Getting up after a fall while wearing skis involves a specific technique focused on leverage and stability.
Mastering the Technique: Getting Up with Skis
Falling is a common part of learning to ski, and knowing how to efficiently and safely get back on your feet is essential. The primary method involves positioning yourself correctly relative to your skis and using your hands and poles for support.
Based on common skiing techniques, here is a step-by-step guide:
- Position Your Skis: Ensure your skis are across the slope (perpendicular to the fall line) if you are on an incline. This prevents them from sliding downhill uncontrollably. It can be helpful to get your skis parallel to each other.
- Get on Your Side: Roll onto your side, ideally facing uphill slightly if on a slope.
- Prepare for Push: As detailed in skiing guides, you should:
- Dig the edges of your skis into the snow a bit for grip. This creates a stable base.
- Bend your knees. This brings your feet closer to your body and prepares you to push up.
- Turn your upper body toward the snow so you can place both hands down. Getting your hands on the snow provides crucial support.
- Push down with your hands to lift your hips, keeping your knees bent. This initial push gets your weight off the snow.
- Grab your poles (if you haven't already secured them).
- Use your poles (or one pole and one hand) to help push you the rest of the way up. Position your poles near your body for maximum leverage.
By using your hands and poles to push off the snow while keeping your skis anchored, you can effectively lift yourself back into a standing position.
Tips for Getting Up Easily
- Stay Calm: Panicking can make it harder to coordinate your movements.
- Clear Your Skis: Make sure no snow is built up under your boots in the bindings, which can make standing unstable.
- Use Gravity (Carefully): If on a gentle slope, positioning yourself correctly can help use gravity to assist the final stand-up push.
- Practice: Getting up gets easier with practice. Don't be discouraged by initial struggles.
Following these steps helps conserve energy and makes getting back to skiing much quicker.
