If you're anything like me, you want to hop on the ski lift, get to the top, and just go for it! But there are reasons why the beginner lessons begin on the "bunny slopes."
I have never quite been able to forget the time I talked my mother into coming down the double diamond slope with me… Often when children are started on a skill or sport early, it easy for them to pick it up and become good at it. My parents, or mostly my father, started my brother and me very early. My mother was okay at skiing, but I looked back up the hill when we went down the expert run, and I saw her coming down the mountain sitting… on her butt. She was so scared of the incline that she sat down on her skis and road the entire way sitting. It still makes me laugh.
My mother's story notwithstanding, if anyone is trying to start skiing for the first time in adulthood, "I would say go for it." Let me just give you a heads-up on some things that could truly improve your new undertaking:
Get the proper equipment,
Whether you're renting or buying, talk with the retail associates and other employees. Ski boots fit much differently than regular footwear. Try them on, walk around a bit, and ask questions. Wait and see if your feet or legs get tingly. Things should be snug but never restrictive. You should be able to bend to the side and lean forwards and backwards farther than normal. Ski boots are very supportive. Your skis are then adjusted to your boot size.
Ask about ski lengths. There are reasons to have longer or shorter skis, and you should discuss these reasons with experienced and knowledgeable staff.
Pace yourself,
I watched my uncle get to the top of the hill… once. He stubbornly tried over and over and over to stay up, get going, and try and stay close with the rest of our group. He was determined, but by the time he had gotten to the bottom, he was exhausted. He spent the rest of the day sitting in the ski lodge drinking in self-pity.
As with any new activity, you are going to want to pace yourself. If people are going ahead of you, let them. Take frequent breaks. And don't forget to keep breathing! I have the tendency to focus so hard on a task like skiing that I stop and realize that I having been adequately breathing. Remembering to breathe steadily with improve your mental state and prevent unnecessary head-aches.
If you're skiing in high altitudes such as those in the Rockies, give yourself adjustment time. When you get up to the top, hang out for a bit. Chat with your friends, and acclimate to the new height of the world around you. Enjoy the view. You're already going to be trying new things with your body- try and minimize any strain or shock.
Start off on the bunny slope,
Swallow your pride, and practice with the beginners. Take a class. Often, ski resorts will have free beginner's lessons. Take advantage of them. If you do, you will have a much better overall experience on the slopes. Instead of learning from your own mistakes, you can save time by listening to directions. It all may sound very trivial, but not doing these things seems to be the American way. How often does someone join a gym, go at it with all their might (and no directions), and then find themselves "hating" the gym, or even worse- injured.
My favorite exercise they will have you do as a part of these lessons is walk-shuffle to the right and the left, probably up and down a small part of a hill. This helps you get used to maneuvering your new-found, reshaped appendages. It is not easy to walk in skis. It takes practice. Doing these warm-ups will save you snags and hang-ups at the ski lifts and generally improve your early skiing adventures.
Most IMPORTANT of all,
If you see danger in your path, FALL. Literally throw yourself to the ground; fall to the side. This can save you from injury, embarrassment, and even death. When in doubt, fall.
And HAVE FUN,
I have seen people get so determined to become a great skier in one day that they end up having a miserable time! If you find yourself getting frustrated, take a second to laugh at yourself. This is supposed to be an enjoyable activity.
Oh yeah, and don't forget… You can always follow my mother's example and just sit down and enjoy the ride.
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