Skiing is not only a brilliant recreational activity but also a competitive sport that involves gliding down a snow-clad mountain for an exciting experience. However, it can be adventurous as well as dangerous sport at the same time as it is prone to injuries. Hence, as a beginner, you should be well equipped with protective ski gear and accessories before you hit the mountains.
In today's era of the internet, browsing through some of the beginner skiing tutorials might prove to be helpful and give you a basic idea about skiing. A little preparation is always recommended so that you can enjoy the sport and not fall into trouble.
Remember, in the initial days, you may have to face a lot of frustration, bruises and bumps, but never give up. These are the phases that every beginner has to go through while skiing and helpful for extreme skiing as well. You need to be determined and tough to excel in the sport. Never go skiing with your friends and family, unless until they are not the masters of skiing. It is always recommended to opt for professional training for the best outcome.
Since skiing is done on the snow & you glide down the high mountains, it is important that you know some skiing tips and safety measures and how to apply them in the right way to get outstanding results. In this guide, we are going to tell a few skiing tips for beginners.
Basic skiing tips for beginners
Attain the fitness before the ski season: Skiing is something that requires the skier to be fit both physically as well as mentally. The more fit you are, the faster you will learn the techniques of skiing. Hence, it is advised that you go for regular cardiovascular exercise and do stretching in order to get in shape. At times incorporating yoga in your daily regime also proves to be useful.
Prepare yourself for the weather: Ski area experience snow every year, due to which the chances of getting cold are high. Hence, you should wear the proper layers of clothes along with a helmet, gloves, ski socks, skiing boots, etc. to keep yourself safe from the cold and chilly weather. A proper headgear is important while skiing, not only to protect you from the cold but to protect your head from any accidental fall. Also, choose a ski goggle that fits around the helmet properly.
Use the right ski equipment: Using the right ski equipment is mandatory before you set out for skiing. Renting the equipment from any ski shop or the ski resort is a good option. If you are planning to buy, make sure that you buy the product that fits you properly. For instance, choose the ski boots that are not too loose or tight. Otherwise, you won't be able to focus on your game. You can check out some of the reputed online stores like Amazon for some good deal while buying ski gear.
Know how to distribute your weight: This is one of the primary skiing tips. Here, you need to focus on exactly in which part of your feet is your body weight. It can be your heels, your foot or the balls of your feet. As a beginner, you need to take a few active runs moving your weight fore and aft & try to locate the center of mass. If you feel the weight is on your heels, you should push against the front of your boot to shift the weight in the front. It will also save you from falling. When you take the first turn, see that your weight is centered; this helps the skis to pivot under your feet. Press forward and shift your weight over the balls of your feet to complete the turn and increase the grip.
Learn how to move your body upper and lower part: Your whole body plays a vital role in skiing & knowing how to independently move the upper and lower part of your body while skiing is one of the greatest skiing tips. Normally, your upper body part should bend down slightly while skiing as it helps in maintaining most of your weight over the downhill ski and gives a better grip. As a beginner, you should never take a turn with your upper body; use your legs and feet to move the skis. Always take the turn by pivoting your skis and inclining your upper body slightly downhill.
Use the maximum number of movements: Using a range of movements is one of the effective skiing tips which help you to maintain balance and turn the skis properly. At the start, you need to apply pressure against the skis and slowly stretch against your outside ski with your legs straight at the turns. This position helps you turn your feet in the direction you want to go. As a beginner, you should always take a sharp turn and avoid twisting your shoulders or hips, as this disturbs your balance. Try not to scrape and skid the edges of your skis against the snow too much. If you feel that you are losing balance at some point of time, bend your legs gently until you are all set to take your next turn. Remember, a good skier should always stay relaxed, look at the front, and adjust the balance before making the next move.
Know how to link the turns: Apart from adjusting, linking the turns is one of the effective skiing tips too. While linking the turns, see that your track looks like the alphabet S, not Z because it is easier to take a turn when you are about to finish the previous turn rather than from a static position. Though while running straight, you tend to pick up speed, the control is said to be maximum when you are taking a turn, so you should aim to take turns most of the time.
Keep your core stable: Like it is important to use your lower part and the upper part of the body separately, maintaining your upper body in a still position is also one of the skiing tips. The best way to reduce the movement of your upper body is to keep your core stable and tense your stomach muscles.
Pole position: The ski poles have two chief functions; one is to provide a rhythm & the other is to balance the movement while skiing. Pole positioning is another tip that allows you to stay safe while being up in the mountains. Holding your poles in front of you at a wider angle than where your hip is one of the most important skiing tips. The thumb rule here is, in whichever position you are, you can always notice your hands, which makes taking turns easy.
One at a time: Now the best of all the skiing tips is that you should never try to follow all at a time. The best strategy is to focus on one tip at a time and take feedback from the instructor on how well you can cope up.
Conclusion
While these are a few skiing tips you can use as a beginner, some of the other instructions that you should keep in mind are pack sufficient fluids and snacks to help you stay hydrated and energetic throughout the day, never ski alone, always follow the instructions carefully, etc.
However, before you practically start skiing, you should do sufficient research and take training under some reputed ski academies. The lessons and skiing tips taught by them would help in improving your technique brilliantly. The guidance also helps in boosting your confidence before you reach your holiday destination. Enrolling with a reputed ski school helps in building a proper foundation & you get to know the correct techniques and learn how to apply them as a beginner. The instructor also guides you to the most appropriate slopes so that you can experience unlimited fun in your initial skiing days.