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Previously in my article series of Learn To Ski – Skiing Beginners Tips, I have discussed about motivation and the basis of skiing as well as finding a balanced position and sliding the first meters on skis.

This the third article in my six article series of skiing beginners tips will teach you how to make the very first turn with skis. Before making your first turns I also tell you how to get on and off a chair lift. Before getting to a slope remember to protect your skin from sun and cold! Use plenty of sun cream, preferably some well-known and high quality sun cream. There is lot more ultraviolet radiation up in the mountains, you can easily burn your skin badly in one day. Also use goggles or sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Now that you have learned how to slide with your skis, it is time to get on a lift and go to the top of the piste. Start with beginners or family pistes; don’t go directly to advanced skiers piste. All pistes in Europe are marked with color codes as shown below.

Green – Beginners

Blue – Little advanced skiers

Red – Intermediate skiers and experienced skiers

Black – Very experienced and skillful skiers

Learn to ski – Getting on and off a chair lift

When clicking your boots into the bindings of your skis, use your poles to scrape off any snow of the bottom of your boots. Then use your poles to join the chair lift queue. As you approach the ski lift, look at people ahead and see where the launch spot is where they wait for the lift. Once its your turn, you should go stand at that same spot as well. If you cannot see it or you are not sure, ask the lift personnel. If there is no lift personnel, ask other skiers. Next take your poles in one hand and go stand on the line in order to catch the lift. Look over your shoulder, wait until the ski lift touches your knees and then just sit on the chair. Pull down the safety bar. And do not try licking the cold metal bar because your tongue will immediately get stuck to the metal! This might sound funny but believe me; I have seen people doing it. They just had no clue what happens if you stick your tongue to cold metal?

While enjoying the lift ride you can think about the skiing beginners tips that you have learned. As you approach the upper landing spot, push the safety bar up about 10-20 meters before getting off. Beware of falling! Slide your butt to the edge of the seat and prepare to get off the lift. As soon as your skis touch the ground, stand up and push yourself away from the lift. Keep gliding away from the landing spot because the next chair will be coming soon after you. Slide to a safe area where you will not collide with other skiers that are getting off the lift. Then take your poles and prepare for your first ski run. It is time to learn to ski.

Learn to ski – Making the first snowplough turns

Start sliding down the piste, not straight but towards the other side of the piste so that your velocity won’t get too high. Keep your feet apart so that they form a V-shape (angle in front). This stance is called the snowplough stance and turning your skis like this is called the snowplough turn. This stance helps you to stay in control over your skis and prevents you from gaining too much speed. Some folks call this a “wedge” or a “pizza” turn. As described in Wikipedia “The front tips of the skis are brought together and the tails pushed wide apart, with the knees rolled inwards slightly. By applying pressure against the snow with the edges of the skis, speed is reduced and the skier can stop completely”.

As you approach the other side of the piste with your skis in V-position, start moving your weight to the uphill ski. When you do this you notice that your skis are going to turn downwards. Keep your arms relaxed and poles positioned in front of you. As you make a 180 degree turn your uphill ski will become your downhill ski. As soon as you are done with the turn continue back to the other side of the piste. Repeat the same procedure on the other side but this time other way round. As it is said, one picture tells more than one thousand words. I believe one video clip including 24 still pictures per second tell more than a zillion words. Check out the video below provided by YouTube user called filibo. It shows pretty well how to make a snowplough turn. It isn’t actually so hard to learn to ski, but it might require some time and patience.