Student Skiing: Learning How to Ski for Beginners

You and your school friends may want to prepare yourselves for an upcoming ski trip. If you have never skied before but are looking forward to learning, then here is everything you need to know about learning how to ski.

Skiing is an invigorating and adrenalin-fuelled sport. As it is fast-paced and requires an element of skill, it is important to make sure you learn how to ski properly before you hit the slopes. You can practise on the dry slopes first to get a feel for the equipment and the techniques. You will also need the right equipment. Here is everything you need to know about learning how to ski for beginners to the sport.

Equipment.

If you are on a skiing trip, there will be somewhere you can hire your skis and boots. If you are new but intend on going skiing regularly, then you can buy your own. You will need protective clothing for the cold weather and to help absorb shock if you fall: waterproof salopettes are great as they are padded and warm, making them ideal ski wear. Thermals are ideal for wearing underneath to keep out the cold. You will also need sunglasses or goggles to protect your eyes from flying snow, wind and sunshine. A hat will protect your ears and will cover long hair, which could get caught in something as you ski.

The Basics.

Learning how to ski requires some caution at first in order to learn the techniques, but the more practise you put in, the better you will become. The first things you will learn are how to steer and how to stop. Obviously, you don’t want to hit the bottom and injure yourself, so stopping is an important lesson to learn! You will start with ski poles, but you might find it easier to use your arms to balance. Steering is simple: just point your feet in the direction you want to move and gravity will do the rest.

To stop, turn both skis in an outward position with your heels. Looking down at your skis you should see an upside down ‘V’. The trick is not to do this too quickly to prevent you from toppling over! This is also a good way to stand, as it will prevent you from sliding down the slope and losing control. If you are on a higher slope, then turn your skis to face across the slope, not down the slope. Keep your feet in the ‘V’ position to help you keep control. Turning sharply to the left and right involves putting weight on the correct foot. If you want to turn left, put more weight on your right foot while turning in that direction. The opposite applies for turning right.

These are merely the basic tips for learning how to ski for the first time. The more you practise, the more confident you will become and you may want to try out more complex skiing techniques and try skiing on higher slopes. Have fun!