If you want to ski well—whether you’re on the bunny slopes or about to shred the gnar —your ankles need to move. And more specifically, they need to flex inside your boots. Sounds simple, right? But for a lot of skiers (especially those with old injuries or tight calves), that forward ankle flex is the missing link between “just getting down the mountain” and dominating the slopes.
One of our athletes—an elite-level ski coach out of Vermont—explained it perfectly:
The foundational movement of flexing your ankle allows you to carve while you’re skiing.
So today we’re breaking down a simple primer with the best ankle flex exercises for skiing to help you build the mobility, stability, and strength you need for better carving, better control, and better days on the mountain.
Why Ankle Flex Matters for Skiers
When you lean into the front of your boots, your ankle should bend forward. That motion—dorsiflexion—lets you get your knees over your toes so you can pressure the front of the ski. If you can’t do that? Your weight shifts back and your quads burn out faster
Ankle flex might seem like a single-joint issue, but it’s really a full-chain movement. To flex your ankle forward, you need more than just a mobile calf—you also need a knee that can track cleanly over your toes and a hip that keeps your leg aligned. If your hips are tight or your glutes aren’t doing their job, the knee and ankle are instantly impacted. When all three work together—mobile ankle, stable knee, controlled hip—your lower body can move as one smooth unit, giving you the strong position you need to actually flex your boot.
Your Ski-Ready Ankle Flex Primer
Limited ankle mobility is super common in skiers, especially if you’ve had calf strains, Achilles issues, ankle sprains, or are just chronically tight. The good news? Improving this motion can be simple – and doesn’t take too long!
This three-part primer is designed to loosen what’s tight, lengthen what’s stiff, and strengthen what supports you. It’s simple, effective, and something you can start today.
1. Foam Roll Your Calves
Think of this as the “reset button.” Foam rolling helps reduce tension and break up adhesions. Grab your foam roller and go from the achilles up to the knee! Watch Here!
2. Dorsiflexion Stretch
Now that we untied the knots, it’s time to lengthen the muscle. Using a block, step, or wedge to place your toes onto the step and keep your heel on the floor. Lean forward until you feel the stretch and hold for 30-60 sec. Watch Here!
3. Step Downs (All 4 Variations!)
We love step downs—and we just wrote a whole article on them—because they build real-world leg strength and stability. Since skiing requires control in every direction, we’re leveling this up by using all four types:
- Standard
- Forward
- Lateral
- Tempo
Each version targets ankle, knee, and hip control differently, making this the ultimate lower-body stability combo.
How to do them:
Pick a low step. Move slowly. Keep your hips level. Stay balanced. Choose either one version… or go all in and do all four (our recommendation for skiers). Watch How Here!
How to Do the Full Primer
You’ll complete all 3 exercises for 4 rounds, moving through each exercise in this order:
- Foam roll calves – 1-2 minuntes per side
- Dorsiflexion stretch – 30–60 seconds per side
- Step downs – Do all 4 variations, 6–10 reps each side (one variation per round)
This sequence unlocks your ankle, lengthens your calf, and then teaches your body how to control that new mobility under load—exactly what you need on the mountain.
Start this now, continue it through ski season, and you’ll keep that ankle flex sharp all winter long.
Check Out Our Ankle Flex Exercises for Skiing Video:
Why This Matters for Your Ski Season
Better ankle flex allows you to have better control, happier knees, and honestly… more fun! If you’re planning to ski at all this year, don’t leave your ankle mobility to chance. A few minutes a day of this primer can completely change how you move in and out of your boots—and how you feel on the mountain.
Let’s make this your strongest ski season yet.
Whole Body Ski Season Primer
More than just your ankles feeling like they need a refresh before hitting the slopes? Use our full body mobility primer for injury prevention while skiing!
You’ll hit all the major targets and then some to make sure you’re body is ready for the season.
