How to Ski

Swooshing down the slopes is a lot of fun, if you know what you're doing and are not just flying down the mountain because you never knew how to stop or turn properly. This eHow will teach you how to enjoy a ski trip by providing the basic techniques for skiing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Practice gliding, walking and skating in your skis on flat ground.
2. Stand on a gentle rise. With your skis pointed downhill, glide straight down.
3. Practice slowing down using the wedge or snowplow method. Stand on top of the gentle rise and glide straight down, pushing the tails of your skis outward and the points of your skis together.
4. Practice stopping using the wedge or snowplow. Glide downhill, creating a wedge with your skis, and turn your feet so that you apply gentle pressure using your inside edges.
5. Practice turning left. Glide down a gentle slope, with your ski tips pointed together in a low-angle snowplow, then gently shift your weight onto your right-hand ski.
6. Practice turning right. Glide down a gentle slope, with your ski tips pointed together in a low-angle snowplow, then gently shift your weight onto your left-hand ski.

Tips & Warnings

• Once these maneuvers feel comfortable, take a lift to the nearest bunny hill for more practice.
• Ski safely and in control.
• Avoid stopping in the middle of a trail or where others can't see you from above.
• Always yield right of way to people ahead of you.
• Be aware of trees and manmade obstacles.