Falling Properly When Skiing
Skiing is a fun sport that many people love to try. But you have to admit that the one thing you know you can expect from skiing is the problem of falling down. Don’t be embaressed to fall, everyone does it. What you need to know is the proper way to fall so that you don’t injure yourself.
Learning when to take risks and when to play safe is an important part of mountain craft. If falling sideways, try to keep your knees from hitting the snow first as this will tend to twist them. Land instead on your seat.Don’t fight the fall too hard. If you take a real high-speed crash, try to roll with it: swallow-diving into the snow can be harder than expected.
Stop sliding as quickly as possible. Bring your legs below you so you can use your feet, with or without skis, to brake to a halt. Don’t wear slippery clothes.
Never jam in your poles to stop. Some people who have used their poles to stop broke their jaws on the handle. Falling is such an integral part of skiing that it has developed its own lore. It has also developed its own vocabulary of euphemisms and nicknames.
When you rent or buy skis, the shop is responsible for adjusting the bindings correctly. If, however, they persistently release unnecessarily or, even worse, do not release when they should, they probably need readjustment. Unless you know exactly what you are doing, take your skis back to the shop.
Making your own adjustments is risky, and instructors are often reluctant to help, in case you get injured and sue them (especially in the United States). If you do decide to try, many lift operators will be able to lend you a screwdriver. Failing that, a Swiss army pen-knife or a coin can be used. Only tighten or loosen the release setting by half a turn at a time, as the adjustment is sensitive. If the problem persists, get the binding checked professionally.