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How to ski for beginners

Skiing / Popular

Your first day: getting used to the skis, sliding and turning.

What coaches agree on

  • Push your skis into a wedge, tips together and heels apart, to control your speed — the wider you push your heels out, the more you slow down.
  • Turn by steering your feet and skis in the direction you want to go, shifting your weight onto the downhill (outside) ski as you come around.
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  • Before clipping into both skis, spend some time moving and gliding around on just one ski to get a feel for balance and sliding.
  • Start your first turns and stops on the flattest, gentlest slope you can find, ideally a beginner area by the magic carpet, before heading anywhere steeper.

Common mistakes

  • Sitting back onto the tails of your skis, including as a panic bail-out when you feel out of control, actually speeds you up and makes it harder to steer or stop.
5 Vital Beginner Skiing Skills
Beginner

5 Vital Beginner Skiing Skills

Coach's take: Real, specific technique -- especially the parallel-stop and skating tips most beginner content skips.

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