Drove: How to start skiing
Snow, cold, ice and blizzard are not a reason to stay at home or go to boring gyms. Last week, the editor of the site about running Ksenia Afanasyeva told Wonderzine about the rules of winter runs, and this time skier Maria Belokurova shared her experience of downhill skiing.
About physical training and warm-up
Maria Belokurovaauditor
First you need to understand what you mean by skiing: sports or just one type of winter fun. When it comes to sports, there are very different rules on the slope, clothing and training. The latter is undoubtedly necessary, even if you just decided to get out with friends on the slope.
It will be easier to ride if you used to do any other sport (especially well, if there was a clear load on your legs). Because of the design of the ski boots, you are in a half-ride all the time: while driving from a hill, stand or wait in line for the cable car, your legs do not rest. (If you have never played sports, you can prepare for the season yourself, for example, using the Snow Fitness Workouts HD application. -Note ed.)
Most likely, experienced instructors will say that warm-up is necessary. In my experience, no special warm-up is needed, because as long as you walk with skis and ski boots from the car or equipment delivery point to the place where you will wear them and the descent, you will definitely be able to warm up.
About fear and behavior on a slope
First time always highly fearfully. For beginners, it is best to go through introductory training with an instructor or an experienced friend: without certain knowledge of technology, even going down the slope will be hard, not to enjoy riding.
You can’t just stand on skis, put sticks under you and rush in the speed stand, as avid skiers like to do under 60 years of age. Such unkind comments, which, in principle, are appropriate, really like to do: up. The man on the slope is not alone, and they all ride differently: someone likes to play "checkered", someone is afraid and does not control his speed yet - here the latter have a risk in the literal sense of the word to stumble upon these exposed sticks.
Do not bully sticks - this is the first rule of unspoken ski etiquette. The second is to generally try to keep these sticks with you, not waving them right and left and not poking the skis and boards of other guests. The third rule, in fact, is as old as the world: do not climb on the rampage. If you understand that you are not sure enough on the slope, do not go in the middle or get out on very difficult tracks, stopping for fear every three seconds.
The most important thing is to be attentive and careful, then no collisions will occur. There are excellent skiers who fly along the slope, for them it will not be difficult to overtake anyone. But usually these ride in the mountains of Austria and Italy, and not in the suburbs. So you need to be alert all the time and follow the track as the driver follows the road. At first it is better to choose the least dangerous route for beginners, where there are few people, and try your hand there. More complex will be in the teeth at least after several long sessions.
Equipment
Everything is simple here. If this is your first experience as a skier, it makes no sense to buy very expensive skis and boots. Prices in rental centers are quite adequate, only in each they are asked to leave a deposit in the amount of 20-30 thousand rubles or a passport (rental conditions can always be read on the sites of parks). But warm and high-quality ski pants and a jacket will definitely not be superfluous in the wardrobe: they can be put on the skating rink, and during the winter raid on the cottage. Ski clothing needs to be measured, because the choice is huge: different materials, colors, styles and gadgets like hidden pockets. I bought mine in the Kant store on the Nagornaya Street: there is a huge range and prices are lower than in the Sportmaster. By the way, on the websites of stores often things are sold cheaper than in the stores themselves.
The main manufacturers of ski clothing and equipment are Fisher, Rossignol, Salomon, Blizzard, Atomic and Völkl. Whatever clothes you choose, they must be aired. Alpine skiing implies active movement, so all skier clothing is not so warm, but it is ventilated and protected from the wind. I answer the possible question “But is it cold in the same place?”: Thermal underwear is put on under your pants and jacket (it can be ordered on the Internet - it will be cheaper than in any store). If you are still worried that you will freeze, you can wear a fleece jacket over your thermal underwear.
Ski boots should be as comfortable as possible and should not be pressed anywhere. Skis are for different types of riding (jumps and downhill, for example), there are skis for beginners and advanced athletes, there are wide and short, long and narrow - in general, the choice is huge, and you need to consult at least with a consultant . I was like a newbie buying Blizzard: they were wide and short, that is, more stable and maneuverable - it really helped at first when I realized that I had long sticks instead of legs.
With whom and where to ride
"Rolling" is better, of course, in the company of experienced: and the instructor may not be needed, and when you fall (and this will definitely happen the first time), you are guaranteed to be put on your feet. Falling on the slopes is a common thing, and no one makes a catastrophe out of it and does not pay special attention to the fallen person.
There are the main parks near Moscow: “Stepanovo”, “Volen”, Leonid Tyagachev Club, “Kant”. “Stepanovo” is cool because there are tracks almost under a kilometer. It is positioned as a slope for self-confident skiers, although it was much more interesting for me to study on a long track than on a short 400-meter track, where you just climbed up, and you are already standing in line for the funicular again. Volen Park has a more developed infrastructure (you can even stay overnight), there are fewer people there (I think, because of a higher price tag) and loyal staff. In the club, there are more people (especially schoolchildren and students - you can get there by train), and the slopes are not long and of medium difficulty. The sports complex "Kant" is located in the same place as the store itself. The tracks are boring there, but if there is no time to get to the normal complex, they will get off. In Moscow there are many other parks, but these, in my opinion, are the most pleasant.
About the snow and weather conditions in general: cool ride when it is not very cold (up to -5 ° C). It’s not necessary to be afraid that the snow will melt: there are guns in all the parks, which periodically add snow cover. And to ride very cool late in the evening or at night: there are fewer people and the atmosphere is cool.
