Skiing involves more than sliding down a hill at high speed, as many technical elements go into a successful run. Learning the proper stances and techniques helps you to maneuver down the course smoothly. Before taking to the hill, learn some skiing fundamentals to avoid injury and make your day on the slopes an enjoyable one.
Standing
Lean forward on your skis, as leaning backward causes you to fall. Put your weight on the balls of your feet. Keep the heels of your boot touching the ski, but do not put weight on the heel. Put the same amount of weight on each foot. After standing, try walking around on your skis. Do not lift your feet, but rather slide on top of the snow. This gets you used to the actual skiing motion.
Positioning
Before heading down the hill, put yourself in the proper skiing stance. Keep your feet slightly less than hip-width apart with your knees slightly bent. Touch your shins to the front of your ski boots and bend your back slightly to prevent yourself from leaning back. Center your head and relax your shoulders. For balance, have your arms in front of your body and bend your elbows so that your poles point backward.
Tuck Position
When you watch skiers on television, they gain speed in the tuck position. To take this position, bend your waist and your knees into a crouched position. Crouch as far down as possible with your skis just less than hip-distance apart. Rest your elbows or forearms on your knees or quads. Before moving, make sure you have a clear course in front of you, as the tips of your skis can dig into rough terrain, causing you to fall. The tuck position causes you to gain speed quickly, so stick to smaller hills until you have the skill to deal with that speed.
Turning
Turning prevents you from going too quickly down the hill, as you take control of the speed of your descent. Rather than tucking yourself in a straight line, head down the hill at a perpendicular angle. Have your skis between 2 and 5 inches apart, with your knees slightly bent, but your body upright. Keep the uphill part of your body slightly in front of the downhill part, as this gives you more control over your turn. Put most of your body weight on your downhill ski. To change direction, shift your head and shoulders to the direction that you want to head. Your skis then follow your body, putting your weight onto the other ski. Do not move your feet in your desired direction, since that puts you off balance.
References
- "Skiing for Beginners and Mountaineers"; W. Rickmer Rickmers; 2009
- "The New Guide to Skiing: A Step-by-Step Guide in Color"; Martin Heckelman; 2000
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