1rst LESSON

•     Initiation in ski
•     When we are using for the first time the skis we are not feeling safe and we are not used to their length. The accommodation with the skis is the first lesson we should learn. Starting with easy exercises we want to gain balance and confidence in our forces. Jumping over the steps of ski learning is big mistake and this we will realize only on the road to became a good skier.
•     For the very first lesson we shall use a flat part of the ski slope in order to avoid any uncontrolled sliding. Having only one ski on and the other boot free we take some steps trying to weight the ski as much as we can. With both skies we will do the alternative walking and simultaneous pushing by leaning forward while throwing out arms forward and stuck the poles into snow backwards. We have to push against the poles while leaning the upper part of the body forward and gradually stressing the push, which is to end when the fists will have passed over the hip level. Very important is to know how to fall not to hurt ourselves to badly. When a fall becomes inevitable, try to relax and fall down on one side and back. No matter what the fall is like try to get uphill your skis, which must be perpendicular to the slope line. Pull your heels close to the body and try to get up by pushing with the poles uphill and backwards.
•     Changing the direction at a standstill by stepping must be learned and then we are able to go forward to the straight running. We start with the skis perpendicular to the fall line turning our body downhill and thrusting the sticks into snow pushing hard. We turn around our skis tips with small steps until the fall line is reached. It is essential that we push hard against the poles throughout all process. We have now to chose a gentle slope with a run out at the bottom of it to try straight running.
•     The position of the skier should be as much relaxed and natural as possible. The weight is to be equally distributed on both skis and on the whole sole of the skis. The ankle, knee, hip joints are slightly bent. The axis of the body should be perpendicular to the slope. The skier’s eyes look straight affront while the poles are held close to the body, to the rear behind the boots. The arms should be relaxed, elbows slightly bend and at a few centimetres away from the body, hand held forward at around hip height. When repeating we will try to accomplish each indication of the position. Further on we could try to descend with down-up movements and with shifting weight from one ski to the other. The last exercise could be experienced with the lift of one ski while leaning to the other and helps to prepare the snowplough turns.
•     The simplest way to stop, for a beginner, is th snowplough. The weight centre of the body is between the skies at every moment giving a good balance of the skier. For start we will do the snowplough to stop. The snowplough has the shape of “V” letter by keeping close but not crossed the ski tip while pushing the ski tails outwards. The weight is equally placed on both skis; the knees are slightly pushed in wards and forwards in order to ensure a better support on the inner edges. The poles have the same position as for straight running. To stop we increase the pressure of inner edges of the skis by a simple down movement. The edging is to be done by the knees not by the ankles. The snowplough is not used only to stop but also for gliding. With a lower pressure on edges than in the stop case we will start gliding. At every moment we should improve the execution and we will do some exercises to develop balance by repeatedly stemming and shutting of the snowplough. After this issue is completed we can move on to learn the turns.
•     Snowplough turns are to be executed from the snowplough glide by shifting weight. If we weight, for example, the left ski by bending the left knee and ankle and having the right ski without weight, being flat, we will perform a right turn. After the turn is executed we just come back to the snowplough glide position by equally weighting both skis. The upper part of the body fallows the turn by a slight rotation motion. In order to be successful we have to practice the turn to one side and then to the other and on different slopes until come out, as we wanted. The next step is the linking of the right and left turns in a garland. The final aim is to turn freely by shifting weight from one ski to the other and on both skis when the turn is over. For good results a lot of practice is needed.

    2nd LESSON

•     Stem turn and stem Christie
•     This is the moment when we have to control the sliding better and better. We have to do a ski accommodation using straight running downhill, traverse position and the snowplough turns. Our balance must be enhanced and a good position on the skis is required. The next thing we have to learn is how to handle slope changes. When meeting a bumb or a hole, the skier is to adapt his position either leaning forward, or backward, in order to counterbalance the effects of speeding up and braking. The skier can adopt one of these 3 positions (attitudes) in order to control the skis during sliding. Middle position - The weight is equally distributed on both skis. The vertical line that apses through ones weight centre falls on the middle of the boots. Forward position - The weight is placed on your toes, by a slight bending the legs and of the upper part of the body. It is used when passing to a stepper slope and when passing from deeper to stamped snow. Backward position- The weight is placed on the tails of the skis by slightly leaning backwards. It is used when you come across a run out and when passing from stamped to deeper snow.
•     Our safety is very important and that’s the reason we have to learn sideslipping. The sideslipping is a technical element that enables you to descend any slope with control and comfort without having to turn run downhill. The skis are in side slipping when they are moving not by their longitudinal axis. The starting principle is the cutting of angle formed by the ski soles with the snow surface by means of angulations.
•     In order to prepare the stem turn some exercises are required. During snowplough turns we will try to move the uphill ski near the downhill one after passing the fall line. The uphill ski should be moved in such manner that it contacts the snow on the outer edge or on flat. To make this movement possible the weight must be shifted previously on the other ski. Now we can try the stem turn. From traverse with parallel skis at a distance of about 15-20 cm, one passes into the snowplough position, which is to be kept until the fall line. By means of lifting extension the inner ski is the mostly unweighted and meanwhile, by an energetic swing, is set parallel to the other ski to its new direction. The turn can be done with pole planting which helps to shift the weight on the outer ski. The turn is obtained by a speedy weight shift, by sticking and by energetically drawing neat the inner ski. The knee motion is very important in starting, driving and closing the turn.
•     A very important step in ski learning is the stem christie that will lead us at the end to the more complicated turns. In the preparing process of the stem christie the stem garland is important. From the traverse position we stem out the tail of the uphill or downhill ski in the same time with a down movement and then back in the traverse position. The stem christie can be made with uphill ski stemming out or with downhill one.
•     Stem christie with the downhill ski stemming out - Leave in traverse and stem out the tail of the downhill ski at same time with stressed bending of the respective knee. Edge energetically with this ski, weighting on it, and without stopping shift your weight on the uphill ski. The upper part of the body twist in a movement preparing the turn. Consequently the weight shifting is accompanied by the drawing near the ski that has performed the stem out, and both tails are pushed laterally, outsides of the turn. This movement of pushing the heels outwards is accompanied by slipping forward the inner ski.
•     Stem christie with uphill ski stemming out - Leave in traverse with your skies parallel. Stem out the tail of the uphill ski. Right away push on the downhill ski and shift your weight on the other ski, which is settled on flat or on the inner edges. The upper part of the body also contributes with a movement preparing the turn. The weight shift is accompanied by the drawing near the downhill ski, continued with a slight forwarding of the downhill ski during the lateral push of the tail outwards. The beginners should maintain the stem out for a longer time, in order to learn it better.
•     In order to have the best results these elements of ski must be repeated until no mistakes occurs.

    3nd LESSON

•     Christies
•     Now it is the time to learn more about christies and the techniques involved in order to obtain good results. You’ll see that the christies differ a lot taking into consideration the ski slope shape and the snow type.
•     Basic Swing - From traverse with the skis close together stem out a ski. During the process weight the downhill ski and immediately push hard and shift weight. The actual turning process is performed subsequently as for the downhill stem christie. The upper part of the body twist in a movement preparing the turn. Consequently the weight shifting is accompanied by the drawing near the downhill ski, and both tails are pushed laterally, outsides of the turn. This movement of pushing the heels outwards is accompanied by slipping forward the inner ski.
•     Parallel christie - It is a change of direction, a sort of turn in which the starting is achieved by rotation. It is generally used with deep snow. The extension is middle and combined with a wind up tendency. The driving is achieved by two devices giving two types of swings: with the first type the rotation movement after passing the fall line is continued by a counter rotation of the upper part of the body and the pushing of the knees forward and uphill. With the other type, the impulse is checked when reaching the fall line. We can add an side slipping to this one obtaining a light uphill turn that can help in the starting stage of the execution.
•     Jet turn -The anticipation is a downhill launched rotation of the body at the moment of starting the turn, which makes it easy and actually releases the ski turn in the same direction, by creating an initial unweighthing moment, followed immediately by a progressive weighting of the ski, that ensures their permanent contact with the snow and the turn curve check. Execution: Traverse supple and slow bending of the knees, moving sideways and forward the pole in order to plant it. Step with the flat skis to the extension of the body forwards and downhill which starts an anticipatory tipping. The skis are progressively weighted on the inner edges. The upper part of the body is slightly bowed and the outer arm is forwards thus anticipating a turn downhill and forwards. This device is used on easy slopes, being elegant, but difficult to perform due to the fact that the turn has to be performed with the flat skis throughout. It is the "sense of the snow" that settles the ski edging and body rotation such as to fit the performing of the wanted turn.
•     Avalement christie with passive crouching - It is used on bumpy slopes. When passing over the bump, the legs play an absorbing part. The movement is contrary to the one performed for the parallel swing. Drive upright, with your skis equally weighted. The unweighting and directing the skis to the new direction is done when reaching the top of the bump. The knees are bent, being thrust to the chest by the bump. The inner pole is stuck backwards and sideways; thus offering you a lasting, strong support. There follows a dynamic stretch-out of the legs, followed by a push forwards and a rotation, while edging in order to check the turn. Down-up-down leg movement is done, facing downhill, backward position.
•     Wedeln - It is a chain of swings close to the fall line, with a stressed edging. The bending and extension are chained, without breaks and with small amplitude. The extension begins quickly and ends up slowly, while the bending is done on the reverse. The edging is due to the uphill-forward movement of the knees. The planting is rhythmic. The speed control is done by stressing edging and not by side slipping. The upper part of the body faces into the downhill running direction, the hips having an important role.
•     The christies are very beautiful but in the same time difficult. In order to have good results is recommended to practice a lot.



•     Marius Stoica
•     marius@x-trem.ro
•     http://marius.x-trem.ro