I'm going skiing with my friend this coming week and he is athletic, but he has never skied (sp?) before. I have gone skiing once a year since I was about 5 and am an intermediate skier.
Unlike some other sports that I do year long, I never learned the terminology, techniques, or mechanics of skiing. I pretty much just go by instinct.
My friend will only be visiting for 4 days, and skiing for 3. He does not want to pay for an instructor, so he wants me to teach him.
What are some things that might be second nature to me but that I should teach him in order to get him to a level where he is having fun?
2006-12-28 05:28:10 · 9 answers · asked by Tommy 2 in Sports ➔ Winter Sports ➔ Snow Skiing
I taught skiing for 5 years as a professional...there is no substitute.
Sorry man, you can't teach him. Just because you can get up and down a blue groomer doesn't qualify you as a personal instructor. And I can give you a butt load of tips, but I'm not going to, because, quite frankly, you are not qualified. I could do it, a ski instructor could do it, but not you. Trying to do it is asking for some trouble.
In one lesson (about an hour) an instructor will have your friend going up and down on the bunny slope...and having fun...and wanting to ski some more days.
If you even attempt this, I guarantee that your "friend" (notice the quotes?) will maybe go up and down the chair twice, end up hating skiing, and go into the lodge, and probably end up hating you too. And I'm not really exaggerating. I have witnessed this type of thing first hand.
OK, if you still are going to persist in stupidity, spend an hour on the flat section of the tow rope area first. Start with just walking around with no skis on, one ski on, and two skis. NO POLES WHATSOEVER. They just get in the way. Then on the tiniest of slopes, do straight glides until he is comfortable with standing and moving. Then, introduce the pizza. Have him keep his hands on his hips, so his arms are not flailing about. Tell him to squish the spider in his boot (between his shin and the tongue of the boot - this applies forward pressure - a good thing). Then, when he can wedge down a small slope, try stopping. Start in a glide, then transfer to a wedge to stop. Remember, where are the hands? When he can do that, after 5 or 6 goes, then work on turns. DON'T TELL HIM TO DO ANYTHING BUT TURN LEFT, AND TURN RIGHT. Nothing about pressure or weighting or anything...just turning. Make a little race course out of your poles that he can turn around. For an average beginner, all that takes me about 30 minutes. For you, expect an hour. DO NOT TAKE HIM ON THE CHAIR UNTIL HE CAN STOP AND TURN IN A WEDGE (pizza). Where are the hands again? Don't forget.
Well, so I gave you some tips...if you kill or hurt your friend, don't blame me.
One lesson costs less than $40, sure, more than a movie, but for a lifetime of enjoyment? Come on.
Make a paid lesson a Christmas present or something....brother. $40, you know...or the alternative, a night in the ICU after something goes wrong and your "friend" gets carted off to the hospital in an ambulance.
2006-12-28 09:25:05 · answer #1 · answered by powhound 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Honestly, I would have him take a lesson. It will only take an hour or two and he will learn much more that way. And he won't get so frustrated when he can't figure it out right away...
And if you don't want to pay for a lesson, tell him to point his toes together and do the wedge all the way down. To turn, have him place the weight on the inside foot and gradually moving the weight onto the other foot, trying to go in the shape of an 'S'. He can worry about getting his skiis parallel after he figures out how not to fall...
Good luck.
2006-12-28 05:38:37 · answer #2 · answered by mychelleb25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My view is that your friend is being silly by not wanting to pay for an instructor. What happens if something goes wrong and he's injured? And whatever you do, you'll almost certainly pass on your own personal habits which may not stand him in good stead for later; plus he'll ruin your holiday (I take it you're going because you want to enjoy ski-ing, rather than biting your nails as you watch your friend make a mess of the nursery slopes).
Don't do it. Make the point about injury/insurance - that should be a no-brainer.
2006-12-28 05:39:14 · answer #3 · answered by mrsgavanrossem 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sign him up for a formal skiing lesson! He'll catch on to the proper techniques much quicker and will not tend to become quickly frustrated with your methods. However, if refuses to pay for a group ski lesson teach him how to do the snowplow first, and then move up to easy turning by putting weight on the downhill ski etc.. However, it'll be a very slow process without at least one lesson to start!
2006-12-28 08:05:12 · answer #4 · answered by Dave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I infer from the fact that you "pretty much go by instinct" that you have not had many lessons also. It is probably why you are still an intermediate. Therefore anything you teach your friend is likely to be bad technique.
I certainly think your friend should have lessons, and so should you. You probably need a private lesson for some pretty intense tutoring to start to break some of your bad habits.
2006-12-28 12:23:05 · answer #5 · answered by iansand 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buy them a lesson from a pro. You can get a package that includes rental, a lesson and a lift ticket.
2006-12-30 18:14:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
try the thing where u wrap a belt sort of thing around you and a rope thing attaches to him. you ski and he his trailing behind you. I did that when i was about 3 years old and it really helped.
2006-12-28 06:30:37 · answer #7 · answered by Matt 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just begin with the basics and move up.
2006-12-28 05:32:19 · answer #8 · answered by initmador 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont get a pro to do it.......
2006-12-28 09:31:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋