Basics of understanding ski equipment. Basics of skiing technique Controlling your own body

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.

Stand on the line of the slope from the slope into a basic stance.
Start sliding down under the influence of gravity.
Make sure that the skis do not move apart or move away; they must be parallel with a fixed distance between them.
Look a few meters ahead, not at your skis.
Maintain a basic stance as you slide down; do not tilt the body from a vertical position.
Practice steering your skis by flexing your legs at the knee or ankle.
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.

The poles are placed slightly in front of the skis or so as to prevent slipping.
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.
The second leg repeats the first.
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:

Stand perpendicular to the slope line on the outer edges.
Place the poles so as to prevent them from slipping.
Move the heel of the top ski (leaving the tip in place) to as wide an angle as possible.
The second ski is placed parallel to the first.
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:

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

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

Today, one of the popular sports is alpine skiing. This active type of recreation not only improves health, but also gives a lot of thrills, charging you with positivity. Alpine skiing technique is quite complex. But having learned its basic rules, any beginner will become a real professional.

Ability to stand correctly

For those who don't know how to skate at all, you should start by learning the stance. The stance is a dynamic element of skating. Being in constant motion, changing the shape and size of turns, you need to constantly balance, maintaining balance, hence the stance changes. It should be simple and functional to maintain energy efficiency and strength.

According to instructors and professional skiers, the correct stance should be high. It is in this position that the entire load falls on the skeleton, it is given an elongated and more stable shape, this reduces muscle fatigue and gives strength to the skier. With slightly bent legs and relaxed muscles, the skier's range of motion increases and muscle response sharpens.

When talking about the correct stance, instructors use the concept of centering in the longitudinal direction. When you are in a centered stance, body pressure is distributed along the entire length of the ski, allowing you to use the entire ski and maintain stability.

You should remember the distance between the skis. It should not make it difficult to control, but at the same time it should be sufficient for free movement of the legs. The correct distance is considered to be slightly less than shoulder width.

Hands should be in front of the body. This will allow you to avoid leaning back and maintain control while moving.

Movement Basics

After mastering the basics of the correct stance, you can safely move on to learning basic skiing movements. The main one is skating. This classic method of transportation is used for riding on flat surfaces, climbing low slopes, etc. If the skier feels balanced and balances calmly, then mastering this style of skiing, which consists of single-support sliding, will not be difficult. The key to success for beginners is the ability to correctly take a basic stance:

knees moderately bent;
slight forward bend;
the heels are brought together at the desired angle;
socks are pulled apart.

The movement technique consists of moving one leg forward while simultaneously pushing the other leg off the surface. The legs change as the balance of the body shifts.

For beginner skiers, this technique seems difficult. A clear understanding of the basic rules will help make it easier to study:

correct initial stance;
performing a push with the supporting leg;
maintaining a rigid body;
low lifting of skis when changing legs.

There are several methods of skating (simultaneous half-skate, simultaneous two-step skating, simultaneous single-step skating, alternating skating). The difference between these methods only matters. For beginners, it is important to master the basic principles of this style of movement.

Braking Basics

For those who have mastered the basics of skating, you should learn the ability to brake correctly. For beginners, it seems like there is nothing complicated about it. But, the main thing is not just to slow down, but to be able to navigate the specific situation in order to make this braking safe. There are three braking techniques, each of which is good for specific cases.

Plow technique

This is the easiest way to reduce speed and be able to stop. Its essence is that when descending, the front parts of the skis are brought close together, and the back parts are spread as wide as possible. In this case, the legs should be bent at the knees and body pressure should be directed towards the heels. The disadvantage of this method is the long braking distance and low control ability. Suitable for braking at low speeds on flat slopes.

Stop braking

The basis of this style is the transfer of body weight to the ski above. At the same time, the leg located below is placed on the inner edge so that the angle with it and the direction of descent is 90 degrees. At the same time, emphasis should be placed on the leg that is higher. The advantage of this type of braking is a short braking distance and a rapid reduction in speed. This method is used by professionals, and beginners need some practice to master it.

U-turn stop

The essence of this method is a synchronous turn perpendicular to the direction of movement. In this case, the main body pressure is directed towards the ski located on top. This type of braking is suitable for professionals who are able to fully control the movement and feel the need to quickly reduce speed.

When braking, the main body pressure must be transferred to the upper ski

Fall Basics

No matter how funny it may sound, a novice skier, along with the basic principles of skiing, needs to learn how to fall correctly and safely. To protect yourself from the consequences of a fall, you need to:

Reduce speed if you feel an imminent fall;
Press your hands to your body;
Try to fall on your side or buttocks;
If you fall, get rid of the sticks.

The rules described above do not make a beginner an advanced skier, but they explain how to learn to ski. By mastering these main principles and constantly improving them, you can achieve good results in a short time.

Rack A stance is your way of standing on your skis. Ski instructors tend to either talk about the stance all the time, or quickly talk about it and forget about it. Stance is the basis of skating technique, but many consider it either a panacea for all ills, or something so simple that it does not require improvement. No approach is completely accurate. Stance involves balance. It's not just the ability to balance on one leg or the ability to land gracefully after a jump. The skier's balanced stance is a constantly changing position. When you ski down—slide, change direction, change the size and shape of your turns—you must constantly subtly change your stance to maintain balance. What is the correct stance? Let's start with what is not a proper stance. Proper stance is not contrived. fashionable or ineffective, and therefore not too difficult to maintain. The problem is that views on stance have evolved over the years - individual skiers have added something different, or new equipment has required certain changes. The concept of stance continues to evolve. Today, the rack tends to simplify, defined solely by function. A functional stance gives you strength and energy efficiency. Racers, instructors and experts have found a simple answer to many questions: High is the key word. A high stance does three things: First, a high stance reduces muscle fatigue that occurs due to a low, defensive stance. If you've ever done an exercise where you sit with your back to a wall as if there was a chair underneath you, you know that very soon your quadriceps muscles begin to beg for mercy. Most skiers blame their pain on skiing too little and being out of shape. However, other than a little fatigue, the fire in the muscles is mainly the result of taking a stance that is too low. Get up! In addition to reducing muscle fatigue, you gain strength by giving your skeleton a long, stable shape. Instructors call this position “having your bones stacked up.” In this position, the main support for all movements is provided by the bones, and not by the muscles, which simply cannot get tired. This way we increase strength and reduce fatigue. For the same reason, we do not stand on very bent legs, but on almost straight ones, when we are not engaged in sports: a high stance is only slightly different from what we are used to in everyday life. Finally, in a high stance, you bring your body into an "always ready" position by relaxing your muscles and bending your legs slightly. This position allows for rapid muscle response and maximum range of motion. In contrast, a low stance stresses the leg muscles, hindering speed and power, and reduces the skier's range of motion needed for shock absorption on variable terrain. What the “steepness” of your skiing does not depend on is how wide you ski. The spacing between skis is more a result of your anatomy. There should always be a small amount of space between your knees and boots - enough to allow your legs to work independently, but not making it difficult to control both skis. Definitely a good choice of distance - "a hair less than shoulder width". You can change the width of your skis, improving your footwork on variable terrain. We will return to this below. One of the big leaps in the development of ski technology is the idea of centering the stand in the longitudinal direction. On older ski designs, you had to point your knees forward to push down on the tips of the skis to initiate the turn. Modern skis are designed to make turning easier, eliminating the need to jam your shins into your boot tongues. With a center stance, you also don't have to rely on the backs of your boots to maintain stability. In theory, you should be able to ski with tennis shoes inserted into ski bindings (just don't try this!) with the front and back of the boots removed. Experts use boots little (only for small adjustments of snow pressure). When you stand on your foot rather than leaning on the front or back of the boot, you distribute the pressure over the entire length of the ski. By adopting this stance, you are using the entire ski structure, not just the tips or tails. Many instructors focus heavily on hand position without paying attention to the more important aspects of balance and stance. Of course, the position of the arms and hands is important. The advice here is simple - keep them in front of you. Most instructors insist that your arms be in front of your body (sometimes they say your hands should be in front of your boots). This requirement is quite easy to explain. First, by moving your arms away from your body, you make it easier for the poles to work. In addition, the forward position of the hands will also prevent you from acquiring some bad habits (drinking, smoking and expressing yourself (sorry, I couldn’t resist. S.Sh.) ;-). Apparently the greatest number of problems for skiers arise from leaning backwards. You may lean back for many reasons - fear, insufficiently tightened shoes, weak muscles (this usually causes you to lean on your shoes), and finally simply because you do not know any other position. Experts are constantly struggling with backward deviations. You may hear a racer or mogulist say, “I sat back,” which means they have lost. By keeping your arms in front, you force your body to be in front. This is not a law of physics, but simply a technique that usually helps. The stance is a dynamic element of skating. Skiers constantly change their stance to adapt to turns, speed and snow conditions. The functional stance we have discussed is most effective when you understand that it is a neutral position that you can return to after the forces that caused you to change your stance have passed. Strive to maintain a functional stance, and always return to it as quickly as possible. But remember that the stance is active, not static. Feel: Tall, balanced, efficient stance. The pressure exerted by your feet is concentrated in the center of your arch. The pressure is slightly shifted towards the fingertips. If you feel pressure on your heel, shin, calves, your longitudinal position is not centered. The whole body is slightly bent. Although your stance is high, your legs are not in a tight, straight position. One way to achieve a slightly bent stance is to ride in a straight stance on a slope designed for beginners and bounce gently. This slight jump (stay off the ground) will lengthen your stance and give you an athletic, bent position. Practice these jumps while keeping the pressure of your feet centered inside your boots. Look: Functional stand. Look at your shadow when the sun is directly behind you. See if there is space between your feet, boots and lower thighs. Try to straighten up so that this space appears (a low stance forces you to keep your legs very narrow). With your peripheral vision, you should see your hands to the sides and slightly in front. If your hands are not visible, then they are lowered to your hips, and it is possible that you are leaning back. Exercises. Here are a few more exercises to help you achieve a functional stance. Exploring the limits. Make turns at a speed that suits you. Make several turns, taking different extreme positions: lean forward and backward as much as possible, straighten and shorten your stance as much as possible, take the most tense or relaxed position, etc. This “exaggeration” exercise will allow you to determine the golden mean - your optimal stance. You will find that a functional stance helps relieve the awkwardness and fatigue that comes from these extremes. Skating without poles. If you find it difficult to ride without poles, it is better not to do this exercise - the problems that arise will outweigh the possible benefits. Skating without poles, however, can be an excellent exercise for improving stance and balance - simply because it will make you feel abnormal, which in turn will force you to focus on making changes to your stance that will improve its effectiveness. Try the exercises in this section with and without poles. Riding in loose boots. This exercise is potentially dangerous, so be careful. Loosen the top clips and strap of your boots, leaving the bottom clips tight. This will reduce the longitudinal support of the boots, but will improve the control of the skis with the feet. Make several turns of varying radii on a smooth, soft surface. Feel how you use the movement of your feet to control the ski, rather than using pressure on the boot from your shin or calf. Feel your longitudinal position and take a high stance. Chances are your stance is now fairly well centered. High turns in the plow. Plow turns are labeled as a “for dummies” exercise, used only by beginners and instructors. But still, the plow is an excellent exercise. It allows you to focus on a specific element or movement while your speed and direction are controlled by the plow. Make turns in the plow on smooth ground, focusing on the high and center stance. Typical mistakes in the rack. Using a functional stance may be the biggest gain for some skiers. Our anatomy and equipment determine how easily such a stance can be used. Knees that are turned inward or outward can cause problems with stance width. The degree of tilt of the boot top forward plays a big role. (These factors are discussed in the chapters on boots and settings.) However, not all stance-related problems arise from body shape or equipment settings. Poor stance is most often the result of ineffective cornering movements. For example, if a skier starts or finishes a turn too early, they may end up adopting an ineffective stance. His stance may be too low, tilted back, or too curved at the waist. This skier has learned a less than efficient way to stand on his skis and could use some work on his stance. However, he may need to first work on the other tools in the skier's arsenal discussed in this section. The last factor influencing stance is fear. If you are afraid of falling, descending too quickly, or losing control, fear can knock you out of a functional stance. Skiers tend to curve toward the slope when they are scared and trying to escape that vast unknown below. As you'll learn later, leaning into the slope causes problems for any skier. If fear is affecting your stance, you should move away from the challenging slope and ride on less intimidating terrain where you can make more efficient moves and develop a more functional stance. Taxiing Steering is one way to make your skis turn. The word "steering" itself implies turning, and it may seem that steering is the only way to turn your skis. However, don't get fooled: steering is just one of the techniques used when turning. Taxiing is one of the most subtle elements of an expert skier's technique and is rarely taught by instructors. Mastering steering will allow you to smooth out turns on packed snow and improve your foot technique on a variety of surfaces. Steering is also necessary to ensure that the upper body remains calm while making a turn, a trait considered only to be found in expert skiers. To understand what steering is, place a pencil on a flat table surface. Grasp the middle of the pencil with your thumb and forefinger as if you were trying to lift it. Holding the pencil on the table surface, twist it back and forth, imitating an airplane propeller that just can’t decide which way to turn. Now, if a pencil were your skis and your fingers were your boots, you'd be steering like crazy. Steering is turning the skis to the right or left using the force of the leg muscles transmitted through the ski boots. To imagine steering, imagine yourself riding a chairlift with skis on your feet. Pretend to turn by simply rotating your feet left and right. Your skis turn, and this turn is a result of the force of the lower legs - below the knee, but above the foot and ankles. You can also do this exercise at home. Sit on a chair and roll your feet back and forth. Observe how your foot rotates around an axis through the arch of your foot. Notice that your hips remain still because your knees are bent. The range of rotation of the foot is limited. The technique just performed is called foot steering. This is the basic type of steering and is a means of fine-tuning the technique for the expert skier. Because the lower leg muscles used in foot steering are relatively weak and the range of rotation of the foot is limited, foot steering is used only for small directional adjustments and is not suitable for making strong, sweeping movements. Try the next level exercise. Sitting on a chair, stretch your legs in front of you so that your toes (that is, the toes of your skis) point to the heavens. Rotate your feet (skis) left and right. It's easy to see that two things have changed: you're rotating your entire leg all the way up to the hip joint, and the range of rotation has increased. This movement is called foot steering. It is more powerful and effective than foot steering because by twisting your legs you use stronger muscles in your upper legs (mainly the quadriceps) and increase the range of motion. Steering with your feet is one of the main ways to initiate a turn and a very important technique when skiing on bumps, virgin snow, heavy snow and very steep slopes. Expert skiers use steering to steer their skis through turns. Steering eliminates awkward bobbing or twisting movements of your upper body when turning. Steering can be used on its own, which is what many non-aggressive skiers do when making graceful slide turns on packed snow. However, for expert skiers, steering is most often a subtle movement applied as a complement to the efforts using the ski design to make a turn. The steering movements of the legs in the lower part are similar when we sit and when skating. Imagine a skier performing a turn by steering on a smooth, not very steep surface. The skier's stance is almost vertical and practically does not change during the turn. This stance behavior depends on what is happening at the ski level. The skis actually stay flat to the snow, and that's the secret to making a steering turn - keeping the skis flat to get the most out of the steering. With the help of steering, less technical skiers make not very sporty, slipping turns. In contrast, an expert skier applies steering the moment his skis become flat to the snow, which occurs every time between turns as the skier moves from one edge to another. The following discussion relates more to the topic of edging, but these two techniques are so interconnected that something needs to be clarified now. In any turn you use the edges of your skis. When turning left you use the left edges, when turning right you use the right edges. Between turns there is a change of edges. In this transition from one edge to another there is a brief moment when your skis become flat in relation to the snow. I believe that steering is the most important technique for starting a turn. At the beginning of the turn, the skis become flat and easy to control. Expert skiers take advantage of this moment by steering their skis towards a new turn when they are edged. Thus, the ability to steer your skis goes hand in hand with the ability to position your skis flat in relation to the snow, which is a separate technique in itself. Without knowing how to steer skis, a skier faces difficulties every time he starts a turn - especially on a steep slope, in dense snow or on potholes. Have you ever finished a turn on a difficult slope only to find that you can't start the turn and are rolling towards the far edge of the slope because your feet are locked in the snow? If so, then steering may be just what you need. When the skis lie flat on the snow during the transition phase of the turn, steering becomes easier. Feel: Correct Steering When turning on a smooth surface, you should feel a twisting tension in your leg muscles, mainly your quadriceps and calves (something similar to what you feel when you spin with your legs outstretched while sitting in a chair). You should feel like your skis are slipping. When making steering turns, especially at the beginning of the turn, you should feel the big toe of your outside foot and little toe of your inside foot pressing into the sides of your boots. This pressure results from the twisting of the legs and feet against the boot, which in turn twists the skis. The shading marks areas of increased pressure during a left turn. Watch: Proper Steering To tell if you're steering your skis, look at the tips of your skis on a smooth slope (where it's not too dangerous to look at your skis!). Your skis should spin across the snow as you turn, smoothing the snow like a knife spreading butter on a piece of bread. The tip of the inside ski tends to move away from the other ski because it is twisted in that direction. This means you are steering correctly. As you make medium-radius turns, watch your chest, hips, and arms. If you steer correctly with your legs and feet, your upper body should remain calm, pointing straight down the slope. Exercises There is a set of exercises to improve your “steering skill”. Riding in boots. This exercise looks funny, but is quite effective in teaching steering. Take off your skis and head up a short distance up a groomed, hard-snow slope. Try riding straight down the slope on your boots (be careful - if the toes of your boots dig into the snow, you'll fall upside down!). If you can slide straight down steadily, try making a few gentle turns while steering with your boots. Beware of movements similar to putting out a cigarette with your foot. Try to leave even, symmetrical tracks in the snow and repeat them on the next descent. This exercise is especially effective because it eliminates the steering resistance caused by the skis. Rotation and side slip. Knowing how to perform a side slide is a prerequisite for performing this exercise (you may need to read the chapter on side sliding first before attempting this exercise). While sliding sideways on smooth, dense snow on a moderately steep slope, make a 180-degree turn. Try not to deviate from the imaginary corridor directed straight down the slope. To successfully perform this exercise, heavy steering and advanced ability to drive the skis flat to the snow are required. If you're constantly flying out of the channel, you're probably edging your skis too much (read the edging chapter again, especially the edging section). For advanced skiers, it is advisable to perform this exercise while keeping your upper body constantly aware - your sides, shoulders and arms should be pointed down the slope at all times, as shown in the illustration. Marching. This exercise is similar to marching on a parade ground. When going down a moderate slope, make turns by lifting your inside ski a few inches off the snow. You will notice that every time you lift the ski, you steer it to the right or left. Focus on the moment when the ski is not on the snow, and guide it with your feet and legs in the direction of the turn. When performing this exercise, steering with skis is made easier by reducing the resistance of the snow to ski sliding. Advanced skiers should gradually lower their ski height until both skis remain on the snow while you steer when making a turn. Ladder or garland. This exercise places particular emphasis on using steering when starting a turn. Descend across the slope in a traverse. Begin your turn by steering your skis toward the slope line. Do not complete the turn, but rather, spin the skis back, returning to the traverse. Repeat this movement, descending from one side of the slope to the other in a “cascading” traverse. The trail from your skis should resemble a ladder. Precise edging movements will allow you to steer your skis through a turn without deviating too much from the corridor along the slope line. Jump turns. The jump turn is an effective steering exercise for advanced skiers and a useful technique for skiing on extreme terrain. Stand on a steep slope so that your skis are perpendicular to the line of the slope. In one swift motion, jump into the air and spin your skis 180 degrees, making a mid-air turn. You should land in the opposite direction to where you originally started. The exercise will be easier to perform if you allow yourself to drop slightly down the slope as you jump, which will increase the amount of time you spend in the air. Try to keep your upper body pointed straight down the slope while you twist your legs. Perform five to ten turns in succession, or at least as many as you can at one time. Twist. The twist is an aerial trick that can also serve as an excellent leg-steering exercise for expert skiers. Perform a normal ski jump without trying to go out of your way. While maintaining a high, straight body position in the air, try spinning your legs (and skis) 90 degrees, then return to the starting position before landing. (Make sure your skis are pointing forward before landing!) Try to keep your upper body pointed in the direction of travel as you twist your legs. In fact, this is much easier to do than it might seem! Focus on how you use your steering while doing this exercise. Straightened legs improve ski steering when performing a twist jump. Typical mistakes when taxiing. The main problem that beginner and intermediate skiers (and often experts!) face is that at the initial stage of their skiing career no one taught them how to use steering to make turns. Instead, they rely primarily on edge and pressure on the ski. Many skiers end up believing that steering is an unsporting technique that lacks power and is only for beginners. Those skiers who have never actually steered their legs and feet will only be able to fully understand the benefits of this technique when they learn to use it in combination with other tools in the skier's arsenal that they already know. Such skiers can be advised to read the chapter “Independent Footwork” and the section “Turns in Difficult Situations”, which describe the role of steering when skiing on virgin snow, heavy snow and hummocks. If you still experience problems with steering, there are two possible reasons: incorrectly selected boots or poor alignment (in the original - "poor alignment"). Loose boots won't be able to transfer the spin motion from your legs and feet to the skis. You may have excellent foot control, but this only results in your feet spinning in shoes that are too big. Just a little space in your boots can make a big difference in your ability to control your skis. If you fall into this category, read the chapter on boots in the Equipment section. Steering is an important tool for difficult riding conditions. Equipment adjustments are discussed in detail in the following chapters. In a nutshell, alignment is all about positioning the skier's entire body, especially the feet, ankles, lower legs and knees. Proper alignment results in the skier's body forming a strong biomechanical structure in which no part of the body is under undue stress. For those skiers who have difficulty steering because the edges of their skis cut too deep into the snow (which prevents them from positioning their skis flat to the snow), we can advise you to read the chapter on edging and do edging exercises. If you are still experiencing problems, they may again be due to alignment. Read the chapter on equipment adjustments carefully. Finally, if you're still having trouble steering and you're confident that your equipment isn't holding you back and you can get your skis flat on the snow, read the chapter on counter-spin in the Improving Technique section. Counterrotation is a way to connect the skier's upper and lower body. Effective counter-rotation will allow you to better use many basic techniques, including steering. http://sulaimanov.kg

Skiing is 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.
Maintaining correct foot placement. 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 implement it, 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.

Alpine skiing is one of the most popular winter sports. Although it is still considered relatively expensive, the emergence of a significant number of new resorts and the opening of new trails in our country contribute to the fact that winter holidays in the mountains have now become much cheaper. After all, you don’t need to spend money on expensive flights and visas. But do not forget that a ski holiday is much more dangerous than the usual sunbathing on the beach with a cocktail, especially for beginners.

Skating, freeride, carving, downhill - no matter what skating technique you learn, remember: this is a rather traumatic activity, so following safety precautions is extremely important. It is equally important to understand ski equipment, be able to select and configure it correctly. Let's find out which skiing technique is the most popular, what its features are, and how to spend your holiday on the slopes safely.

If you think that your childhood experience of using regular cross-country skis is enough to immediately climb the slope, you are mistaken. First you need to learn how to just stand on your skis. After all, their design is very complicated and can cause confusion among beginners.

Firstly, it’s worth noting that even ski boots can seem like something terrible if you’re not used to it. After all, they are quite heavy, at first you will hardly be able to walk in them with ease. But don't despair! With just a little practice, you'll be moving around in ski boots like a pro!

Secondly, ask a professional to help you choose the right ski equipment. It is ideal if your first lessons are taught by an experienced instructor. If you decide to learn on your own, remember the main rule that, in general, you should follow when choosing skis: their length should be equal to your height minus 20 centimeters. The sticks are selected in height so that when they are perpendicular to the ground, your arms are bent at the elbows at a right angle.

Simply choose boots according to your size, but you will need to adjust the strength of attachment to the skis depending on your weight. Make sure this is done at the equipment rental location!

Third, learn to stand in the correct position to descend. You need to ski in this position: knees slightly bent, body straight and tilted forward, arms bent at the elbows, pressed tightly to the body. Remember: it is forbidden to ride on straight legs! This can lead to serious knee injuries.

The easiest way to travel on skis

Once you have learned to stand, you can easily learn to take your first steps on skis. But before you get on the lift and try yourself in the descent, learn the carving technique or any other, master the basic step on a flat surface - skating.

Knowing this type of movement is quite useful. It is used in alpine skiing to move along flat sections of slopes, to climb small hills, and to increase speed during descent.

The essence of skating is single-support sliding. During this process, you need to learn to feel the balance and control the balance of your body while standing on one leg.

The movement technique is as follows: take a basic ski stance (knees bent, body tilted forward), heels brought together, toes apart. Slowly begin to move one leg forward, while the other one pushes off the surface. Having advanced as far as possible, change legs, transferring the balance of the body from one of them to the other. Repeat the movement.

In order to perform the skating move correctly, pay attention to the following points:

Legs should not stand wide.
You perform a high-quality push with your supporting leg.
Do not lift your skis high above the ground when changing legs.
Hold your body rigidly and do not swing.

When you feel that you maintain your balance relatively easily, your movements are uniform and quite smooth, you can move on to mastering other skating techniques, for example, carving.

Learning to slow down and fall

The third important point in mastering riding techniques is the ability to brake correctly. After all, this is the key to the safety of the descent and the fact that in any extreme situation you will know what to do and how to minimize possible consequences.

There are 3 most popular braking techniques: “plough”, stop and ski turn. Depending on your level you need to use one of them. Beginners should start by learning to brake using the “plow” technique. It is the simplest and most technically uncomplicated. If you are a professional, descending, for example, using the “carving” technique is not a problem for you, then it is best to brake by turning your skis.

Plow technique

It is the most natural and easiest way to slow down and stop. The technique is as follows: when descending at low speed, if you need to stop, you need to bring your ski toes as close as possible, while spreading your heels wide to form an “L” shape. Don't forget about the correct position of your legs: they should be bent at the knees. Continue sliding down, applying as much pressure as possible to your heels. To do this, tilt your body back.

This technique is quite simple, but its disadvantages are poor maneuverability and a long braking distance. It is suitable for low speeds on relatively gentle slopes.

We brake with a stop

This braking method is suitable for those who are skiing for more than their first time. Its main advantages: a fairly short braking distance and a quick reduction in high speeds.

The technique of this type of braking is that with great force the body weight must be transferred to the ski track, which is located above. At the same moment, the lower leg must be placed on the inner edge in a position perpendicular to the direction of descent. The body weight is transferred by supporting the leg, which is located above.

This type of braking is not difficult for those who are confident on alpine skis. It is ideal if you use the carving technique for descent.

Stopping with a U-turn

This stopping method is more suitable for “pros”. His technique is as follows: when descending quickly, to stop, you need to synchronously turn your skis perpendicular to the slope. The body weight should be on the upper ski track.

The undoubted advantage of this technique is that it allows you to almost instantly reduce high speed. The braking distance will be minimal.

But braking using a turn should not be used by people who have poor balance while moving or who do not feel 100% confident on slopes, since when trying to perform such a maneuver they can easily fall and get injured.

It’s also worth noting: learning how to fall correctly is no less important than learning how to ride beautifully. After all, falls on the ski slope are inevitable. If you know what to do in this case, you will not be prone to panic, and therefore you will be able to minimize the risk of injury.

The rules for falling correctly are:

If you feel that a fall is imminent, try to reduce your speed as much as possible before contacting the ground.
At the moment of the fall, the hands should be pressed to the body.
Always lean only on your side, preferably on your buttock, and not on your back or elbow.
Throw the sticks away before you touch the ground. If you don’t have time to do this, press them to the body. But under no circumstances put it forward in front of you!

The most popular skiing technique

If you have mastered the skating technique well, know how to brake and fall correctly, it’s time to move on to learning the “carving” technique.

Carving or cutting skiing is a simplified high-speed skiing technique during which quick synchronized turns are performed with both feet. When skiers ski using this type of movement, a sharp zigzag line remains, which seems to be carved into the snow. This is where the name of this technique comes from: carving is translated from English as “carving”.

For a long time, carving was considered one of the most energy-efficient types of descent from the mountains, because, in fact, the skier was not required to make any effort. All you need is to be able to maintain balance and brake.

In order to effectively master carving, try to find a relatively flat and wide slope that few people ride on. At the same time, you must first learn how to “edge” your skis, be able to make turns with a large radius, and brake using a stop or a turn. You need to choose soft skis, with a deep sidecut and fairly sharp edges.

The essence of this technique is as follows: when descending, you need to be able to apply such pressure on the inner edges of the skis that they will turn on their side. This force, directed towards the middle of the ski, helps make turns of any radius. In this case, movement control should be carried out using the knees. The turning radius during the descent depends on the speed of the skier and directly on the edging force of the skis.

Carving is a kind of universal descent technique. At low speeds it can be used for smooth turns, at high speeds it can be used for spectacular descents with a small turning radius and high edging force.