Skiiing advice

[Sasq]

Ok, the in-laws are taking me away skiing next weekend,
idea is to show the poor Australian who has never seen snow what its all about. - read lets laugh a lot with/at him when he falls over a lot

Advice on skiing or anything else you think I should be warned about. As for critters I'm bigger and furrier then anything else in the country so don't worry about that

Dan

[Lizzard[MPE]]

a bottle of Jd's and some pain medication

[Sasq]

The brother-in-law, where we are staying is a pharmasutical(sp?) chemist, so got the pain medication covered.

Dan

[cbman]

Here's some advice from a person who has never been downhill skiing.

Going straight down the hill is a bad idea, but it is better to fall over occasionally while making it look accidental to keep the speed reasonable.

Running into someone at the speeds you can hit going down even a beginners hill can really cause some damage.

Its easier to look the fool by falling, then try to apologize for knocking out grandma's teeth.

[HomeBrewer]

Curved end points downhill. Save the 90m jump for last.

If you are going to Sapporo,Hokkaido area (spent a couple of years there in late 60's) you may well NOT be bigger than any local critters.

http://www.skijapanguide.com/2002/features/powder-8.html

Have Fun

[Novdid]

Just remember to put your wheight on the the leg facing down the slope.

And the most important thing when learning how to ski well is, daring. You have to have the courage to do the first turns, and it takes quite a bit of courage.

The first hours you will probably hate the ski's more than your mother in law. But after those few hours you will probably have the time of your life!!!

Have fun!!!

[Lizzard[MPE]]

well..are u sure your going skiing? .. cos i thought i was goin skiing this winter and ended up snowboarding for the day.. and we know what happened there.

[Kruzin]

My advice for a first time skiier (from someone who has been skiing for over a quarter century):

Wear a helmet.
We have dozens of deaths and serious injuries each year here on the slopes where colisions with trees cause massive head trauma that could have been avoided by simply wearing proper headgear.

Also, watch out for the other people on the hill. Most people don't pay attention to whats going on around them, and tend to think they are the only person on that slope. Nobody wants to yield the right-of-way, and faster skiers often plow into/over slower skiers because niether was paying attention to what was going on around them....

[az]

I've only been skiing once, but learning how to fall was essential (it's the easiest way to do an emergency stop - if done right - and you WILL be falling quite often, so learn to fall without hurting yourself - or anyone else for that matter).

Avoid deep snow. Don't underestimate a slope from it's foot - from the top, they look MUCH more dangerous - and there is only one way down

AZ

[Ali]

The fun stuff. Put your pole between his legs just when hes getting off the ski lift.

Wait till hes stopped below you, then come up fast and sprey him with snow.

When you are half way up the ski lift, press you pole hard onto his ski release lever, and laugh at him skiing down to get it with one ski.

If you are renting, make sure he gets boots 1/2 a size too small, he'll get cold feet, and have a horrible day.

If you get sepperated during a run, when you are in the line to get onthe ski lift, build up as much snow as you can on top of your skis, then when you are above him bash you skis together. If you dont get him with the snow, with any luck your ski will fall onto him.

Tha main thing is to have fun, and dont take anything seriously. If you are worried about looking like a dick, remember that nobody can recognise you with a balaclava on.

Ali

[Sasq]

For those that know Japan, I'm heading to Akita (a little bit north of Sendai (from memory). The most difficult thing will be hiring the equipment (my feet are 30cm's long which is 4cm's bigger then the average Japanese male).

Yeah snowboarding is pretty damn popular here, but I'd like to get skiing undercontrol first before I learn how to snow board.

I'm also told the snow in Akita is not so good for snowball fights

Dan

[Indiana]

Another advice: avoid the trees
For serious now: braking with ones "backside" is not the worst thing to do. In fact if I'd be skiing at your age the first time (I was lucky enough to be skiing since I was 3 years old) I'd be using this as often and especially as early as necessary, regardless what anyone might think.
It's not bad to fall if you're slow and are doing it controlled. But if you fall without anticiipating it and you're too fast, it can be really not comfortable.

[az]

DON'T EVER fall backwards while keeping your skis on the ground - you'll not be able to stop if you're too fast (and too fast wouldn't really be that fast in that situation) - happened to me once and I'm lucky I didn't broke my neck.

Always turn to the side and fall into your curve, to the side facing the mountain - your skis will be your brakes and it's easiest to get up

AZ

[Fat Tone]

1) Don't eat the yellow snow
2) I presume you can outdrink the rellies? Make sure they have hangovers when on the slopes and they won't be worried about your skill, just their own throbbing heads

Have a great time!

T.

[Raptor^]

Make sure the place you're renting equipment from knows you're a beginner. They should ask, but sometimes here in Europe they just assume eveyone knows what they're doing. That way they can setup your bindings so they'll release easier and give you more suitable skis.

Learning how to fall well has already been pretty much covered, just try and relax when you fall though, it won't hurt (much) and tensing up lots increases your chance of having an awkward fall (ever notice how really pissed people can fall over lots and not really hurt themselves?).

As for actually skiing....

Well BIIGGGG Snowplough and Bend ZEEE KNEEESSS