What sets the experts, the guys you want to watch skiing, apart from the rest is that they don't have to think about what happens next, it just happens. Time on skis, training and plain old experience, for the most part is what distinguishes these skiers. I know this sounds obvious but so many comments I read about people that aren't at the level they want to be is about thinking about their balance, their body position, their whatever while they are skiing. It is when you don't have to think about those things that your skiing will take a leap forward. I appreciate that you have to ski consciously before you can ski sub-consciously, but that is the biggest difference. The time it takes to think about your next move, your balance or anything you are working on is the time it takes to miss making your turn or the bump smoothly.
I had the advantage of double sessions when I was in high school so all winter long I got 3 hours of training in every weekday. Quality coaching (training) and plenty of races (experience) and time on the snow advanced my skiing.
Now, when I ski I rarely think about how I'm going to ski, I just do it. There are those times when I feel an edge slip when I want to be arcing that remind myself about my lateral balance, but otherwise, it really is a no (conscious) brainer to make a run happen. I do evaluate lines and approaches, but once the skis start sliding, I'm in the zone. Even racing, I only think tactically, never about the actual skiing. The tactic may be to start my turn earlier or let it run out, but it isn't about how I'm going to tip my skis to make that happen. That leaves more mental time to evaluate the course and make adjustments and stay on top of my line.
It is no different in the trees, steeps or bumps. Your 'machine' needs to know what to do so you can focus on your run. The guys that are making it look easy have done it so many times that they don't have to think about retraction, extension or edge angles. The old adage, practice makes perfect, really does apply here. One area I can improve is bumps and while I still actively think about how I'm going to respond to each bump I try to remove myself from the conscious skiing to just letting it happen. Sometimes it work, sometimes it doesn't. Practice and training outside of the targeted venue (trees, bumps, steeps) allows you to work on the muscle memory and effective movements you are seeking without the objective hazards (trees, bumps, steeps) that can interfere with your mind's ability to master those movements.
One thing that I truly believe in is positive visualization. Each time you take an imaginary run through the bumps is just as productive as a real run. The advantage is that you can do it slo-mo and think about how your legs, feet and body are going to deal with each bump and achieve success. That mental run will be just as beneficial as a real run, actually more so, because you won't get tired and can go right back and do it again. You can skip the visualized lift ride.
