The "praying to catch my breath" pose.

3. Practice Quick Reaction Moves

Go ride in a meadow once in a while. Practice hopping from one running board to the other—without looking down at your feet. Then do it while carving back and forth. Do that until you’re extremely comfortable.

Then find a low-grade, short, open hillside. Practice sidehilling and turning uphill quickly and back in the opposite direction. Find a steeper hillside and do the same.