Which of the following is NOT a common stance error CS1 instructors should correct in basic stance?

• A. Knees locked/straight.
• B. Weight too far back or forward.
• C. Looking down.
• D. Shoulders squared.

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is what proper, basic stance looks like and which alignments tend to cause balance problems. A good stance involves knees that are softly bent to absorb terrain, with weight centered over the feet so you’re balanced over the skis. When you look ahead instead of down, your field of vision stays wide and your balance stays more stable. If the knees lock straight, you lose shock absorption and control. If your weight sits too far back or too far forward, you tip the skis away from the edge you’re trying to grip, making turning and stability harder.

Shoulders squared to the slope is actually part of correct basic stance—keeping the upper body aligned with the downhill direction helps maintain balance and allows for quicker, smoother responses to the skis. So that alignment isn’t a common stance error to fix; it reflects proper setup.