4 tips for beginner skiers

There is a transition period between learning to ski and skiing well enough to have fun. Below are some simple tips for beginner skiers to ensure that they get the most out of their trip to the slopes.

• Learning to ski is like learning to ride a bike or roller blades, so don't be too disheartened if figuring out the hobby isn't as straightforward as you had expected. After all, skis are foreign objects on your feet, so give your body time to get used to how they feel and you'll soon feel comfortable.
• Similarly, don't be disheartened when you fall, even if it's for the twentieth time. Everybody falls on their first few days of skiing, and in reality, pro skiers fall all the time. It is not an indicator of your future skiing abilities.

• Unless your friends are expert skiers (and teachers), it's worth spending the time and money on a professional lesson on your first day of skiing.
• A ski instructor will teach you the basics, such as the all important lesson of how to stopping, and guide you toward the correct skiing technique. This is essential if your aim is to be not just a competent skier, but a good one.

• Enthusiasm is a key component of learning to ski. Without it, you'll never be able to overcome the initial difficulties and fall in love with the sport.
• There is, however, such a thing as being too enthusiastic. Pace yourself, learn slowly and don't try to ski runs that are beyond your current capabilities.
• While it's a fun sport, skiing can also be dangerous, and the quickest way to be injured is by trying to ski a run you're not yet ready for.

• This is the most important lesson of all. Go into your day of skiing with a smile, laugh when you fall and above all, make it a happy day for you and your loved ones. For all the effort and desire that goes into becoming a great skier, the most special thing about the sport is the fun that it provides and how it brings everybody together.
• If you don't recognize this now, you definitely will when you're sitting around a fire with your friends and family after a long day on the slopes.