How to Fall on Skis

Like the idea or not, you need to be prepared to fall when skiing. Use these tips to avoid injury and keep embarrassment to a minimum.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Ski Bindings
• Ski Clothing
• Ski Poles
• Skis

1. Realize that you are losing your balance.
2. Relax. You're more likely to get hurt if you are tense and your muscles are tight. Conversely, try not to just flop onto the snow. Maintain a semblance of control of your limbs even as you're losing balance.
3. Fall uphill whenever possible. The ground is closer on the uphill side and there's less of a tendency to slide when you fall uphill.
4. Absorb the fall with your hip and shoulder. Using your hips and shoulders protects more vulnerable body parts such as knees, wrists and elbows.
5. Fall down when you sense that you're going over. Fighting a fall can lead to getting hurt. However, if falling would lead to injury - as a result of crashing into rocks, trees or manmade obstacles - do of course try to avoid a fall.
6. Enjoy falling. Everyone does it, and it's just part of skiing. When you get some snow packed into your ear or in your goggles, it reminds you of why you're trying to stay on your feet most of the time.

Tips & Warnings

• Knowing how to fall helps eliminate injuries from common spills.
• Falling sideways is easier on your body than falling directly forward or backward.
• Skiing is a physically demanding sport that could result in serious injury. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.