With all the snow, ice, and chilling temperatures that come with a winter ski trip, you might expect there to be few things to look forward to. Well… you’d be right, sort of. Skiing as a beginner is challenging. You have to constantly think about which way you’re leaning and how you can tweak your stance or positioning to make it through the next set of turns in one piece. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun! Once you get past the initial shock of falling over every ten seconds, there are plenty of reasons why skiing has become such a popular winter activity for people of all ages. Even if you’ve never been on skis before, following these tips will help get you off to a flying start so that when the pandas come back again next year (if they ever do), you’ll be able to hit the slopes like a pro.
Check Your Equipment
This might seem like an obvious one, but it’s worth getting your equipment checked out before you hit the slopes, especially if you’re renting. You don’t want to be falling over because your bindings are too loose or too tight or because your skis are misaligned. Likewise, if you’re skiing in snow, you want to make sure your poles are sturdy enough to support your weight. If you’re on the taller side, you might want to invest in some poles with a higher weight capacity. Your skis should fit your boot length as well. If you have especially wide feet, you may have a hard time finding skis that fit your boots.
Learn to Turn
First things first: forget everything you know about round-ending your skis. In the snow, you’re not going to want to round off the ends of your skis as this will cause you to dig into the snow and lose momentum. Instead, try to ski with a slight edge on both skis, then apply more pressure to one ski than the other to pivot. This is known as a “pivot turn.” If you’re skiing on ice, you’re going to want to round the ends of your skis slightly, but this is the only time you’re going to want to do this. You can also improve your ability to turn by shifting your weight to one side or the other. Simply lean your body toward the ski you want to turn. This is known as “turning inside out.”
Don’t Forget the Ankles
If you’re someone who always leans back when they turn, you’ll want to try leaning more forward. You may want to do this even if you’re a front-leaner. When you lean back, your feet are naturally going to stay flat on the ground. When you lean forward, your ankles are going to naturally bend, which is going to give you more control over your skis. Also, try to stay light on your feet. You don’t want to dig in with your skis as this is going to make it hard to push off and make another turn.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Flop
Most people have fallen at some point or another when skiing. It’s a perfectly normal part of the sport. In fact, many instructors will teach you to embrace the flop. That’s right, once you fall, you’re expected to flop around a bit. This goes back to staying light on your feet. When you fall, try to keep your skis as close to your body as possible so that you don’t cause any injuries to anyone else on the slope. If you have protective gear on, you have nothing to worry about! If you fall in a way that puts you in danger of hitting hard ice, try to tuck into a ball with your skis as close to your body as possible.
Take a Lesson
This is a good idea if you’re a total beginner. An instructor can help you identify any bad habits you might have picked up while skiing on your own, get you into the right stance, and help you make your turns as efficient as possible. Plus, if you’re skiing with friends, they’re likely to be impressed by how quickly you pick up the sport. Especially if you’re skiing with friends who have skied for years and years, they’ll appreciate you taking a lesson and getting your technique right.
Conclusion
Skiing is an excellent outdoor activity for people of all ages, and it’s a great way to get active during the cold winter months. If you’re a beginner, though, it may be intimidating at first. But with the right mindset and some helpful tips from these article, you’ll be in great shape to take on the slopes. And when the pandas come back again next year (if they ever do), you’ll be able to hit the slopes like a pro!