The first day back on snow is an exciting one. You survived a long summer and a boring fall. Maybe you did some training for the ski season ahead, maybe you took it easy and stuck to the couch/beach chairs. But now ski season is back, you made it to the mountain, and you’ve clipped into your skis for the first time since last spring. Should you hit the slopes at full speed, going straight to the hardest terrain open? According to Level 4 Ski instructor Darren Turner, there’s definitely a right way and a wrong way to get things going.
According to Darren, the best way to get things going again is to start on an easier, familiar slope. Choose something that’s not too flat but still pretty gentle, and repeat the run a handful of times to get your brain used to skiing again. Start slowly at around 50% effort before building your way up, and work to feel out your skis, your boots, and the snow. Focus on strong fundamentals throughout the first day, ensuring that everything is in working order before you start to add a bit of spice and creativity to your turns.
