Choosing a
slope - how to choose a suitable place for first steps on skis
Higliy recomend to find a ski instructor! if not possible read below :)
This is the
most important part for our safe start. We have to wear a helmet and put on ski
gloves. We have to find a mild slope with a flat portion at the end where we
can stop easily, usually near the beginners lift. On the flat portion we put on
the skis and begin with the following exercises. With repeating the exercises
you will gradually gain security and a sense of balance.
Don't jump
over the steps in the ski school. You could get scared or hurt, and if you get
scared you get a mind block too, so small steps and follow the correct order.
Better stay a day londer on the blue track and repeat the turns than to go to
the red track and then to call the ski patrol.
Don't go to
the ski lift if you havend mastered the exercises on the flat slope, and always check your gear. It is important to learn how
to climb before going on the lift.
Correct way
of holding the poles and correct ski
stance:
We can
observe:
Legs are
slightly bent.
The space
between the skis is in the hip width, ie. natural position as in standing or
walking.
There is a
slight tension to the abs.
Exercises
on the flat portion:
If the
video doesn't start, click the link above
· Pushing
forward on one ski.
· Pushing
forward on both skis
· Ski
walking
· Turn,
turn with connected tips, turn with connected tails.
· Hopping,
hopping fro mparallel skis to the plow.
· Skidding
from the parallel position to the plow (pizza) position IMPORTANT!!!
· Getting
to know the ski stance
These
exercises will help you gain a sense of ballance and a sense of gliding on
snow. Set aside enough time for these exercises because they are the basic for
further learning.
The center
of gravity of your body should bi exactly above the middle of your skis meaning
the pressure should be felt somewhere around the middle of the fool and the
toes, never on the heals and the back part of your ski boot. For a correct ski
stance we have to stretch our arms forward, bend the knees slightly and feel
the slight pressure on the tounge of our ski boot. Remember, no one ever falls
on their head if they lean forward, at the beginning everybody falls on their
back.
Basic
elements - BASIC SKI SCHOOL
After
you've repeated the exercises on the flat, it is time to move forward.
NOTICE:
GRADUALLY INCREASE THE HEIGHT OF YOUR DESCENT so you start at 2-3m and then get
to 10-15m at the end.
1. Climbing
(= With parallel skis, or fishbone)
2. Turning
(towards the valley: tips connected and facing the valley, towards the hill:
tails connected, and tips spread in a V)
3. Downhill
straight
4. Downhill
straight with a plow for stopping at the end
5. Left
turn
6. Right
turn
1.Climbing:
We set the skis parallel so they are poining vertically towards the slope,
mildly to the curb so the knees are lightly bent towards the hill, we hold
ourselves with the poles and climb in little steps.
2.Turning:
We set the poles in front of ourselves to help us in the incline. Tips of the
skis are close, tails are far apart.
3.Downhill:
We take the lower stance, push ourselves forward with the poles, lean our body
forward. Poles don't touch the snow. We stop at the flat and climb again and go
downhill with a plow at the end.
4.Plow
(Pizza)
· We take a
lower stance
· We go
downhill
· We push
the knees to the inside and lean forward, the ski tails we push outward.
· We try to
set the skis so as to put the tips close and the tails far apart.
· When we
control the speed and we can stop when we want to, we've mastered the plow
The plow is
our most important element, we don't go forward until we've mastered it.
Frequent
mistakes: Pushing the knees together, leaning on your heals, crossing the tips,
stretched out legs, flapping your hands, leaning to far back.
5. Left
turn
1. We go
downhill straight keeping the poles horizontally in our hands.
2. We make
a plow
3. We keep
the plow and put weight on the right ski by: putting both poles to the right
knee, leaning to the right and forward. Skis must be on the inside curbs. Knees
slightly bent and inward, not touching.
6.Right
turn
1. We go
downhill straight
2. We make
a plow, keeping the poles horizontally in our hands.
3. We keep
the plow and put weight on the left ski by: putting both poles to the right
knee, leaning to the left and forward. Skis must be on the inside curbs. Knees
slightly bent and inward, not touching.
After we've
mastered the turns while holding the poles horizontally...
We continue
to make turns in the correct ski position: poles in hands, hands straight,
shifting the weight in the turn enables us to lean with the body to the outer
ski, pressure to the toeas and to the side (left turn right side, right turn
left side).
Frequent
mistakes: leaning on your heals, leaning to far back; solution: Leaning forward
and stretching the hands more to the front.
To learn
these elements you'll need a day on average, some will make it in half an hour,
and some might need three days. Don't forget
to do the exercises in the correct order as described.
After we've
learned the turns, we can change the size of the bend, connect several same or
different turns, increase the speed of the turns as long as we feel
comfortable. We're ready for the blue slope and for driving the ski lift.
Watch out
so you don't end up as in this video :)
IMPORTANT
FOR DRIVING THE SKI LIFT (PLATE OR ANCHOR)
1. Point
the skis in the direction of the pull force (parallel)
2. Take the
plate or the anchor, put it between your legs and DON'T SIT ON IT. Keep standing and let it drag you.
Good luck!!!
