The best tips for beginner skiers
1. The right equipment
Before you venture onto the slopes in the ski resorts for the first time, good equipment is crucial. This includes a weatherproof and well-insulated ski jacket and trousers, warm, waterproof gloves and thick, well-fitting ski socks. However, you don't have to buy everything straight away, as renting the right ski equipment and clothing for skiing is a cost-effective alternative for beginners. At Intersport Rent you will find the best offers for hiring skis, ski poles, ski boots and helmets with ski goggles.
This is a tip I give to every beginner, as it means you can always use top-maintained equipment and have the opportunity to try out different types of skis until you find the right model for you. This way you can start your skiing adventure relaxed!
2. Pizza slice - Skiing in a snowplow the right way
Who doesn't know it? The snowplow - the first skiing technique taught to beginners. Nowadays, however, it's often called a pizza because of its V-shape, which resembles a slice of pizza. An absolute must as a beginner, as the snowplow forms the basis of all other skiing techniques. This involves bringing the tips of the skis together at the front and the ends wide apart at the back. Precisely because the snowplow is so important, I'll give you a few more tips about the exercise.
The snowplow is used at the beginning to make turns easier and, above all, to control your speed. This technique is a good choice, especially for children who want to learn to ski. Skiing in a snowplowi should also be well learnt - a ski course can't hurt to learn the technique properly from the start. An important tip is to approach the slopes slowly... You should start on a flat practice slope and then slowly venture onto blue slopes to first learn how to glide down the slope and then slowly learn how to turn. In most ski areas in Ski amadé, there are slopes that are perfectly adapted to the needs of beginners.
To be able to brake in the snowplow, it is particularly important that you press the inside edges of your skis firmly into the snow and lean your upper body forwards a little to get the most braking effect from your skis. You should learn this right from the start, as it gives you a lot of confidence to know that you can stop at any time.
To make a turn on the piste in a snowplow, assume a V-shape with your skis and shift your body weight to the inside of the turn. Tilt your skis slightly into the turn, look in the direction of travel and brake gently by widening the snowplow. At the end of the turn, distribute your weight evenly on both skis again. If you put more weight on the right ski, you are making a left-hand turn and if you put more weight on the left ski, you are making a right-hand turn.
These tips will make the snowplow much easier for you.
3. French fries - skiing parallel correctly
The French fry position is used both as a starting position when standing and for advanced beginners when skiing at an angle (the snowplow is then only used for braking and cornering). This is also known as the French fry, as the skis are guided parallel to each other like two French fries lying next to each other. When switching from the snowplow to parallel skiing, you can therefore first try to master only the turns across the piste in the French fry position and as soon as you make a turn or want to brake, you can switch back to the snowplow.
The most important thing about these exercises, however, is repetition. True to the motto ‘Practice makes perfect!’, the more often you repeat the movement, the easier it gets. So give yourself a few days and don't be too hard on yourself when you're on skis for the first time. You'll see, in no time at all you'll be able to explore the various ski resorts on your own skis. 😊
In Ski amadé there is a very wide range of ski schools where you can get the best tips on all aspects of skiing. There are many ski courses for children that are specially tailored to their age and level, such as Bambini on Skis and Juniors on Skis. But there are also great options for adult beginners, such as the Learn2Ski programme. Here you can learn the most important basics of skiing with a ski instructor in just 3 days. An absolutely hot tip from me! 😉
I wish you lots of fun and success with your first turns in the snow in the diverse ski areas of Ski amadé!
