The best thing a new skier can do is to start with a relaxed and balanced body position, similar to a martial arts stance. Generally speaking, your feet are at hip width for men, shoulder width for women. Your hands need to be kept forward, always visible in your peripheral vision. Your knees should be slightly bent, enough so that there is an awareness of your shins pressing against the boot tongues. Weight is usually carried on the balls of your feet, and your awareness needs to include your feet and toes. In this stance, your body’s center of mass is carried forward on the skis, which makes it easier to turn.
Maintaining the correct body position and being able to relax are the keys to a successful downhill schuss, a straight downhill run, contrasting with a slalom, mogul, or ski jumping. Get assistance from a friend or ski teacher and start on a gentle slope. Make sure there is enough room to stop safely. Find a fairly flat area, and point your skis straight down the fall line, which is the imaginary line of gravity straight down a slope . Your skis should be parallel and about a foot apart, with your weight evenly distributed on them. Lean forward, bending at the ankles, knees, and hips. Do not bend forward at the waist. Let your legs absorb bumps by leaning forward and tucking your legs up as you go over the bumps. Remember: when schussing from deep snow to a hard surface or from packed snow to ice, lean slightly farther forward so that your skis cannot run away with you.
