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Taking the Plunge - Snow Skiing Tips for the Beginner - Part 2
By Yolande Korsten

Tip # 2 - Learning Control

The most critical skill in learning to snow ski is that of control. Remember, you're adding a hefty amount of extra length to your feet - being able to control your feet and moving on them will keep your behind dry and your pride intact.

Rather start out with shorter skis than longer ones. Although there are disadvantages such as less glide in using shorter skis, this gives you the opportunity to get the basics right and then upgrade your ski length as your skill improves. Once you have the skis on, use your poles as a balancing device while moving your weight from side to side on your skis. This side to side motion is what will eventually guide you down the mountain slope at a speed that you feel comfortable at. The shortest route to the bottom of the slope is straight down - but this is neither advisable at beginner level, nor necessarily the best way to get to the bottom! So make sure you're comfortable with shifting your weight from one foot to the other while on the skis.

Probably the most important skill to learn control of is how to STOP without doing yourself some major injury. The easiest and best way to slow your momentum is to point the toes of your skis towards each other and spreading your heels apart - much like a slice of cake. NB - but whatever you do, DON'T let the tips of your skis cross each other - it's a surefire way of ensuring a wet and uncomfortable tumble.

Another important skill is learning balance. And the best time to practice is while you're still on flat ground! The trick is to practice balancing on one ski at a time. Lift one ski a couple of centimeters off the snow and shift all your weight to the other leg. Observe how your body adjusts to maintain your balance on just one foot - and remember, your ski-poles are there to help you. Now try skiing on just one leg to get used to being in balance, whether you're on two feet or only one. You won't go haring down the mountain on one foot though - this is just an exercise to get you used to your own sense of weight distribution and balance. It is advisable to be comfortable skiing on one leg (practice doing this on both) before you become proficient in skiing on two.

Now that you've put on your skies, practiced shifting your weight from side to side, found your balance on your skis and learned how to stop your forward momentum, you're almost ready to face your first down hill ski. But first, you'll have to master one more critical skill that everyone needs to learn ... how to get up when you fall.

Yolande runs the website http://www.SkiingTips.org that provides infomation on skiing for the beginner to the advance skier.

Part 3 of Beginner Snow Skiing Tips for the beginner can be found on the website.