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Learning to skiThere are many reasons why XC skiing is popular. It is a healthy outdoor exercise that can be done at any level of fitness. XC skiing is a less expensive way of enjoying the snow than alpine skiing, bringing it within the reach of many more families. The skills required can be learnt in less time than it takes to become a competent alpine skier while people who can already use alpine skis will quickly learn XC techniques. XC races cater for those with plenty of energy while touring can involve a trip of a few hours to a whole day trip or be extended by camping out overnight. People who are blind can ski XC as well as amputees and paraplegics. There is no age limit on cross country skiing so toddlers can be introduced to skis when they are good walkers and at about six years old will be quite proficient and at the other extreme there are a few skiers still getting out in their 80’s. Learning to ski on cross country skis is easy; if you can walk you can ski. With a planned series of a few lessons most people become good enough to ski around the marked trails at resorts Modern touring skis and boots are available for hire and are recommended. Avoid racing skis, old skis and those with “3 pin bindings” that have been borrowed from friends or grandfather because although they can be used to ski on, they are difficult for a beginner to learn on. It would be foolish to learn to ride a bike or surfboard without guidance from an instructor and this applies to cross country skiing also. This is relevant for downhill skiers who try cross country skis and find it difficult, but the only problem is that different techniques are needed on cross country skis and the downhill experience makes learning easier. It is difficult to learn to ski out of a book. If you do learn out of a book you will not be a competent skier. The best way to learn to ski is to get lessons from someone. OK, you have a mate who has been skiing for years and they offer to teach you. They may not be a good teacher and they may teach you all their bad habits along the way. If you take up their offer and within a week you can follow them anywhere you will have had a good teacher. If you find that it is difficult to do some manoeuvres or keep up with the others then the sooner you get some professional lessons the better. And after having lessons take a moment to reflect on
what you have learnt. Have you learnt enough to go around the marked trail
on your own? Have you learnt enough to go out away from the marked trail
on your own? The marked trail is no guarantee that you will be able to
follow it. Many people have become distressed while skiing along a marked
trail. You will learn from your experiences and if you venture out with
care, you will eventually have the knowledge and ability to ski further
away and enjoy all that the Kosciuszko National Park has to offer. There are many things that your instructor
can teach you:
When booking instruction make sure that you will get what you want. Some organisations offer guided tours that may not provide the basic instruction needed. When you pay for instruction you should be assured that you are getting a certified instructor. It is a good idea to keep a diary of the important instructions given in a lesson complete with stick diagrams to refer to each time you ski until it becomes second nature.
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