Skiing tips please...?

Question

I have recently started skiing lessons as it's something I wanted to do for a long time and have a holiday coming up in 4 weeks time. I was ok in my first lesson except that I kept drifting to the right (whilst doing snowplough) as I got higher up, this resulted in me falling over before I hit the side wall lol

What can I do to stop this drifting? (the instructor just wanted to go home I think!) Also are there any other tips that would be useful to me?

Thanks

Answer 1

close your eyes and hope for the best

Answer 2

Start with the basics, TIGHTEN your boots.  Your foot should not move in the boot, only wiggle your toes.  Stand tall, hips are over your boots, your knees are flexed, as are your ankles, press your shin against the tongue of the boot.  

   Tip your right knee more to the inside, and balance on both skiis with equal weight.

From what you wrote, you were standing more on your left ski than you should be.

   Go to a gentle slope where you are comfortable, snowplow straight down the hill and try pushing on one ski, then on the other, this should give you turns in both directions.  Use the turns to control your speed, and to gain confidence.  Use a narrow snowplow  (Wedge)  position to allow more movement of the leg and feet.

   If you do not feel secure in your boots, go back to the shop and have them adjusted. They may be too big.

Answer 3

Just relax and enjoy it its for fun! remember that at all times your not on Eurosports as you relax and practice you will get better!

Answer 4

Balance your weight better. And listen to your instructor.

Answer 5

Stay with the ski lessons if you can afford it & find the time! I've been an expert skier for over 35 yrs. & I've taught plenty of beginners their first lesson. Ask your instructor about the GLM {Gradual Length Method}. This is where your first lessons are taught on a short ski & you gradual increase the length of your ski as you improve. The main reason for this is that turns are much easier to do on a shorter ski & that's one of the most important things to first learn. One reason for the drift is that you're not skiing evenly on both skis. This could because your left handed or right handed & this can affect how your lower body operates. Most people have a stronger side depending on whether they're left handed or right handed. Some even have one foot larger than the other. Consider this when you're learning & you just have to compensate for the drift. When you feel like you're drifting to the right, just put more weight on the right ski & this will stop the drift. By doing this this will keep the right ski downhill. Snowploughing is a very good way for a beginner to learn to ski. If you keep your ski tips closer together than the back of your skis, you'll be snowploughing all the time & this will allow you to slow down or turn very easily. Remember, when you're snowploughing you have to put more weight on one ski to make a turn & then switch your weight to turn in the other direction. Keep your skis in the snowplough position, i.e. your tips are much closer together than the backs of your skis & when you want to make a right turn, put your weight on the left ski & you'll turn. Put weight on the right ski & you'll turn left. Always try & make your turns evenly so you go back & forth down the hill in a very even manner. Your drifrt should be easily cured by practicing both turns. It's probably just because it was your first lesson & I don't think it's serious. One final thing that you can test yourself at to cure the drift is to practice slowing down & stopping all the time. To do these two things you have to snowplough & keep weight on both skis evenly. Also, remember when your snpwploughing that your weight should always be on the inside edge of both skis & that way you can carve a turn & stop by weighing on the skis that way. Good Luck & just keep practicing & don't worry about falling. Falling ma be the best way to learn. A lot of falling occurs because your trying something more advanced. Stay on the beginner slopes for a long time until you get your confidence up. The beginner slopes are always marked with green colored circles & this is true at every ski area your at. Good Luck!!!!

Don

Answer 6

bend zee knees!!

Answer 7

That happened to me too omg it is so irritating! I can now parallel ski :D

My advice is to really push out your knees and you will stop fine. Try not to lean forward becasue this shifts your weight and moves you against your will.

Hope you have as good of a holiday as I did!

x

Answer 8

do good

Answer 9

don't fall over

Answer 10

When snowploughing, pressure on your inside edge will make you turn one way or the other. If you are drifting to the right, it means that you are putting more pressure on your left inside edge than your right.

Try to keep the pressure even on both skis and you will travel straight, or if you find yourself drifting, put a little more pressure on the other ski.