When skiing on a steep downhill slope,have you ever had moments you felt you're too fast to control yourself?

Question

And you got a little panic...

How do you manage to correct your speed/turns, or if you have to fall, how do you fall safely with least impact and danger to yourself?

Answer 1

First you have to look at the slope before you go, what is your skilevel and certainly think of the safety on the slope. Think also of the ten importent rules. Every skier(and certainly snowboarders), should know them!

As I speak for my self, experience is verry important and you have to take lessons  and do exercises on the slopes to get more experience. A good physical condition of your body is also very important! Also a good warming-up! When you are tired, your reaction will be much slower and than accidents can happen.

So in all wheaterconditions and circumstances  you have to be in control. Ask yourself what do I want, can I do it and if you have any doubts, don't do it. Always look at your own level and not to others.

I never had any moments that I felt I was going too fast. What I do have is freight of heights, but I prepare myself by taking precautions, like concentrating on my technic, look at the course on the slope which I want to ski. Of course your ski equipment is also very important like the bindings, are they not too tight or too loos. I hope you understand me, sorry for my english, it can be better. 'Break a leg'!

Answer 2

Yup...happens all the time. You have to have good edge control and know the difference between "Being out of control" and just "Thinking you are going to lose control."

The first thing to do is stop. Get to the side of the slope and take a minute to regroup. Once you are focused, look down the hill and pick your route.

When I'm skiing really steep stuff, icy slopes, glades, moguls, etc. I plan out where I'm going to ski. Sometimes it's the fall line, sometimes I'll make a traverse. I might see I have three good spots to turn and that's only what I'll ski until I stop again and regroup once more. Sure, it's great to be able to take the whole run without having to stop and still be in control, but picking off the piste bit by bit sometimes is the best option.

Big Steeps, Glades, Moguls, and Thin Cover all require different skiing techniques. But they share a common bond in the fact that you have to plan out a route. Yes, having the hard skills is important, but there's a lot of planning too. Eventually it becomes second nature.

When I know I'm losing control I try to not slam on the brakes until I've reached the point on the slope I've designated as a stopping point. Sometime I don't have to stop and can move on to my next spot...great! But a smart skiier knows his bailout places before hand.

If you ski the same runs over and over at the same resort you will develop a better understanding of that particular slope. I have dozens of runs at various places I've skiied over the years that I already know how I'm going to ski if I find myself there. Some runs get to be so familiar you can ski them in your head. If you've skied them under various conditions you'll even have a better understanding of how that type of terrain will ski with ice, or fresh snow, or thin cover, etc. etc.

As for falling....If you can manage to fall into the hill you'll be better off than if you went head-over-heels. While I've had some full blown yard-sales in my time, lately my falls have been relatively minor. When I sense I'm losing control I try to get cross-slope and stop, more often than not I'm exerting pressure on my edges, so even if I slide, I'm now doing it on my butt with my legs below me and I can use my edges to dig into the snow...just like I was sliding into home plate. Those times I end up on my back or stomache I just let gravity take its course. I might try to self-arrest with my ski poles, but that rarely works. Once you are going down and have no control the best thing to do is relax. This way if you hit something or get twisted around your muscles are at least pliable. Stiffining up your muscles and joints when taking a spill can sometimes lead to worse sprains, twists, etc. So if you are going down and you have no control, just let it happen.

Answer 3

Of course...anyone who hasn't isn't being true to themself or has never challenged themself.

I usually find myself in this position when I'm skiing the trees or in really big moguls where you really can't see more than 1 maybe 2 turns ahead. With big moguls you can pull out of the trough and piston the top to avoid air and after one or two bumps you will have slowed down and also gotten a peek at what's upahead so you can plan a new route. When you're in the trees all you can do is tighten the turns "rolling" more edge(just have to be carefull not to stop carving altogether because deep powder doesn't like that much edging) and hope to see some open space soon.

I'm not sure if panic would be the way to describe it. Usually it's near the end of the day and my brain is not concentrating on what I'm doing that I find myself out of control. That when I have to quickly wake myself out of my trance to deal with the situation. That's also I time when I have to tell myself you've had enough and call it a day

Answer 4

Since you are going too fast, turn your skiis more uphill, stand tall, balance over your downhill ski by angulating more, and pull your boots back under your hips.

  Speed alone is not the issue, it's your lack of skill in the run you are on.  Go back to a flatter slope, practice speed control by using turn shape and edge control,  stay on the gentler slope until you have mastered the skills necessary to ski advanced terrain.

  When you fall you will have no control at all over your skiis or body, and will end up sliding down the hill.  When you do fall, the uphill hip is the safest landing point, and the closest to the snow.  Sit down, to one side.

Answer 5

Yes, this always happens to people who first ski the steeps. It took me about 2 years to learn how to control myself on steep runs. The snow conditions also matter. If its powder, it will be easier to control yourself. However, if it is icy, you have to work very, very hard to control yourself. Don't worry; you'll learn to eventually. (Practice Makes Perfect!)

When you have to fall, you could do one of three things on a steep slope:

-Go into the self-arrest position (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-arrest...

- Try to dig your boots ito the hill to create as much friction as possible (if you have lost your skis)

- Do a backwards wedge (you know how they taught you at ski school, but bckwards) to slow yourself down enough to gain control again.

Don't worry.

Hope this helps.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Yes. well if you are a first time skier then to slow your self down point the tips of both skies infront of you together, but make sure they dont overlap eachother(that will make you fall).To fall saftley you should try and get your skies going horizontally ( ___ )down the hill then fall going up the hill. I suggest if you are a first time skier then dont have your skies waxeduntil you get good.