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Beginner's SkiTips


Beginner SkiTip photo A
Beginner SkiTip photo B
Beginner SkiTip photo C
Beginner SkiTip photo D
Ski equipment can be quite expensive, especially at the top end of the range. Beginners do not need to purchase the most expensive equipment. Manufacturers make many different categories of skis designed for specific skiing levels. The beginners’ skis, fortunately, are the least expensive. The same is true for ski boots. Thus, if you decide to purchase skis and boots, let the shop staff know that you are a beginner skier.

Mr. SkiTips recommendation: I advise beginners to rent their equipment from a reliable ski shop rather than purchasing it. By renting, you have the opportunity to try a variety of products before deciding which is best for you. Also, as you progress, you will undoubtedly want skis and boots better suited for intermediate skiing. Thus your investment will serve you better if you wait until you are able to ski the intermediate runs on the mountain.

Skiing Tip: Learn to sideslip your skis.

Sideslipping (or ‘sidesliding’ ) is one of the most valuable maneuvers you can learn, for once you start to ski the runs on the mountain you are sure at some point to encounter a pitch on a slope that you feel is too steep to ski safely or too narrow, or too icy to confidently make turns. If you know how to ‘sideslip’ you can get sideslip down these runs safely. In fact, no matter how advanced a skier you become, you will always encounter places where you must sideslip. Therefore learn to sideslip confidently and you will have a safety maneuver to use when needed.

Practice exercise: Straight Sidesliding
(Refer to picture 24 A-D).

Find a short, steep pitch on a hill and stand across the hill (so that your skis are on a perpendicular to the fall-line). Assume a proper traverse position with your arms held in front of your chest (as though you are carrying a dinner tray or riding a horse). Keep your weight on the instep of your downhill ski boot and roll your feet and ankles downhill. Your skis will begin to slide down the fall-line (picture 24B). Try to control the slide so that the skis remain perpendicular to the fall-line as they are sliding. When you decide to stop, roll your feet and ankles uphill again and your edges will begin to dig into the snow (picture 24D). Repeat these movements until you descend the hill. Then repeat in the other direction.

Special Tip: The keys to this maneuver are to constantly maintain contact with your shins against the front of your boots, and be sure to not over roll your feet and ankles down the fall-line - you don’t want to put the skis totally flat on the snow or you might fall over the downhill ski.




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