How to Downhill Ski if You Are a Wimp
Downhill skiing can be intimidating for the nonathletic. Slippery slopes of ice and snow seem to conspire to transport you and a pair of skis into a freefall slide down a mountainside. Downhill skiing and its daunting companion, the mountainside chairlift, can be mastered in a short period of time by even the most timid. Once you have learned how to slow down and stop on skis and maneuver on and off the chairlift, the worst is over.
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Things You'll Need
- Waterproof ski pants
- Waterproof ski jacket
- Waterproof mittens
- Hat
- Ski goggles
- Ski boots
- Skis
- Ski resort with bunny hill and towrope and "green" beginner hills with chairlifts.
Instructions
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1
Dress in warm, waterproof clothing and put on ski boots. Stand in the boots and position your feet approximately 8 inches apart. To practice shifting your body weight, place all your weight on your left foot without moving either foot. Shift your weight to your right foot. Repeat for two minutes.
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2
Imagine that you are getting out of your car while holding a bag of groceries in your arms and that you are slamming the car door shut with your hip. Mimic the movement you would make in this scenario. Practice this movement for two minutes.
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3
Push hard on the inside edges of your feet, down toward the ground. Relax. Repeat this exercise for two minutes.
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4
Carry your skis to the bottom of the "bunny," or beginner hill near the towrope. Put on the skis by stepping into the bindings with your toe and pressing your heel down to lock them. Practice your weight-shifting exercises. Place your hands around the rope and let it pull you to the top of the bunny hill. Keep your knees slightly bent.
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Stand at the top of the hill and look to your right. Pick a spot to the far right on the hill and aim your skis at it. Push your feet forward and slowly move toward the spot at an angle.
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Shift your weight to your left leg and look to your left while turning the tips of your skis in that direction. Imagine you are shutting the car door with your hip.
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7
Shift your weight to your right leg and turn to the right. Travel to the bottom of the bunny hill while making at least 10 turns to the right and left by shifting your weight. These short turns will check your speed.
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8
Push hard on the inside edges of your feet, bringing the tips of your skis together, to stop. Practice on the bunny hill for at least one hour.
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9
Ski to the bottom of a two-person chairlift that will take you to a beginner "green" hill. Ask the chairlift operator to radio ahead to the lift operator at the top of the hill to slow down the lift when you approach.The chairlift will automatically slow down when you get on at the bottom of the hill. Just stand at the red line and sit down when chair hits the back of your legs.
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10
When the chair reaches the lift exit spot and slows down, slightly raise the tips of your skis and stand up. The chair will gently push you down the tiny hill at the base of the lift.
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Use the same weight-shifting principles when skiing down the "green" hill, taking as many turns as possible to control your speed.
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Tips & Warnings
Ski poles should not be used when learning to ski. Most ski resorts also have instructors available for private or group lessons.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
