Ski equipment for beginners. Skiing. Techniques and rules of alpine skiing. Training in elements of ski technique

Riding on alpine skiing- an exciting activity that is not easy to learn. The main thing is to be able to maintain balance. Some, relying on their skills in regular skiing, begin to ski on their own, but over time it becomes clear to them that it is better to seek help from an experienced instructor. And after mastering the basics of this sport, you can begin to improve yourself. But first, it is advisable to study the theory; this will help you orient yourself in practice and quickly master the riding technique.

Alpine skiing for beginners

First of all, you need to learn how to put on skis correctly. Before this, the boots are cleared of snow, the foot is placed in the mount, first moved towards the toe, and then the heel is lowered. The fastening is snapped into place at the back of the boot. When putting on skis on a slope, they must be positioned perpendicular to the route and pressed into the snow for a stable position. Put on the bottom ski first, and then the top ski.

The first descent should be made from a gentle, small slope in order to feel one with the skis and thereby protect against unnecessary falls. Skiing requires the availability of improvised means - poles. The selected instructor will show you how to ski with poles. In order to take them, you need to put your hand through the loop and grab it.

Training always begins with a warm-up: simple exercises to warm up the muscles. Thanks to them, the risk of sprains and injuries will be reduced. Then you should learn to take the correct stance - a special body position in which it is comfortable to ride. To do this you need:

• spread your hips;
• bend your knees;
• the shins should touch the front of the boots;
• redirect the weight to the feet;
• the back is straight, you can make it a little rounded;
• head straight, look ahead;
• arms and elbows are relaxed, and the sticks in them do not touch the snow and are slightly spread out to the sides.

The correct stance will ensure easy skiing and create conditions for quick response when obstacles arise.

Correct skating technique for beginners

When the stance is mastered, you can move on to mastering the technique of skiing. Beginners are offered techniques from the Austrian or French school. Their difference lies in their movements. For the first school - a “plow” with a stop, and for the second - movement on parallel skis. But no matter which school is chosen, they have common techniques:

• Falling and maintaining balance. Incompatible actions are united by one thing - the need to maintain your weight and distribute it correctly while skating. The softness of the landing depends on the preparation for the fall. There are two common methods. For the first one, you need to fall on your side so as to engage the outer part of the thigh and buttocks, protecting your knees. For the second, you need to prepare in advance and take a low stance. To perform successfully, you need to move your ski poles to the sides and place your hands in front of your chest, and then fall onto your back. It is better to practice these methods first without skis on any surface, so it will become clear how best to group so that the fall is painless, and at the same time you should work on your balance.
• Start of movement. Here comes the habit and running-in of the equipment and equipment itself, getting used to sliding, and first impressions of interacting with the snow surface. You should move slowly and help yourself with sticks.
  Compliance correct setting legs This is where the “plow” comes into play. This is when the skis in front are slightly pointed towards each other, and the rear edges of the skis are buried in the snow.

• Development of the slope. When all the techniques have been tested and fixed on a horizontal surface, you can master the surface with a slight slope, with a gentle bottom for a natural ski stop. Then you can learn descending skills without fear. Before your first skiing, you should climb the slope and place your skis across the slope so that they do not slide down. When confidence comes, you can help yourself with poles and position yourself in the direction of descent. You need to take a stance and push off, pressing the sticks to your sides.
• Braking training. After the first descents, you need to learn to stop in order to move on to steeper and longer slopes. This can be done using the edges of the skis; if braking is necessary, they must be spread further and sunk into the snow. The speed of movement will begin to decrease.
• Turns. When riding on a slope, you need to press harder on the side edge of one of the skis and transfer your body weight to the ankle. If you turn to the right, then use your left leg, and vice versa when turning to the left.

Ready-made solution method

Proper skating technique includes convenient and safe methods of descent; after practicing them, skating will be much easier. The "bull turn" consists of alternating turns of the skis. Initially, the movement is carried out on the toes, and then on the heels. It must be carried out until alignment occurs along the line of the slope.

“Shus” slide is a descent straight down. Beginners need to practice on a gentle slope with a flat exit area. Start the descent and then apply the bull turn. Beginners take a basic stance and begin moving forward, pointing their skis parallel to each other. When obstacles appear, you need to go around them, helping yourself with your hips, ankles and knees, and keeping your upper body straight at all times.

Simple movement technique

In alpine skiing for beginners, the correct stance is the key to a successful descent.

It is better to climb the slope using a “ladder”. It is necessary to place the skis perpendicular to the line of the slope and, in small steps, with emphasis on the stick, climb the mountain.

Make the descent "skid". To carry it out, you need to sit down and lean forward, making sure that the skis touch the snow with their entire surface. The speed of descent is gained with the help of poles, and reduced by tilting both knees.

Here, look at the video:

In order for skiing to leave only pleasant memories, you must follow several rules:

• First, you should practice the technique on a flat surface, learn how to perform basic maneuvers;
• Before skiing, be sure to warm up;
• eat well to prevent dizziness and nausea;
• get enough sleep and do not drink alcohol or coffee before descending;
• do not use poles for braking. They are only involved in speed control;
• Avoid descending steep slopes until you have achieved mastery and feel confident in your abilities.

Before setting foot on a steep mountainside, test your skills and acquired skills on flatter surfaces. The results of daily practice of techniques will pleasantly surprise you on future descents, because you will remember all the movements and orient yourself in time on races with obstacles. And next year, novice skiers will ask you for advice.

Recently, ski resorts have been gaining popularity. Still - this and useful sport, and a wonderful vacation. However, the lack of certain skills necessary to visit the ski slopes is sometimes confusing. But you shouldn’t put off learning such a wonderful pastime as alpine skiing until forever, tomorrow.

We decided to help you in your endeavor: we prepared an article and analyzed dozens video lessons on this topic alpine skiing training. "Where to begin", “which direction to develop”, “” and “how to stand and turn correctly” - we will try to give the most useful and detailed answer to each of these questions for your convenience.

Part one or “Let's get to know each other”

And we will start, oddly enough, with the very basics: with the rules of behavior on the ski slope. Yes, yes, rules of conduct apply not only when visiting restaurants or social events, but also in any crowded (and sometimes absent) places. The rules of behavior on the ski track do not go beyond morality or principles and have a completely rational basis. Let's take a closer look at them in the attached video material.

When going out on the ski slope, as in any sport, one of the important factors in reducing the risk of injuries and bruises is preliminary preparation skier and comprehensive muscle warm-up, carried out immediately before the start of the ride.

This is due to the fact that already “warmed up” muscles are ready for possible overloads, a quick response to unexpected obstacles, and also, with an increase in their elasticity, they reduce the risk of possible stretching. You can find out exactly what exercises you should do to warm up your muscles from our next article. video lesson.

Ski lifts are also an important part of skiing. Do you agree that descending at high speed is much more interesting than climbing the entire slope sideways? However, oddly enough, many beginners experience some difficulties with this. Once you start using lifts correctly, you will discover all the beauty that will help you with this.

Part two or “Hello, skiing!”

Having studied the main stages of the cool-downs of many beginners, we move on to the introductory part, which will tell you what alpine skis are and what their differences are from regular skis, as well as the correct selection of equipment.

To begin with, we invite you to look at what they are alpine skiing for beginners. The video below can tell you about this.

Sometimes, some students find that their ski boots are too big for them, although they “sit” firmly in the fastening grooves. The opposite cases are also common: the boots are comfortable and fit well on the foot, but do not fit into the mount, or the ski falls off while riding. To prevent this from happening and the selection of boots turns into only positive impressions, watch the following video.

You can't drive everywhere by car alpine skiing. Our tutorial will tell you how to carry them correctly in order to avoid unforeseen situations or injuries to people around you. Let's see.

Ski boots are designed primarily to be worn with the skis themselves. Otherwise, many may have difficulty moving. But everything is not as hopeless as it seems at first glance: having learned to move in them correctly, you can forget about the inconvenience forever and enjoy the moment to the fullest.

New skis are often completely unusual for both beginners and professionals. However, you shouldn’t look for “the ones” that, when you put them on, you will immediately feel them - you won’t find them. You just need to get used to skiing. And the following can help you with this video lesson.

Part three or “Took as a basis”

Having chosen skis and boots, learned how to use the lift and the rules of behavior on the slope, we can safely put on our skis and start practicing. Be careful: it is possible that there will also be newcomers on the slope who are less knowledgeable about the above than you are. Therefore, approach the position carefully, carefully ensuring that you do not become an insurmountable obstacle for anyone.

Having learned to put on boots and, at the very least, start moving from a slope, we need to study what has been the reason for the safety of more than one person - braking skill. After all, how can you ski if a single descent is followed by a traumatology department? And the stand that every beginner needs will help us with this - the plow. Please see the next one video lesson and learn this simple but vital technique.

Taking turns will also be an important skill. Something like a plow will help us with this just in time. The next video is about this.

When entering a random turn, you should not compare yourself with professional skiers: that’s why they are professionals, if their skills are honed almost to the point of automaticity. But we need to continue training. To perfect turning into a turn, the exercises from this video will help us:

The closest synonyms are: carving, are “beauty”, “showiness” and “fall”. Having sufficiently mastered alpine skiing, carving will cease to be synonymous with fall. But we are just learning, and experience is the best teacher, as we know. And only through trial and error can we learn carving on alpine skis. But it all starts small - that’s why we’ll start mastering carving in the plow stance. Watch the following video and you will get a basic understanding of how this happens.

Part four or “Get on your skis!”

Congratulations! If you honestly watched all the past videos, then you are quite ready to master the next section of our self-instruction manual By alpine skiing. Continuing to master skiing technique, in this section we will continue to expand on the topic of “” and touch on the topics of parallel skis, traverse position, dynamic turns and the “stick question”.

To begin with, we suggest that you thoughtfully approach the topic of your development as a skier. Find the answer to the question, do you need a parallel riding style? alpine skiing ours will help tutorial beginner skier. Just pay attention to the following video:

Many enthusiasts who decide to stand on alpine skiing for beginners, are often faced with the futility of trying to hold skis parallel. But all this is not so difficult if you find the right approach. After watching the video, you will more than likely forget about this problem once and for all.

Having understood how to properly support alpine skis in a parallel position, we are ready to master the so-called traverse stance, which partly completes the question on the topic “”. More details in the next video.

We have already studied how a turn occurs on alpine skis. Now we will master its varieties. And we will start with a smooth turn, which provides the opportunity for skiers riding behind you to predict your actions and, thereby, avoid a possible collision. The video will show how such a turn occurs.

In addition to smoothly entering a turn, you also need to learn how to turn dynamically, thanks to which you will be more likely to avoid unexpected obstacles. This method of turning will come in handy in the process. alpine skiing training. Where to begin studying it will show video material.

The smaller the space we occupy during the descent, the more successfully we can be passed around painlessly. And when the need suddenly arises, it is simply vital for us to study a small radius turn, which will keep us away from possible danger (or danger from us, depending on how you look at it). This method of turning must be studied in the most meticulous way: so that it bounces off the skis. How can you do this without a clear example? To be honest, it’s quite difficult. But that’s why ours was created tutorial By alpine skiing, in order to provide an opportunity to clearly demonstrate the learning process for beginners. We hope you watch the next one video lesson will help you understand the technique of turning this type.

In the process of direct training in alpine skiing, we realize the importance of the ability to make turns. different ways. And the next method will also not be superfluous, because anything can happen during the descent. What if your ski poles, in the most unpredictable way, remain on the slope, separate from you? To avoid danger from such a situation, we need to master skating technique and turn to alpine skiing without sticks, that is, at the expense of the feet.

By the way, about ski poles. It is worth mentioning them as a separate item, because this is one of the fundamental factors skiing techniques. It is with the help of sticks that we provide ourselves with additional points of support and create the impulse for subsequent turning. But all this is ineffective if you don’t learn how to inject them correctly.

If you have ever had the opportunity to observe professional skiing or biathlon, you have probably noticed in what position professional skiers take place in the skiing process. Surely they don’t have much in common with the stand you occupy. But the correct ski stance is also a necessary basis for successful mastering skiing techniques, because only by learning to ride in the correct position can a skier control this process to the maximum. And the next video is just about the main ski stance.

And finally, for better assimilation of carefully selected and presented material, our alpine skiing tutorial for beginners invites you to watch the latest in position, but not in importance, video that puts an end to mastering skiing techniques.

Afterword

With this, our ski tutorial has come to its logical conclusion. Did you like the material we embodied? Was it useful to you? Do you want to supplement, clarify or challenge it? Please leave your comments, your rating is very important to us.

Thank you very much for reading and watching. We hope that now the answer to the eternal question “to be or not to be?” in terms of skiing, it’s obvious to you. We believe in your abilities, but still be careful.

Skiing is not difficult. Anyone can easily learn this, even a child. Required: desire, strong intention, equipment, and, of course, a mountain slope. Skiing styles are varied. Among them: freestyle, freeride, ski cross, extreme carving, riding on bumpy tracks. They are based on mastery of basic skiing techniques of a universal and recreational nature.

Alpine skiing basics

You should begin your training by understanding the principles of ski control:

• motion direction control;
• braking control;
• controlling your own body to maintain balance when driving;
• the ability to choose the optimal path.

Direction control

At the moment of movement, the skis are controlled (directed) in two ways:

• the whole leg including the knee;
• movement in the ankle joint while keeping the knee motionless.

The first option allows you to give greater momentum to the movement and, accordingly, change the direction radically. The second option is suitable for light steering and trajectory correction. These two methods are used complementarily and are combined automatically during the riding process.

Brake control

The main advantage of skiing is that there is no need to expend energy on movement, as is required, for example, when skiing on flat terrain. The energy of the movement is given by the mountain descent. But this plus also turns into a minus: in order to reduce the speed of movement, it is necessary to expend energy on braking. Braking control is also important because the safety of the skier depends on it.

Even those who have never skied have heard about edges. It is these “pointed” sides of the skis that are the functional element that allows braking (as well as turns).

Edge braking is carried out in the following ways:

• universal side sliding;
• braking with a plow on straight slopes;
• braking with emphasis on oblique descents.

Lessons should include training in all three types of braking.

Managing your own body

The skier and the skis form a single whole. Correct steering and braking are not enough to ski well. It is also necessary to learn to control the body in the dynamics of a ski slope. To do this, always strive to maintain the body position as close to vertical as possible: when sliding, traverse, turning or braking. Maintaining balance when moving on a horizontal surface is inherent in us at the reflex level. This is much easier than controlling the body, for example, when jumping with a parachute.

Ability to choose the optimal path

To ski and enjoy it, you need to choose the optimal descent path and react to emerging obstacles in the form of changes in terrain or obstacles in the form of snowboarders or other skiers.

A beginner skier should be aware of the line of descent from the slope, i.e. the path on which he will experience the least resistance, in order to be able to develop maximum speed. The slope line exists in conjunction with the terrain features. An experienced skier sees it from the top and feels it during the descent.

Basic technical elements

For training, choose simple slopes without holes, bumps or moving obstacles in the form of other skiers. The likelihood that you will be able to get around all this or brake in a timely manner is extremely small.

Main stand

Basic position of a skier when skiing:

• legs spaced approximately shoulder width apart;
• skis stand parallel to each other;
• knees are bent;
• the body is held vertically, you should not bend forward;
• hands with sticks are spread wide.

Simple sliding

Sliding or sliding, or “shussing,” provides the greatest speed when descending a slope. This is the simplest element of alpine skiing.

1. Stand on the line of the slope from the slope into a basic stance.
2. Start sliding down under the influence of gravity.
3. Make sure that the skis do not move apart or move away; they must be parallel with a fixed distance between them.
4. Look a few meters ahead, not at your skis.
5. Maintain a basic stance as you slide down; do not tilt the body from a vertical position.
6. Practice steering your skis by deflecting your legs at the knee or ankle joint.
7. It is important to distribute the load on both legs at the same time. Otherwise, you can go not along the line of the slope, but at an angle to it.

Non-slip and side slip

To prevent slipping, edges are used. The skier stands across the slope line on the outer edges, which, under the influence of gravity, cut into the snow and prevent any movement. If this maneuver is performed while sliding freely along a slope, then the sliding will be replaced by a side sliding with braking. This is a beautiful maneuver, the technique of which must be practiced from the very beginning of training: on the spot, then on the descent.

An important rule: if during free sliding the loaded part of the ski slips faster, then when edging, on the contrary, the loaded part slows down. The harmonious combination of sliding and side sliding indicates satisfactory mastery of alpine skiing technique.

The transition into and out of a lateral slip is carried out using the strength of the legs, which, as already mentioned, are deflected at the knee and ankle joints for this purpose. By finding a video on the Internet, you can learn how to do and where to start lateral sliding.

U-turns

To ski downhill, you must learn to maintain a high degree of maneuverability. For an untrained person, skis are a “burden” that significantly complicates mobility. Beginners often walk awkwardly along the slope, creating a feeling of stiffness and tightness. But a constrained and tense person will not be able to ride correctly and with pleasure. Based on this, all beginners can be recommended to practice turns on the spot. They allow you to learn how to control your legs with skis on them. The techniques for two types of in-place turns are described below.

A star turn is a forward movement of the legs in a circle.

1. The poles are placed slightly in front of the skis or so as to prevent slipping.
2. The back of one of the skis opens from the surface (the toe remains in place) and is moved to 15-25 ° ; C in the direction of the turn.
3. The second leg repeats the first.
4. Repeat until you are facing in the desired direction.

A 90° bull turn is not fundamentally different from a star turn.

The technique for doing it is as follows:

1. Stand perpendicular to the slope line on the outer edges.
2. Place the poles so as to prevent them from slipping.
3. Move the heel of the top ski (leaving the tip in place) to as wide an angle as possible.
4. The second ski is placed parallel to the first.
5. The back of the first ski is retracted once again until the skier is in a plow position in the direction of the ramp line.

A bull turn is convenient because it can be done quickly, taking a braking position at the end.

Universal recommendations will be useful to you in training:

1. Start practicing lessons and riding techniques on slopes with a slight angle, a flat area at the end and a minimum number of people.
2. Get used to the fact that your hands should be threaded through the loops on your ski poles.
3. Remember: ski poles are there for balance and, in some cases, for support, not for braking. Braking with sticks can cause injury.
4. Work with your legs, keep your body toned but motionless.
5. Don't slouch: keep your back straight and look forward.
6. Before you start training on the slopes, try skiing on flat terrain without poles.
7. If you fall, do it on your side.

Use the lessons learned and finish by watching another video on skiing technique.

Alpine skiing as a form of active recreation is regaining its popularity. All more people masters them every year. However, taking the first steps in alpine skiing is not as easy as it seems: it is necessary to take into account the level of training of the future skier, study the material component of this sport and only then start trying to ski.

Having decided to ski, first of all you should evaluate your own strengths for this type of recreation. It must be said that alpine skiing is an almost universal sport that can be practiced by most people at any age.

The main conditions for this are the ability to withstand heavy physical activity, quickly adapt to changes in altitude, react to obstacles in a timely manner and have good control of one’s own body. If all these conditions are met, then further success in alpine skiing will depend solely on the desires of the novice skier.

The second step at the first stage of mastering alpine skiing is preparing the body for physical activity. Ski equipment, as a rule, weighs about 10 kilograms, which for an unprepared person will be a very heavy burden. In addition, when practicing alpine skiing, it is worth taking into account the stretching of the skier. To increase it, before the trip, as well as immediately before the descent, do exercises aimed at

• Stretching the upper shoulder girdle;
• Warm up thoracic spine;
• Warm up the thighs;
• Development of the hip joints.

After preparing the body for the upcoming alpine skiing session, it is worth taking care of the equipment of the future athlete.

Equipment for a beginner skier

When going to the mountains for the first time, everyone wonders about the proper equipment. It in turn should include the following elements:

1. Boots, skis and poles for them;
2. - , suit, scarf, ;
3. Security elements- , knee pads;
4. Hygiene products- hygienic lipstick, cream.

Secondly, if the decision to engage in alpine skiing is made unequivocally, then it is best to purchase your own equipment. You can take skis that are not new, because most likely after a year of intense skiing you will want to exchange them for something more serious. The main thing is to choose the right equipment, taking into account the height of the future skier, the geometry and size of the skis. But it is recommended to take new shoes, according to your feet. It is impossible to save on equipment, since the health of an athlete often depends on the correct equipment, but there is no need to overpay extra money.

The fourth item on the list is needed to protect parts of the body not covered by the suit from low temperatures and ultraviolet light reflected by snow.

Where and how to start skiing: skiing technique

You need to start riding carefully. You should not expect that from the very first minutes the skis are put on, a beginner will be able to perform various tricks or even just go down the slope without injury.

Initial training is best done on the plain or on children's slopes. This will help you get a feel for the skis and learn how to hold your stance correctly. It is recommended not to save money and hire an instructor for training, who can now be found at any ski resort.

The ski stance assumes that the skier's shoulders, knees and feet are on the same vertical axis, and the hands are constantly visible to the beginner when looking into the distance. Experienced skiers recommend imagining a wide basin in your hands: your arms in front of you are slightly bent at the elbows, and they lightly touch the sides.

After mastering the stance, you can move on to learning basic skiing techniques. Beginners can be trained using both Austrian and French school techniques. The differences lie in how beginners are taught to ski. In the first case, this is movement with a “plow” with an emphasis, in the second - on parallel skis. In Russia, the first technique is most often used, but everything depends on specific conditions.

In addition to movement, the main techniques also include climbing up with a “ladder” and descending with a “skid”. The first technique involves climbing the slope sideways with side steps. The second is a descent from the same position sideways down the slope with skis edging when stopping. It's also a good idea to become familiar with movements such as sliding, bumping, and slanting.

No learning to ski is complete without falling. This is a completely normal phenomenon, moreover, in the future it will allow you to correctly navigate the situation and avoid not only mistakes, but also injuries.

"Correct" fall should end with a soft landing. There are two most suitable techniques for this. The first is the simplest: imagine yourself as a tin soldier and fall to the side and slightly back so that you land on outside thighs and buttocks, but not on the knees. The second method requires a little preparation in time - this is a fall from a low stance. With this fall, it should be taken into account that you need to have time:

1. Move your ski poles away from you and slightly to the sides so as not to bump into them while falling;
2. Place your arms slightly bent in front of your chest.

These seemingly simple operations take time, so it’s worth assessing your own capabilities in a timely manner.

After a fall, it is recommended to remain in a lying position with your legs bent. This is necessary to ensure that a skier sliding down the slope does not damage his joints. It is necessary to straighten up and try to stand up only after the body has completely stopped.

During the fall, the skis may come unfastened. If this happens, then you need to sit, regain your breath and strength, pick up your skis and test them. If everything is in order, then you can put on the skis: first the lower one, then the upper one. If only one ski comes off, then you need to turn around so that you have to put on the top ski.

It happens that skis do not come off when falling. In this case, other skiers can come to the rescue, but you can climb on your own. To do this, the skier needs to move the skis below him along the slope in any convenient way that does not threaten the integrity of the skis, and then, resting his ski poles on the knees, push from an inclined position and stand up.

When a beginner is already good enough on skis, learns to turn and brake, he will have to make a choice of skiing style. As a rule, there are seven of them.

1. Allround or tourist skiing- descending from the slopes for your own pleasure in order to improve the health of the body and get acquainted with nature. This style only seems simple, since a simple skier can get in the way of “powder,” and bumps, and too sharp turns;
2. Freeride- style of skiing off-piste on powder. We talk more about this style in;
3. Sky tour- a type of freeride with high heights, which you first need to climb yourself without the help of a lift;
4. Freestyle- in alpine skiing, a professional style of skiing using springboards, rails and chutes, with the help of which breathtaking tricks are performed.
5. Mogul- skiing on hilly terrain, which is an extreme style of skiing.
6. Carving- in alpine skiing, a style suitable for lovers of sharp turns;
7. Ski cross- a sport of alpine skiing involving four people competing on difficult slopes with jumps and sharp turns.

It should be noted that for each skiing style there is a separate type of skis and equipment.

In conclusion, I would like to leave some kind of “memento knots” for beginner skiers:

• Anyone who has the desire and the appropriate health can practice alpine skiing;
• You don’t have to buy equipment for the first time, but in the future you will definitely need it;

Ski in our country, with its climate and open spaces, God himself ordered, as they say. For amateurs and professionals of active sports in winter time there is no time for boredom - the “doors” of numerous trails and ski stations are open for them. And the most “advanced” can try themselves at famous ski resorts in Europe and the world.

But what to do if confident skiing is just a dream and an old childhood dream for you? First of all, take a look at the dream book - because something unknown and promising is opening up before you. The interpretation of a dream about skiing awaits you at the end of this article. And secondly - finally learn how to ride! Moreover, this is possible everywhere here, even in Sochi. Therefore, it’s time to cast aside all fears and doubts, buy or rent skis and equipment and glide towards your dream.

How to learn to ski: the most popular questions from beginners

You've already tried on a bunch of skis, sifted through a huge amount of information, and even watched a video on skating techniques. However, there is such confusion in your head that it is no longer clear whether you want to ride or not.

So, we will try to answer the questions that beginners most often ask before their first trip to the snow.

When to start skiing? Children can start skiing from 3-4 years old. Of course, a lot depends on the desire and physical preparation of the child. Adults can start even now, if only there was snow.

What skis are best to learn to ski on? It depends on what style you plan to master. Below you will find descriptions of styles, as well as video tutorials with detailed expert recommendations. You will also find out what awaits you if you ski in a dream. Perhaps we have already convinced you that skiing is suitable for everyone, be it a child or an adult.

How to choose the right skis? You can read about this in one of our previous articles. Also don't forget about poles, ski boots and bindings. It is better for the child to put a helmet on his head.

Can pregnant women ski? If before pregnancy you had just mastered the technique for beginners and in the first trimester you suddenly thought about how to learn to ski, then it is better to postpone this idea for at least a year. But if you feel good, then a calm walking step will not harm you. Just practice your breathing.

Where in Russia can you learn to ski? It is better to learn alpine skiing on the slope; it is advisable that the first instructions be given to you by a professional. You can go to the nearest ski base outside the city or go to the best ski resorts in the Caucasus and Siberia - in the Elbrus region, Adzhigardak or Sheregesh. Where to go – you decide for yourself. There are excellent bases in the Moscow region where you can relax with a full ski program.

How to learn to ski?

If you decide to learn to ski, keep in mind that you must have adequate physical fitness. After all, you will maneuver, jump with a springboard, climb the slopes and fall, fall, fall. And you will also have to learn to perform the last action correctly. When you fall, you need to fall on your side, focusing on the outer thigh and buttocks.

Therefore, you should start with small slopes and correct stance. It consists of the following: the feet are parallel to each other, the legs are slightly bent at the knees and spread apart. The arms and shoulders are slightly moved forward, the torso is as relaxed and mobile as possible. There are several styles of alpine skiing that you've probably heard of. Freeride, ski touring, ski cross, carving. And all this is not easy beautiful words are techniques that will require regular workouts.

Cross-country skiing technique

If you are involved in speed skating and are ready to transfer your skills to the ski plane, you should not have any big problems. But if you are just starting to learn winter sports, you should understand what Skating technique differs from skiing technique, and also watch a video on skating skiing techniques.

In order to start training, you need to go out onto a well-prepared track and take a stance (see photo). Leg movements can be performed alternately, imitating a “Christmas tree” and drawing the English letter “V” in the snow. You need to slide forward with one ski, moving it slightly to the side, and push off with the other, placing it on the inside edge.

You can also push off with only one leg (simultaneous one-step skating).

The simplest thing you can learn when you first get acquainted with skiing is the classic move. In this case, it is better to move around on a flat surface, on a well-worn ski track. We place our legs parallel to each other, carry the sticks in front of us and, pushing off, move forward. And now we “walk”, alternately moving our right leg and left arm forward, and then our left leg and right arm. Detailed instructions you can look at video.