What is the "goal" of skiing?

Question

I've just recently started to ski, and I love it. My question however is, "what is the goal", what is the aim of skiing? Besides fun / pleasure / thrill. When you are at the top of a blue / black run looking down, what are you trying to accomplish (besides getting to the bottom 8P ). Is it control, should one attempt to turn multiple times in order to gain the most control, or stay straight and grab speed? I understand that it will vary depending on person, I was just wondering if there is some sort of end "goal" I should be working on obtaining. Thanks for any answers.

Answer 1

For general recreational skiing, the goal is to have fun. How you accomplish that is totally up to you.

For a beginner, fun may be defined as simply making it to the bottom of the slope without falling. For a mogul skier, the goal may be to see how straight one can ski the line. Pipe and Park skiers might have tricks as their goal, and for racers it's all about time.

Personally, I decide what I want to accomplish depending on how I feel that day and where I am skiing. When I go to a resort I've never skied, I'm usually quite content to cruise around for the morning getting the lay of the land and looking for the good trails. When I have them scoped out then I usually set my goal to make it down the run cleanly and without stopping. This works particularly well when I go to a resort for a few days in a row. Based on what I found the day before, I head to where I think might be a good first run on day 2.

When I was younger I used to throw more caution to the wind and just ski a run full throttle without a recon. I've had too many accidents over the years to allow myself to do that now....plus my ski buddies are also getting older and starting to suffer from the abuse of the moguls and jumps we did as kids.

However, some days I go out and just focus on balance, or time, or turns. That's my goal for that day. When I ski my home hill, I usually just focus on the fundamentals.

Bottom line, the goal is to have fun.

Answer 2

The skis could be too stiff for you, what brand are they? The problem is most likely that you are not putting enough pressure on the downhill ski, though. When you are skiing you have to try and get the skis on edge and put the most weight possible on the downhill ski or the skis may rattle. This has happened to me before when I am doing drills where I am not allowed to edge, my skis hit bumps like they are much bigger than they are, but when i am ON edge and pressuring the downhill ski the bumps feel as though they aren't there. If the pressuring the downhill ski and being on edge thing doesn't work then I would highly suggest demoing another brand, even for just a day. They may be too stiff, therefore not allowing you to edge properly:) Tuning your skis is always a must, too. Without tuned skis it is very difficult to edge or do anything. The difference that I find between tuned and untuned skis is incredible, i'm sure that you will find the same. Try to balance your weight as well, you want to be forward and on the front of your skis (not the tips, though) and driving your arms down the hill because that is a more agreesive stance and you are much less likely to rattle if you are in an aggresive stance:) Also, if none of these work then you may just have weak legs.. try going to the gym and working on only machines that work your legs:) XOXO Good Luck, Keep me updated and don't worry, this even happens to Olympic skiers on tough turns if you watch/listen closely:)

Answer 3

Other than fun/pleasure/thrill, which are the main goals, I'd say your other "goal" should be to improve your form, or most "control" as you say.

Work on your form, make them turns look pretty, be in control of yourself. Once you've mastered that, get faster and faster at it. Going as fast as you can makes no sense if you're not in control, and isn't even that impressive if you don't look good doing it, unless you're racing someone and beat him to the bottom.

Turn multiple times, but not big wide turns, make them quick and tight. If you watch others ski, you should be able to pick out the good ones from the not as good. Even taking a private lesson to get some direction and some pointers isn't a bad idea, and then working on the rest yourself.

Answer 4

I've been skiing since I've been 4 years old, and I still think that the sensation is as close to flying as you can get.

I love lots of different terrain- gladed, powder, groomers, bumps etc, so the "goal" is different for each run.

For the glades, I try to see how much speed and turns I can get between the trees (without hitting one!)

For the powder, I see if I can maintain my speed while floating on the pow, without crossing my tips (or losing a ski- that sucks)

For the groomers, it's how deeply I can carve, and how close my angle is to the ground. Being whipped back from your turns is so fun.

For the moguls- how straight of a line I can do between the bumps for as many as I can without bailing out.

But overall- it's just plain fun- and it can be so exhilarating.

Answer 5

I don't think that skiing has a certain "goal" besides having fun. One person might want to work on control, while another might want to work on their speed. It all depends what level you are.

Hope I helped! =]

Answer 6

Speed, control, tight turns, exercise, carving up some wicked powder...all of these are details. It all boils down to looking good.

In terms of technical ability, I could be a terrible skier...but if I look good, at least I get to take a snow bunny home with me after the last run of the day...and that, my friend, is the goal of any endeavor.

Answer 7

Safety, Fun, then Learning/improving skills. Oh and trying not to look like a dolt in a power wedge on a diamond slope.

Answer 8

It's just getting to the bottom without breaking your legs.

Answer 9

The goal is to try to do a backflip...... Their are people who can like my cousin Shaun

Answer 10

Whheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also Woooooooohooooooooo !!!!!

With the occasional YeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaa!!!!!