Learn To Ski: Basic Skiing Skills

We look at how to use skis in this installment of our learn to ski guide.

Standing up, turning, and stopping, are the three basic skills you will need to master if you want to ski.

Make what's commonly known as a 'snow plow' by standing with your feet at shoulder-width and pointing your toes inward, forming a "V" pattern. Slightly bend your knees to create a more stable stance, spread your arms out wide to give yourself more balance and lean slightly forward instead of leaning slightly back (doing so makes it easier to turn and stop).

Even the slightest of slopes is enough for your skis to automatically get you moving down and/or forward. By moving your heels closer together you will cause your triangle or V-shape to get smaller and this will cause you to go faster. To slow down or stop, move your heels farther apart, forcing your toes to point more sharply inward. Doing the latter will work on small slopes, but for steeper slopes, to slow down or stop you'll need to gradually turn your skis so they face horizontally across the slope, instead of vertically down it.

To turn on skis, just point them in the direction you want to go - if that's left, point them left, and if that's right, well, you know. Remember, however that mastering the art of turning on skis will take some getting used to and the right combination of timing and balance.

Pointing your skis in the direction of an intended turn may not be the only action necessary to get you there - for sharp turns, you will need to move your weight onto the foot farthest away from the direction of the turn (so for a sharp left turn, you would move your weight onto your right foot). Moving your arms or shoulders while turning will not make the turn any quicker or easier, so focus on moving just your feet when you turn.