How to Slide a Snow Ski Box

Video Transcript

"When you're first starting out learning how to slide boxes; it's really important that you choose a box that's set up for beginners. Most mountains have a smaller beginner part. As you can see right here, this box is not very high off the ground. There's not that much of a gap from where you take off to where you actually land on the box. You don't want to pick one where the take off is way down here, and the front of the box is way up here. When you're first starting out; you're not going to really want to have to worry about making it up on top of the box; as opposed to getting your weight balanced, and being able to slide the box comfortably. As you can see here, with coming off; there's no drop off or anything. It goes right back into the snow. A small box like this is going to allow you to focus on the basic fundamentals of sliding the box; keeping your body positioned properly, coming off properly, and getting on properly. It's going to make it a lot easier if you do fall and slip out. It's not going to hurt as bad, because it's not that high off the ground, and if for some reason; you do catch a front edge, and you fall off the front; you're already right there on the ground with it, so it's not as bad as some of the larger features on the hill. First and foremost; you need to pick your terrain features properly to go along with your skill level. Now we're actually going to be sliding the box. I'll walk you through what you're supposed to do as I'm actually on the box and sliding. Just make sure you keep your weight balanced throughout, so you don't slip out, or catch your front edge. You're going to hop sideways and then hop regular again. As you noticed, I hopped sideways; I crouched down low, so I was in a proper stance on the box, and then I came back forward like that. When you're sliding sideways, it helps if your body is still a little bit forward; just because it will make it so you can bring your body forward again, so you can go back down the hill. Sometimes it gets difficult to bring your body forward if you get completely sideways, and you'll end up coming all backwards; which is good, if you mean to, but if you're not meaning to, then it can just lead to your falling or being out of control. You want to be able to pop back forward, and come out regular again, and go and ski the rest of the run."