Ski Tips for Beginners
Acquiring the correct techniques from the start is the most important part of learning how to ski. The worst thing a beginner can do is pick up bad skiing habits from the start. This slows the learning process as the student will have to unlearn these bad habits before he or she can move on to more advanced techniques.
Hiring a ski instructor to give you a one on one lesson is the best way to learn. A qualified ski instructor will be able to teach you the fundamentals, provide constant feedback on your progress and fix any errors in your technique early on. Even if it is only for a couple of lessons, learning from a ski instructor can help a great deal.
Books and instructional DVDs are other potential avenues for learning how to ski. When learning from books or DVDs make sure you use material produced in the last 5 or 10 years. The rapid advancements in ski technology in the last 20 years has rendered much of the older equipment obsolete, making ski training books and videos from more than 5 to 10 years ago outdated. The biggest innovation over the years has been the shape of the skis themselves. Prior to the 1990s skis were very long and thin; technology today allows skis to be much wider and shorter than before.
An often overlooked part of ski training is getting your body prepared for the rigours of the slopes. Skiing can be a physically taxing sport, and demands a certain degree of fitness from the skier. Luckily there are various exercises you can do to get you into peak physical shape for skiing. Some basic exercises and regular workouts for a month or two before your ski holiday should be enough to get you ready to hit the slopes with confidence. The more physically fit you are the longer you can spend skiing without pausing to catch your breath.
Don't bother learning how to ski from your spouse, significant other, cousin or friend unless he or she is a professional skiing instructor with teaching experience. The biggest mistake most beginners make is to learn from unqualified instructors. This is the main cause for picking up bad techniques that will only slow your learning process - avoid instruction from non-professionals at all costs.
Finally, avoid difficult hills and overly challenging terrain when learning how to ski. Start off slow on beginner hills and keep practicing until you are comfortable with your technique and know what you are doing. Only when you are confident in your abilities and have mastered all the basics should you tackle intermediate or expert hills. Jumping headlong into Olympic-level ski runs without being prepared is just asking for trouble and can result in severe injuries.
Hiring a ski instructor to give you a one on one lesson is the best way to learn. A qualified ski instructor will be able to teach you the fundamentals, provide constant feedback on your progress and fix any errors in your technique early on. Even if it is only for a couple of lessons, learning from a ski instructor can help a great deal.
Books and instructional DVDs are other potential avenues for learning how to ski. When learning from books or DVDs make sure you use material produced in the last 5 or 10 years. The rapid advancements in ski technology in the last 20 years has rendered much of the older equipment obsolete, making ski training books and videos from more than 5 to 10 years ago outdated. The biggest innovation over the years has been the shape of the skis themselves. Prior to the 1990s skis were very long and thin; technology today allows skis to be much wider and shorter than before.
An often overlooked part of ski training is getting your body prepared for the rigours of the slopes. Skiing can be a physically taxing sport, and demands a certain degree of fitness from the skier. Luckily there are various exercises you can do to get you into peak physical shape for skiing. Some basic exercises and regular workouts for a month or two before your ski holiday should be enough to get you ready to hit the slopes with confidence. The more physically fit you are the longer you can spend skiing without pausing to catch your breath.
Don't bother learning how to ski from your spouse, significant other, cousin or friend unless he or she is a professional skiing instructor with teaching experience. The biggest mistake most beginners make is to learn from unqualified instructors. This is the main cause for picking up bad techniques that will only slow your learning process - avoid instruction from non-professionals at all costs.
Finally, avoid difficult hills and overly challenging terrain when learning how to ski. Start off slow on beginner hills and keep practicing until you are comfortable with your technique and know what you are doing. Only when you are confident in your abilities and have mastered all the basics should you tackle intermediate or expert hills. Jumping headlong into Olympic-level ski runs without being prepared is just asking for trouble and can result in severe injuries.
