Your first day on the slopes can be a challenging one. Skiing can be difficult to pick up in the beginning. It has a technique that is very unique – making it difficult to really prepare yourself for the challenges you will face on your first day.
We can help you to prepare by giving some insight into some of the mistakes first time skiers make. Hopefully we can make that first morning successful once you finally have those skis on your feet!
Too Scared
Skiing can be a terrifying prospect. Stood at the top of a hill with two planks of wood strapped to your feet and no idea of how to control them…anything could happen!
Fear holds back so many people from progressing at the rate they desire. As soon as the fear sets in, this leads to muscle tension and poor judgement.
Affecting you both physically and mentally…fear definitely cannot be a good thing for your ski progression!
When you look around the ski slope, you will notice that the more confidence somebody has – the faster they will learn. Kids are usually a perfect example of this. They rarely have fear of the consequences that could result from a crash, meaning they commonly progress at a much faster rate than their struggling parents!
Not Taking Lessons
It is possible to ski without lessons, but it’s definitely not advised!
When it comes to learning the basics of skiing, lessons are fundamental. It is vitally important that you learn the basics correctly from the very beginning.
If you fail to learn the basics correctly, you will start your skiing career with bad habits and poor technique. The more you learn over the years, the more prominent your bad habits will become.
Putting in the extra time and effect on this first day will be a huge help to you in the long run.
Not Listening To The Instructor
Your first time on skis can bring around a huge mixture of emotions. Excitement, confusion and fear all mixed together can make for an exhilarating experience!
Throughout this mixture of emotion you somehow need to calm your brain and listen carefully to instruction. The more emotion you have running through your mind – the more difficult it becomes to listen!
It’s also very easy to understand what your ski instructor is telling you while you’re standing still, but once you start sliding it is very easy to forget everything you have learned!
If you can remain focused, confident and relaxed; you are sure to make some great progress on your first day.
Leaning back too much
One of the most common technical mistakes made by skiers is leaning back too much. From beginner to advanced, this is a problem that can be seen all over the mountain.
As your skis slide down the slope, it’s easy to let your body get left behind and end up leaning backwards. This body position makes controlling your skis much more challenging and will certainly make your life more difficult as you advance through the levels.
When sliding down the slope, you ideally want to keep your knees bent into the front of your ski boots and your body at a 90-degree angle to the slope (when viewed from the side).
If you can get the basic posture down correctly now, your ski journey will certainly be a much easier one over the years to come!
Being Too Serious
Skiing is about having fun! Never forget that.
Remember, skiing is not a cheap or easy sport and you want to make the most of every moment you have on the slopes! The learning process is supposed to be challenging but also fun. Embrace the challenge and learn as much as you can.
The more fun you have, the faster you will progress. The faster you progress, the more fun you will have. Skiing is a sport that requires a confident, relaxed and fun loving mind-set. If you arrive with this attitude, you will be amazed with what you can achieve.
If you can avoid these basic mistakes first time skiers usually make, you will be well on your way to a fantastic ski trip.