How can I learn to ski with my skis together?

Question

I have been skiing my entire life, but was taught to keep my tips together and I feel like it is now holding me back. Is there a certain way to go about learning how to keep my skiis closer together? A video online, something I can read, etc...

Answer 1

skiing class

Answer 2

First off just start putting your skis together when turning, and lean up hill. Once you got this it should be pretty easy to keep your skis parallel all the time. It is quite alot faster though.

Answer 3

I know nothing about skiing but if I wanted to do as you are saying......Duck tape my dear; lots of duck tape!

Answer 4

I've been an expert skier for over 35 yrs. & I've been an instructor so I think I can help you!!!

If you want to check on-line that use search engines for "Ski Instruction" or Ski Lessons."

You should try skiing on shorter skis. If you can't afford to buy new skiis, then get a rental pair & make sure that they're shorter than the ones you own. I would rent a ski that goes no higher than your nose or preferably a little shorter- no higher than your chin.

A shorter ski is much is to control & I think you skis may be too long!!! It's a lot easier to keep your tips together with a shorter ski since the length from your boot to your tips is much shorter. Because of this, there's less ski to cnntrol & turn with. It makes it much easier to turn & stop. You also won't ski too fast & out of control.

Stay on the intermediate slopes so you can stay under control & until you get use to carving your turns. I shorter ski is much easier in the front {at your tips} & it's also easy to move the backs of your skis.

Lean back, rather than forward & this will keep the weight off your tips & you can control them better, thus you can keep them together more easily. Also, if your leaning forward, you'll pick up too much speed & you may out of control.

Keep your knees slightly bent, bend at the waist & you use your lower body to control you skiing. Your upper body should move very little.

Finally, I think you may have problems with your boots. Make sure you have them adjusted tight enough where your feet don't slide around. If you feet are sliding inside your boots then you'll have complete control over your skis.

If your boots have a removable in-sole, take it out & replace it with a good running shoe in-sole. You can buy these at most pharmacies or sporting goods stores that carry running shoe in-soles. They cost about $15-$18.

I always use a good in-sole & they are so soft under your feet & they give you good arch support. My feet never get tired or sore & I ski all day.

These in-soles make it easy to tighten your boots & they give you a comfortable fit. Also, check your boots after a couple of runs & chances are you can tighten up a little more since you've warmed up.

If your boot isn't adjusted right you'll have trouble keeping your tips together. Good Luck!!!

Answer 5

Start over from the vary basic point in your skiing. Stand tall in your ski boots, heel as far back in them as it will go.  Buckle your boots from the toe up. Your feet should be about hip width apart, now push your knees forward and bend slightly at the hips, your weight should be where the arch of your foot meets the heel.

  Twist your toes together and apart a few times to get the feel of steering your skiis. When you go on the slope, take some lessons from a qualified professional instructor. You don't state your age, but if you are under 12, strengthen your legs by running and playing in the summer.  If older, strengthen your legs by year around conditioning.  

  When skiing on an intermediate slope, ski across it with your skiis parallel, but still hip width apart. Practice the parallel position until you do it without thinking.  You must develop muscle memory of this position.  Now when you make a turn, begin to pull your skiis parallel as soon as you can. This does take time to learn the skills.  

   I teach this level of skiing on a daily basis, if you follow the advice, your skiing will improve.

Answer 6

I have seen a blog just recently with all kinds of great snowboarding items like clothing, boots, and gear I also seen free video on there too for skiing and snow boarding it's a must see site just look around it's mixed in all the posts you'll see it it's enlarged text for the free videos,

http://www.snowsportblog.com/

Answer 7

When you say that you're skiing with your tips together that tells me that you're skiing and making your turns in a wedge (or snowplow).  That's a great starting point.  I'm also a ski instuctor, but we must teach beginning parallel differently than the other instructors who have answered.

Next time you are out skiing, and making wedge turns, pay attention to how you're making your skis turn.  Chances are you were taught to "push" and "steer" your right ski in order to make a left turn, and do the same with your left ski in order to make the right turn.  Well. Forget all of that.

Try this instead:

Start on some beginner or gentle intermediate terrain, and in order to turn left, LIGHTEN your left ski.  You'll notice that not only do you turn but, 1) it takes almost no effort, and 2) at the end of your turn your skis will naturally fall into a parallel position.

Do this for a little while, (wedge - lighten - turn) then start your turns with an open-stance parallel (feet about hip-width apart) and do the same thing, lighten the left ski to turn left and the right ski to turn right.  

You'll be amazed at how EASY it is to move into parallel turns!