Look up...Way up...

One of the simplest things a skier can do to improve their skiing is to change where they look when they ski. If you love the way it looks when your skis disappear under deep powder or how cool it is when you show off the base when you are carving, you are not looking far enough ahead! When you are driving, do you look at your hood ornament or the road? The next time you see ski racing on TV take a look at where the racers are looking. They are not looking at the gate they are skiing around, they are looking two or three gates ahead. Integrating the same tactic into your recreational skiing will dramatically improve your skiing.
Skiers that look down or immediately ahead when they ski are often not symmetrical from turn to turn. They fail to anticipate changes in terrain. Their skiing lacks flow. They are more likely to be involved in collisions with other people on the hill.
So the next time you are skiing, pick an object way down the hill to focus on – a ski chalet, body of water, or a caution sign. Keep it in your sight the entire run. If you are not in the habit of doing this, it will feel foreign at first and you will likely have to keep reminding yourself to look up. But I guarantee you will be skiing faster, more fluidly, and in control.