareness Off the Slopes
Start with mobility. Open up those tight hips:
- 90/90 Hip Stretch
- Frog Pose
- Lunge with Reach
Then, fire up your glutes:
- Side-Lying Leg Lifts
- Monster Walks with Bands
- Glute Bridges with Marches
These moves build the strength and awareness to hold your pelvis in a neutral position under rotational load.
2. Train Stacked Alignment On the Slopes
Think: ankle > knee > hip. Drill this stack in easy terrain:
- Javelin Turns
- One-Ski Drills
- Edge Hold with Pause
Focus on keeping the pelvis level while initiating your edge change. A mirror slope (flat groomers) is ideal.
3. Use Video + Feedback
Review footage weekly and compare:
- Shoulder and hip level
- Outside ski pressure
- Symmetry in left and right turns
Better yet, work with a coach from WarrenJobbitSkiAcademy.com who understands biomechanics and can call it out instantly.
4. Practice With External Cues
Try this cue: “Lift your inside hip up .”
You can even tuck a snowball under your inside hipbelt line and try not to crush it mid-turn. (Fun bonus: it’s a conversation starter on the chairlift.)
5. Reset With Indoor Movement Drills
Bring your ski technique indoors:
- Balance on BOSU while rotating your hips
- Do banded lunges while keeping your hips square
- Use a mirror to train hip-neutral squats
The goal: teach your nervous system how alignment feels.
Now go out there and ski tall, strong, and stacked.
ALIGNMENT > ANGLE: THE NEW PERFORMANCE METRIC
Don’t chase deep angles at the cost of clean technique. Hip dumping might give you low angles, but without control, it’s cosmetic at best—and risky at worst.
True angulation starts from stacked alignment. Once you remove the dump, your carving, balance, and pressure management all level up.
FINAL THOUGHT: DUMP THE DUMP AND LEVEL UP
Eliminating hip dumping isn’t just about looking better on video—it’s about skiing with more intention, power, and control.
When you align your body properly, everything else follows: smoother turns, cleaner arcs, and a lot more fun on snow.
✅ Download our Free Guide of Today’s Article: SkiChatter.com/Aligned-Skier
Now go out there and ski tall, strong, and stacked.