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Today, skiing can be challenging to access. Whether it be the warm weather, the cost of equipment and passes, or just the means of traveling to resorts, skiing is an investment that is not always reliable. Luckily, with the emergence of skiing simulators, skiing is becoming more accessible nationwide. Sim Sports, located in Park City, Utah, values accessibility. Through trying the skiing simulator at Sim Sports and speaking with the owner, Abby, I learned the great passion behind the fantastic services offered at Sim Sports. I visited Sim Sports and was immediately greeted by Parker, one of the coaches. Sim Sports has six coaches that circulate seasonally. Sessions are $85 for 1 hour. While sessions typically feature 30 minutes on the machine with 30 minutes of other physical activity, for beginners like myself, the session featured 15-minute intervals with 5-minute breaks off the machine.
The machine, powered by Sky Tech, features two skis with a large screen in front that replicates the turns one makes. Furthermore, the skis can be adjusted to fit users’ width preferences. Sim Sports also offers a snowboarding option for users. While the beginner screens feature an empty mountain, other screens may feature slalom gates for racers that give point totals as you turn around the gates. Off to the side was a monitor that controlled the speed of the machine. This monitor also had information such as calories burned, edge angle, total turns, and more. The monitor was controlled by Parker, who coached me throughout the process. Athletes only needed to bring boots to the session, but even then, Sim Sports offers loaner boots. Getting the machine ready for me was easy, as they promptly adjusted the skis to my boot length.
The beginning of the session felt as if I was learning to ride a bike–I had to learn how to balance. Additionally, I had to learn to feel comfortable enough to hold an edge, as no mountain was beneath my feet. Luckily, around every ten to twenty turns, Parker would stop me with more advice on skiing on the machine. However, this advice was not relevant for the machine but was also beneficial to consider when skiing on a real run. For example, the main goals of the session were to keep the core tight, keep the shins tracking parallel to each other, have the inside knee leading the turn, and keep spacing between knees. These were things that I realized were essential to apply when skiing on a mountain, as I sometimes buckle my knees together when turning or “A-frames.” Throughout each break, I talked with Abby, who explained that the machine learning curve is “steep but fast,” which proved correct after my hour of training.
The image below shows me at the beginning of the session–I could not yet apply edge pressure and hold it consistently throughout my turn. I did not feel comfortable enough to look away from my feet and at the screen. Additionally, my legs were shaky and unstable, which only lasted about 5 minutes, as the feedback I was constantly receiving made me more comfortable in speeding up and strengthening my stance. Parker stressed that core strength was essential to achieve a steady stance on the machine. He had me hold a styrofoam circle to help me practice the feeling of a tight core. He had me press my palms into it to tighten my core and achieve more stability. Also, Parker suggested adjusting my boots tighter, making all the more difference in my control on each turn.
As I kept receiving more feedback from Parker, I moved more fluidly on the machine. The coaching I received was easy to apply, as he focused on one aspect of my technique at a time. The coaching at Sim Sports is vastly different from ski racing or lessons–where your coaches and instructors give you feedback at the top or bottom of the hill. The feedback I was getting from Parker could be applied instantaneously, as I could ski on the machine as he simultaneously told me what to improve. One of the most significant pieces of advice I kept in mind while working on the machine is the importance of leading each turn with my inside knee but maintaining the spacing in my stance. So, each time I wanted to increase my angulation, I considered how much I was angulating my inside knee while also lengthening my outside leg as much as possible. Keeping this in mind helped me progress on the machine–and it is also essential to keep in mind when skiing on a mountain and trying to achieve a deeper carve.
As my time progressed, Parker increased the machine’s speed, making me slide across faster with each turn. The image below shows me towards the end of my session–at this point, I was comfortable with the machine and focused on improving my technique. I had gained a rhythm and no longer needed to look at my feet. Now, my goal was to increase my angulation on my right-footed turns. Because of the monitor, I could see that my left-footed turns achieved 45-degree angulation, while my right-footed turns only achieved 36-degree angulation. While I have always felt this inequality between my right and left foot while skiing, seeing the concrete difference in the angulation was insightful.
As my session drew to a close, I attempted to increase the angulation of my right-footed turns. Ultimately, I increased the turns by one degree to 37 degrees. The session pushed me as a skier, as by the end of the hour, I had completed about 1,000 turns. Having a coach to give me feedback every couple of minutes challenged my technique and ability, and the machine gave me the most challenging skiing workout I had ever completed.
Afterward, I met with Abby, the owner. She was extremely welcoming and enthusiastic and explained how she became inspired to open Sim Sports after realizing the need for a ski simulator open to the public. She stated she was “looking for a way to start a business that embraces the ski legacy of Park City.” Sim Sports has been open since January 2023, and she stressed how versatile the clientele is; they’ve hosted events, ski racing teams, young kids who are brand new to skiing, athletes coming out of injuries, and anyone seeking to train over the summer. Abby expressed how valuable the skiing simulator is for families that do not ski often. She recommends that these families come to Sim Sports the day before going on the mountain, as they can skip the “out of town ski syndrome.” Sim Sports also hosts Paralympians with traumatic brain injuries and cerebral palsy, who come in and work hands-on with their coaches. Abby emphasized how accessible and welcoming Sim Sports is, even for those unfamiliar with the sport. Still, Sim Sports is a frequent destination for recurring athletes who use the machine for training.
Abby emphasizes how Sim Sports proposes a “new kind of screen time.” In the future, Abby states they are looking to expand Sim Sports to areas such as North Texas and how to offer sports simulation for whatever activity may be most relevant in the area. Overall, my experience at Sim Sports was nothing short of exceptional. I expected to try a different skiing experience but left after engaging in an insightful, coach-led, hands-on session. Through the guidance provided by the staff at Sim Sports, I feel I can apply my feedback to skiing on a mountain. Sim Sports is replicating this experience for skiers nationwide and is a fantastic way to learn about and enhance your ability.
