Basic Snow Skiing Moves

Learning to snow ski can be daunting at first, especially if you're at a resort watching more experienced skiers make it look easy to zip down the slopes. It's important to make sure you have the proper equipment. Consider taking professional lessons. A good instructor can help you learn faster, safely and avoid developing bad habits. Master a few basic moves, and you will improve with practice.

  1. Equipment

    • Make sure skis are the right length and that you have good boots that fit. Get a good pair of ski socks and warm waterproof clothing. Wear warm thermals under the clothing. You will need a hat and waterproof gloves. Wear goggles in bad weather.

    Snowplow

    • Use the right form when you ski. Stand up, put your weight forward a bit to help with balance, tuck you backside in and bend your knees.

      This basic move can help you slow down as well as turn. To make a snowplow, turn your skis slightly downhill and put the tips together, forming a V shape. Your weight should be forward with your knees bent. Slowly turn farther downhill to build up speed. Push your skis outward in the snowplow position and dig the edges of the skis into the snow; this will help control speed and slow you down.

      To turn, stay in the snowplow position with your weight forward and bent knees. Move your weight to the uphill ski. This makes the skis swing to face you in the other direction. It's easier with a small amount of speed. The weight transfer is a matter of standing on one foot or the other; don't throw yourself into the transfer.

    Falling

    • Falling is common when someone is learning to ski, but even experienced skiers fall sometimes. Basically, don't the fight the fall. If you're going at a high speed, try to roll into it. Quit sliding as quickly as you can. Get your legs below you so you can use your feet to brake. Don't use your poles to stop by sticking them into the snow.

    Getting up

    • If you've fallen, how to get back up depends on whether your skis have come off. If they have, get the skis, make sure the bindings are open and put them on. Make sure you skis are facing sideways across the hill. Make sure boots and bindings are clean before putting the skis back on.

      If your skis stayed on, getting back up can be harder. Again, make sure your skis aren't facing down the slope, but sideways. Sit uphill from the skis, and make sure the skis are across the fall line. Grab poles with one hand on the handle and the other by the baskets. Plant the poles in the snow behind the hip going uphill; this helps leverage. Use a fast pull/push motion with both arms to shift forward. Put your weight over the skis before you stand.