| You can plan a family ski vacation even if no one | | | | application of pressure. This is what stops you. You |
| knows how to ski. You can learn the sport while on | | | | can guide yourself on skis by bending your knees and |
| vacation and have a great time. You do not need to | | | | then leaning in one direction or another. The way you |
| know anything about skiing before you get to the | | | | lean depends on which way you want to go. These |
| resort because everything will be available to you | | | | techniques can be learned in about an hour, even if |
| there. All the knowledge you need and all the | | | | you have never skied in your life. |
| necessary equipment is part of a ski package. You | | | | One of the great things about skiing is that once you |
| will be skiing within an hour of beginning your | | | | have learned the snowplow technique and how to |
| instruction. | | | | guide yourself, you are ready to hit the slopes. Get |
| It is relatively easy to learn to ski. Most resorts | | | | on the ski lift, go on up the mountain, and try out |
| provide a ski school right on their premises, with | | | | what you have learned. Once you feel confident |
| lessons being reasonably priced. There are both group | | | | enough to go faster, draw the skis back in from the |
| and private lessons available at most resorts. You | | | | snow plow position, then push them back out to |
| should schedule an appointment for lessons before | | | | control your speed. |
| you arrive at the resort, however. This way, yo will | | | | Because you are just beginning to learn the sport, |
| be sure that you can start your skiing lessons right | | | | you should stay on trails designed for beginners. At |
| away. | | | | most ski resorts the beginner trails are marked with |
| Most instructors begin by showing you how to handle | | | | a green emblem. Generally, trails marked in blue are |
| your equipment. You will be tilted forward slightly | | | | for intermediate skiers. After a day on the beginner |
| when you are wearing ski boots, so walking in them | | | | trails, you might be ready to try on of these. Black |
| the first time is quite awkward. You will get the hang | | | | trails are for experts and can be very dangerous for |
| of it in no time, though just walk with your knees | | | | individuals who do not have the skills to handle them. |
| bent slightly. | | | | You should avoid black trails until you have had |
| Your first skiing maneuver will be the plow, or snow | | | | considerable amounts of instruction and experience. |
| plow. This technique requires that you literally use | | | | You will know when you are ready to use these |
| your skis like a plow. The back of the skis slowly | | | | trails! |
| moves outward and away from your body via the | | | | |