Dr Rangan Chatterjee

How This One Habit Built a Life of Confidence, Resilience & Success | Warren Smith

This episode is brought to you by: AG1: Get a signed copy of my book Make Change That Lasts, £20 off your first month with Welcome Kit! (Limited to the first 200, UK/EU only.) https://drinkag1.com/livemore VIVOBAREFOOT: Get 15% off your first order https://bit.ly/4iG2II4 BON CHARGE: Save 25% off with code LIVEMORE https://boncharge.com/livemore Today’s episode is with someone who is regarded as one of the best ski coaches on the planet, yet this is not a conversation about skiing. The things my guest has experienced over the years through teaching, coaching, and working in the mountains in unpredictable conditions hold valuable lessons for us all. Warren Smith is one of Britain’s leading professional free skiers, an Internationally Qualified Performance Coach, creator of the Warren Smith Ski Academy and someone who has spent several decades helping people understand their bodies better to help them move and ski with more freedom. Warren has been a sponsored Volkl athlete for over 10 years and is one of the most innovative instructors working in the Alps and is held in high regard for the research and development he carries out combining Ski Technique, Ski Biomechanics and Ski Physiology. As well as coaching tens of thousands of recreational skiers, he is also well known for being the ski instructor that many high profile individuals seek out when wanting to improve their skills , including Prince Harry, Heston Blumenthal, Laurence Dallaglio and Bradley Wiggins. I myself have known Warren for around two decades having sought him out in my mid 20s when I first started getting into skiing because I was deeply fascinated by his philosophy, which made a lot of intuitive sense to me. In our conversation, we discuss: ● Why so many of us feel limited by our bodies and how simple, five-minute functional exercises can help ● Why differences in strength or mobility between the two sides of the body are incredibly common, and how they affect everything from skiing to running to daily movement. ● What Warren’s injuries have taught him about resilience, patience and rehabilitation. ● Why fear on the mountain mirrors fear in life, and how breaking challenges into smaller steps can help us stay calm and move forward. ● The mental and emotional benefits of elevation and nature, and why gaining perspective from a higher vantage point can help us reset and unwind. ● The life lessons Warren learned from surviving an avalanche and losing friends in the mountains ● Warren’s incredible life story from growing up in a council state to living in one of the most prestigious ski resorts in the world. This is not just a conversation about skiing, but one that reminds us that when we prepare well, stay curious and look after ourselves , we can keep doing the things we love for longer. I hope you enjoy listening. #feelbetterlivemore Connect with Warren Smith: https://www.instagram.com/warrensmithski https://www.facebook.com/warrensmithski Warren Smith Ski Academy https://www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com https://www.instagram.com/warrensmithskiacademy https://www.facebook.com/WarrenSmithSkiAcademy https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSkiAcademy Ski Technique Lab https://www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com/technique-lab/ Training Courses https://www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com/seasonal-ski-training-courses/ Courses https://www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com/courses/ Snow Camp https://www.snow-camp.org.uk/ #feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast ------- Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK ----- Follow Dr Chatterjee at: Website: https://drchatterjee.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

RCDr. Rangan ChatterjeehostWSWarren Smithguest

Dec 3, 2025·1h 19m·Watch on YouTube ↗

📖 CHAPTERS

1. 1

   From a council estate to elite ski coaching in Verbier

   Warren shares how growing up on a council estate in Hemel Hempstead shaped his values and resilience, eventually leading him to coach in Verbier and work with high-profile clients. He emphasizes that his roots and early environment taught him principles that still underpin his calm, grounded coaching style.

2. 2

   The dry ski slope that changed everything (and the skateboard park that disappeared)

   Hemel’s skatepark was demolished and replaced with a dry ski slope—something Warren and his friends initially resented. That change, plus a run-in with the police, unexpectedly became the doorway into skiing and a future career.

3. 3

   A policeman’s intervention: redirecting energy instead of punishing it

   After being caught, a local policeman steered Warren toward working at the ski slope rather than a harsher consequence. Warren reflects on how one supportive adult can change a young person’s trajectory—teachers and mentors included.

4. 4

   Natural crossover: why cycling and skate balance translated to skiing

   Warren explains why skiing felt intuitive: cycling-like leg pressure and balance patterns transferred well. He stresses that many top athletes began on accessible UK dry slopes, reinforcing that elite pathways can start locally.

5. 5

   Early work, family hardship, and the calm that comes from responsibility

   Warren links his calmness under stress to childhood responsibilities: financial strain, a broken home, and working young to support basics like electricity. Those experiences built resilience, independence, and a drive to “go out and get it.”

6. 6

   The core principle: biomechanics before technique (and why most people are uneven)

   Warren and Rangan discuss why coaching fails if the body can’t perform the movement required. Warren argues most people have meaningful left-right asymmetries, and that addressing the “blocked” side is often the biggest unlock for performance and comfort.

7. 7

   The hip-rotation ‘weak link’: 70° ideal vs a 65°/35° national average

   They drill into a specific test: hip/leg internal rotation required for effective turning. Warren shares data from testing thousands of people—showing many have one side near optimal and the other severely restricted—creating predictable performance breakdowns.

8. 8

   Confidence is built: preparation for skiing becomes ‘fitness for life’

   A real-life story—Warren sprinting for trains after Uber failures—becomes a metaphor for being prepared. Rehab, consistent conditioning, and daily movement practice translate into confidence not only for sport, but also for unpredictable life demands.

9. 9

   Make the habit stick: five-minute sessions, calendar prompts, and ‘prepare the preparation’

   They explore why people don’t follow through even when they agree with the logic. Warren describes tactics that worked on their tour: immediate calendar scheduling, tiny daily sessions, and rehearsing movements (even in ski boots) to build automaticity.

10. 10

    Injuries and the chain reaction: Achilles rupture, compensation, and back surgery

    Warren recounts snapping his Achilles in Japan and later needing lumbar surgery due to compensation patterns. The conversation highlights how one injury can cascade up the chain, especially with age, making prevention and early correction crucial.

11. 11

    Fear on the mountain (and in life): breaking big threats into small, doable steps

    Warren explains how he calms fearful clients by mapping a route into bite-sized actions—step here, side-slip there, then basic turns. Rangan connects this to everyday overwhelm: tackling the next small unit rather than the entire problem at once.

12. 12

    Mountains as medicine: elevation, nature, peripheral vision, and perspective

    Warren describes how altitude and expansive views help him switch off mentally and recover emotionally, including during personal challenges. They discuss Snow Camp charity work and how taking young people into the Alps can rapidly change demeanor, performance, and self-belief.

13. 13

    Avalanches, loss, and the danger of ego: respecting a changing mountain

    Warren shares being caught in an avalanche and how it shifted his relationship with risk, gratitude, and longevity. They discuss increased avalanche risk from temperature swings, the influence of social media/ego, and the need for education and conservative decision-making.

14. 14

    The best coaches (and doctors) listen: tailoring the experience to the person

    Asked about the most important coaching skill, Warren chooses listening—beyond words, reading expectations, confidence, history, and readiness. Rangan mirrors this as a physician, emphasizing listening without preconceived narratives.

15. 15

    Closing advice and where to find Ski Technique Lab

    Warren shares how people can access Ski Technique Lab resources, online coaching, and in-person options in Verbier and UK indoor snow centers. He closes by encouraging non-skiers to try sports with smart preparation—identify asymmetries, address them, and keep moving for life.