After months of anticipation and preparation, the first snowfall of the year has finally come. The day that a majority of the population dreads while the prayers of skiers around the world have been answered. After arduous work to please the snow gods, they have finally blessed the loyal with a gnarly layer of fresh powder.
Before you forget all obligations and get out on the mountain, there are a few things that you need to know. Especially if you are a first-time skier and trying to impress your ski bum buddies.
Here are some tips and tricks to keep you from looking like a Jerry your first day out there:
1. Your Gear:
If you have the wrong gear to ski, the day will be spent with numb feet, cold fingers and wet pants. Finding the proper gear will make skiing much more enjoyable. I personally didn’t like skiing until I invested in a $400 pair of ski boots that fit me right. Now I’m not saying that you have to go out and buy hundreds of dollars of new gear, but you do need to be prepared to take your time when renting/borrowing gear.
As I said, boots were what made me enjoy skiing, so when you go to try on boots, ensure that you’re wearing thin wool socks, slide your foot in and put your heel to the back of the boot. The boots will be snug, but not uncomfortable. The better your boots fit, the more control you will have with your skis, the warmer your feet will be and the happier you’ll be on the mountain.
Next up, let’s talk about your skis. There are different skis for different conditions, wider skis with more flex will be better for soft, deep snow, while narrower stiffer skis will be better for hard pack snow and groomed runs (runs that look like corduroy). Be aware of the weather and snow conditions so that you will be able to pick the best ski for the occasion.
Like with skis, your outer/underwear will need to be appropriate for the weather conditions the day of. Do not wear cotton next to your skin, as it will absorb your heat and make you colder, try to wear thermals and one pair of thin wool socks (more socks will actually make your feet colder). Layer up on your clothes to keep you warm under your shell, or outer layer. Your jacket and especially your snow pants should be waterproof as you’ll most likely fall on your butt a few times throughout the day.
2. Snow Maneuverability:
A skier’s ability to maneuver on a flat or uphill section of snow is what shows how experienced the skier really is.
When on a flat surface, your poles are your friends. You can use them to help propel you forwards. They can be used to “help” but they shouldn’t be the main means of propulsion. While on a flat surface you can use your skis as a kind of skate, and you can use one ski to push you forward while sliding on the other. Using a combination of skating and pushing with your poles can help you get from the lift line to the resort and vice versa.
3. Turning, Stopping and Chair Lifts:
The rule of thumb when it comes to turning is that you start slow and work your way up. Start by taking an athletic stance by flexing your ankles, knees and leaning forward. If you have never skied before, begin your turns by forming an arrowhead with the tips of your skis and slowly start working on turning/leaning right and left. Once you’re comfortable doing that, you can start to bring your skis together to help you better control your turns. Once you can keep your skis parallel you can basically hit any run you set your mind to. Gravity is your friend while making turns. Keep your head and chest forward (downhill) and be sure to move your feet from one turn to the next and you will be surprised at how much control you actually have.
Even though gravity is your friend, there will be times when you need to stop, either suddenly or more gradually. To stop yourself completely and suddenly, you will need to turn and as you turn, lean uphill and dig your skis into the snow. You basically do an exaggerated turn until you’re perpendicular to the hill.
Getting on and off chair lifts is a lot less scary than it seems to be. Be sure you are comfortable moving around on flat snow before you simply run out and hop on the lifts. To get on a lift you simply wait in line until you get to the “Wait Here” spot, then you wait until the chair in front of you passes you and once it’s in front of you, you follow it to where the group in front of you is getting on that chair. You then wait for the chair behind you to come and scoop you up. To avoid any accidents in that process, be sure your poles aren’t planted in the snow, your skis are both clipped in, and you have no loose clothing.
Getting off is just as easy as getting off, you simply wait until the chair gets to the top of the hill, and when your skis touch snow, stand up and slide safely out of the way.
Skiing is the BEST way to overcome those January blues and make you look forward to what many in Utah feel is the longest season of the year.
Steve Skis 