Snow Skiing Basics

When you are taking a beginner's ski class, snow skiing basics are the first things you will learn. These elementary skills will prepare you for carving. However, before you get on the slopes, it behooves you to learn to put on your skis and boots.

At most resorts, your ski instructor will accompany you to the ski rental area, where he or she will show you how to put on your boots and skis. However, the rental area can be quite busy, and in some cases, your instructor might be teaching another class while you are renting your skis. Here are some ski boot basics:

• When looking at ski boots, it's sometimes hard to determine which boot goes on the right foot and which goes on the left. Here's a hint. The buckles of the ski boot go on the outside.
• Make sure that you are wearing ski socks, not cotton. Cotton will absorb moisture and make your feet wet. Wet feet eventually get cold. Also, do not use double layers of socks. They will cause an incorrect boot fit, which will impede your technique.
• If you're wearing full-length long underwear, the bottom of the pants stays outside of the boot. You will need to roll it up. Likewise, the inner layer of your ski pants stay outside of the boot. It functions like a shower curtain, to keep the wet snow from getting in to your boots.
• Pull the tongue of the boot forward before inserting your foot.
• Once your foot is in the boot, adjust the Velcro power strap. Pull it as tight as possible. This will help you keep your weight forward when you start to ski. It will also make it easier to buckle the buckles.
• After buckling your boots, push your shins forward toward the tongue of your boot. Your heel should not lift up. If it does, try banging your heel into the floor. If it still lifts up, either your boots are too big, or your socks are bunching up.

Now you are ready to go outside and put on your skis.

Make sure that the bottoms of your boots are free of any type of snow. In snowy weather, this can be pretty challenging. You will need to vigorously brush your boot against the rear binding of your skis. If you lose your balance, and your foot touches the ground, you will have to start all over again. Thus, you should use your ski poles for balance. If you encounter stubborn and resistant snow, ask a friend to scrape off your boot with his or her ski pole.

Once the snow is cleared, align your toes with the toe piece on your ski binding. Then, push down with your heel until you hear and feel the boot snap into to place. This should be a forceful movement. If you don't hear the loud snap, chances are the boot is not sufficiently attached. This can cause some problems on the slope. If this happens, you should remove your boot and try again. Now, let's talk about your skiing alignment.

Proper skiing alignment can make or break a skier. Unfortunately, skiing alignment is somewhat counter intuitive. Do you really want to be leaning forward when you're looking down a steep slope? Ironically, the answer to that question is "yes." Here's why. Keeping your weight forward gives you more control over your skis. While your instinct is to lean backwards, you have less control in this position. Keeping your weight too far back, what is called backseat skiing, can cause backwards falls, which can in turn cause serious injuries.

Your pole position can help you get into the correct alignment. For beginners, it's best to keep your elbows close to your body, with your forearms parallel to the ground. You should be able to see your hands with your peripheral vision. Keeping your hands too far forwards will cause too much forward lean, whereas keeping them too far back will put you into the back seat. While beginners only use the poles for balance, eventually, as you learn to ski bumps and steeps, you will need to use your pole to plant. As such, it is a good idea for you to practice good pole-holding habits while you are still learning the snow skiing basics.

Alignment and boot fit are the most important snow skiing basics. Mastering these skills will eventually help you master the mountain.

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