Our goals are to become more familiar with our equipment
and to get used to handling it. You're dealing with a bunch of unfamiliar items,
and getting used to your new environment and equipment first will make it much
easier to start skiing.
- Put your ski poles and skis aside for the time being.
Make sure you are comfortable and familiar with the feel
of those clunky things on your feet by walking around outside in the snow. A few
minutes spent walking around can really make a difference.
Next; put on one ski (on either foot) and while standing
still, pick it up and put it down; then twist you foot with the ski just
skimming over the snow, and make an X or hourglass shape. Walk on the flat snow
until you get the hang of "controlling" the ski.
Then try to slide on this one ski by pushing with the free
foot like a scooter or skateboard. This should give you a good idea of the
sensation of sliding over snow.
Comfortably flex the knee and hips and balance your weight
along the length of the foot. See how far you can slide while staying in
balance. Don't be static--stay dynamically in balance.
Now glide the ski around in a large circle. Repeat the
exercise with the other foot.
Now with both skis
Put the second ski on and walk around with both skis,
until you feel completely comfortable and can "control" your skis.
Remember to keep all the joints in your legs slightly
flexed. Stiff legs make it difficult to move and control your skis. Your skis
are just an extension of your feet, so just point the tips of the skis as you
would your toes.
Keep the tails of the skis together and step around in a
circle by just opening the tips to walk the skis around--like making a flower or
fan in the snow.
Now, try it with the tips together and stationary and step the tails of
the skis around in a circle.
