Sunday, January 2, 2011

Four Alpine Skiing Rules to Follow for Safety on the Slopes

By Audrey Olefson


It doesn't matter if you are a regular skier or only get to do it a few times each year, you already know the feeling you get on a good run down a trail or slope. At the end of a long, hard, day of skiing and fun you can sit by the fire and enjoy dinner, drinks and friends.

We accept the dangers for what they are and do our best to avoid them. It's part of enjoying the sport and we are all aware of it. So in this article we'd just like to talk about several skiing safety tips; a reminder to the experienced and the voice of wisdom to the beginners.

Many accidents and mishaps are caused in all areas of life due to using the wrong kind of equipment. As a general rule this is true of all sports, recreational activity and even skiing. You should always use the proper ski equipment for the environment you'll be in as well as the kind of skiing you'll be doing. Borrowing equipment is not a great idea. You can also rent any kind of ski equipment you may need from a professional ski shop at the location where you'll be vacationing. You may be able to rent from a location close to home and haul your equipment with you. These shops offer assistance to new skiers and old alike for proper equipment fittings.

Know what your limitations are in terms of your skiing ability and physical condition. You can easily get yourself in trouble if you ski on trails that are obviously above your technical level. The ski shops and the trails will have signs that say that the trails are for beginners or experts. The trails will have categories such as Green Circle, Blue Square and Black Diamond, which let you know the skill level you need to ski safely. Most skiing accidents occur when the skier is momentarily distracted for whatever reason. So continue being sharp and concentrate on the terrain and handling your skis.

Take a breath if you must. Sit down and take a minute if you feel tired and worn out. You probably are not an Olympic trainer. So it doesn't make sense to wear yourself out when you are just enjoying yourself. You really should go to the lodge and build up your strength by eating, drinking, getting warm and resting. It will amaze you to discover how much energy you use while skiing. If you don't routinely exert yourself in this manner, then you should be careful. The next day when you wake up, your muscles will be screaming about your skiing abilities. Just attempt to have fun, but don't strain your muscles or make them sore. Don't exert yourself to the point where you tear your muscles or strain a tendon or ligament.

Always go by the rules of the skiing environment. They are put there by people who are intimately aware of the particular terrain, and you would be smart to respect their knowledge. Never leave the trails because you don't know what you will find and there could be a drop off ahead. If you ever go into an area that you don't know about, then these tips and guidelines become even more important and should be acknowledged. We say you should get pamphlets about the location you want to ski in because they will have information about that area. You can also talk to the locals in the ski shops in the immediate area, too. When you are skiing with others, remember that people in front of you as well as those below you have the right of way.

If this is your first time on the ski slopes, take some lessons. Most, if not all, ski resorts offer lessons right there at their location. These lessons are typically given by qualified ski instructors and for the majority of situations they'll be able to get you doing at least basic maneuvers in very little time. Falling properly is the most important reason for this training so that you can avoid injury. There is not one thing to feel insecure about when taking these lessons, even experienced skiers will take them from time to time to hone their skills.

Muscles need to be warmed before you head for the slopes or trail. You can do light calisthenics to get your blood moving and warm-up your muscles. It's important to follow that with some muscular stretches especially in the legs. Physical fitness is only one of the requirements of this sport. Cross country is more demanding because you go for a long time without stopping. Downhill skiing requires more upper body and leg strength.

It is far from impossible to have a great day on the slopes even in crowded conditions. What makes it all possible is safety. Yes, skiing is fun but it's a unique sport and recreation simply due to the inherent possibilities for injury to self and others. So stay safe so you can come back again.

Even though tons of people worldwide have loved skiing for years, it is sport that should be taken seriously due to the possible injury involved. This is why you must take time and learn the skiing safety advisories and tips as you go along learning to ski. It is pretty easy to learn about ski safety and it might possibly save your life and somebody else in the long run.




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