Learning to ski: tips for beginners – equipment, technique and common mistakes

Learn to ski – Skiing is a popular winter sport.
It may look difficult at first, but with a little practice and a few tricks, you can learn it relatively quickly.
Here you will find tips for beginners, from ski boots to the right stance and videos showing you how to get started on skis.
You can then start your ski adventure, even directly from the campsite when winter camping with a roof tent or tent trailer.

Winter camping adventure: save money & go skiing

Ski camping combines the experience of nature and sporting activities in a unique way.
The flexibility of camping means you can be surrounded by the breathtaking winter landscape and save money, as camping is often cheaper than traditional accommodation.
What’s more, having your own camping vehicle gives you independence, so you can explore remote ski resorts and enjoy the company of like-minded people.
After a day on the slopes, the cozy camping life offers the ideal opportunity for relaxation and freedom.
Skiing while camping thus creates a unique combination of adventure, community and an inexpensive experience of nature.

Ski course Blitz preparation: first steps on skis

Here you will find videos that give you good tips on what to expect in a ski course.

Ski course preparation in just three minutes

Here you will learn your first steps on skis using the movement basics of the German Ski Association.
Starting with the ascent on a slightly inclined slope, the ascent with the chairlift and the first run.
The focus is on braking and the plow position for slower skiing so that you don’t have any problems even on wilder runs on steeper slopes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg3MVrVkqZw

From plow to parallel: beginners video with tips for holding

Here you will also find exercises for skiing.
It explains how to move from the plow position to the parallel position.
This makes it easier to ski down steeper slopes in a stable manner.
Your posture is also addressed again and you are shown great tips on how to shift your weight better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1mFJBsbWaU

Tips for beginners: learning to ski

When skiing, you first have your boots, which are connected to your skis via a binding.
These often have a snap-in function so that the skis come off easily in the event of a fall.
But before we start with the falls, here are a few tips for skiing.

This is how it works: Starting, braking & steering

Start by assuming the basic position.
Place your feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees, hold your hands slightly forward with your ski poles and shift your body’s center of gravity to the middle.
Make sure you don’t fall backwards, as this makes skiing much more strenuous.
To start off, press the rail legs against your boots and you should glide off slowly.
Once you are moving, you can regulate your speed when edging up and down, especially at the beginning.
To do this, use the outside of your skis in smaller turns.
For the turns, it makes sense to go from an inclined position to an active upward movement.
This means that you stretch your body and legs just before a turn.
Then turn your feet and legs in the desired direction of your turn.
To do this, you also shift your body’s center of gravity in this direction.
Here are the beginnings of skiing step by step:

1. Practice on a flat slope first
2. Hands forward
3. Press your shin against the ski boot
4. Edging up & down (using the edges of the skis when turning)
5. Using the body’s center of gravity
6. Active upward movement (stretch your body and legs just before the bend)
7. Afterwards: Foot & leg rotation

Caution: Common mistakes & how to avoid them

Caution tip: Try not to learn too much to the inside, as this could cost you your balance and don’t push your inside shoulder backwards.
It is a good idea to practice on a flat slope first to minimize the risk of injury.
It is also helpful to practise your balance before your first ride.
Most common mistakes:

• Back position (bending forward too much)
• Inside position (lean outwards too much in bends)
• Rotation (leave inner shoulder in front)

Winter sports!
Skiing, snowboarding, climbing & co.

Here are even more great winter sports.

Climbing in: ice axes & crampons up the mountain

You can not only whizz down the mountains on skis, but also climb them back up again.
Armed with ice axes and crampons, you can climb up frosty rocks and frozen waterfalls.
Ice climbing is a fascinating way to actively explore the icy environment while winter camping.
However, caution is advised, as ice climbing involves certain risks.
To prepare you for this experience in the midst of ice and snow, we offer numerous tips on courses, the necessary equipment and important safety measures:

• Learn ice climbing

Winter hiking: Paths through wintry landscapes

But you can enjoy the mountains not only on skis.
Winter hiking allows you to hike through nature in a relaxed manner, even when it’s freezing cold.
Many hiking trails are also cleared or graded in winter, so you can go hiking even when the mountains are covered in snow.
But even if the snow is still lying, you can still go for a hike.
To make sure it works, here are three different ways to get through the snow – from hiking boots to snowshoes:

• Learn to hike in winter

Learn to snowboard: try something new

Finally, here is a close relative of skis.
Did you know that with a bit of skiing experience, you can also learn to snowboard more easily?
It’s definitely worth giving it a try.
All you need to do is rent a snowboard, that’s all the equipment you need.
However, it also makes sense to take a course.
You can learn everything you need to know before you get on a snowboard for the first time here:

• Learn to snowboard