Nordic Skiing Basics

Hi, I'm Steve Haims, an instructor at the Sun Valley Nordic Center. Today, we’re going to talk about three basic skills that every skier needs; stopping, climbing and turning around. First the turn around, I simply place my tails over my skiis together and then my tips. Tail and tips; notice how I'm following my skiis around with my eyes.

To come back I'm simply going to bring the tails together and the tips together. The tails and tips and this is called the star turn. Next is how do I slow down or stop. If you’ve ever going out pine skiing you certainly know how to use a snow plow. I like to teach people get their hands in front of their hips, their knees bent and their eyes forward and simple allow the heels of the feet to move away from one another. Edge of the skiis in to the inside edge, apply pressure and you will slow yourself down to a stop.

From here I can even use pressure on one skier or another to turn myself. Next, we’re going to talk about climbing hills. It’s just the opposite of the snow plow. I'm going to let my feet move out into the duck walk or the herringbone. Get my pressure to be inside of the skiis and step concisely up the hill using my poles of course to help with balance and proportion. It’s really important to use small concise steps up the hill. Otherwise you end up spreading your feet too far and falling on your legs.

Thanks for coming to the Sun Valley Nordic Center today, I'm Steve Haims.