Novice down hill skiing

Question
I am a fairly new skier.  I have only gone 10-12 times.  I can turn and get down both greens and blues.  

My troubles come when trying to control my speed and turns (particularly to the left).

I can turn to the right relatively well, if there's a large enough open space.  What would you recommend for improving my turning and speed control?   Eventually I would like to go through mogel courses, but right now I'm just happy if I get to the bottom alive.

Thanks for all your help
Colin

Answer
Dear Colin

To control your speed, you need to complete your turns.  This means your skis actually face across the hill at the end of the turn before you start the next turn.  Think of skiing that controls your speed as a series of linked "C" turns rather than "S" turns.

A good book for you to read is "Breakthrough on Skis."  It will help you understand where your personal mechanics are slowing your improvement in the sport.

If reading is not your favorite way to improve, I recommend taking a private lesson.  One hour with a good ski coach can help you identify and harness the good skiing skills you have, and help you develop the additional skills you need.

To eliminate the variation between turns to the left and turns to the right, you may need to differ the canting in your boots, or you may even need a shim between your boot and your ski to allow you to get neutrally balanced on your skis before you change edges to start a new turn.  You should see a reputable boot fitter in a good ski shop to work with you to tailor your equipment to your build.

Best of luck to you!