The Snowsports Learning Curve-
Making Turns Is Easier Than Ever
By Jenn Weede

Falling in the lift line, feeling like you've been run over by a Mack truck, tearing your ACL on the first day out-the experience of learning to ski or snowboard prompts everyone to pull out his or her worst horror story. Fortunately, most of these horror stories are just that: stories; tall tales where the entertainment factor often increases with the level of embellishment. You may fall while getting off the lift, you may be run over with joy, and you may crack a joke, but chances are, even your ego won't end up bruised. Advances in teaching and equipment make learning to ski and snowboard easier and more fun than ever.

"All it takes to ski or snowboard is an ability to balance while sliding, and this can be learned," said Earl Saline, an American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI) professional who teaches at Colorado's Winter Park Ski Resort. "There is no 'right' or 'wrong' when sliding downhill. As long as someone is safe, having fun, and smiling when skiing or riding, then they're doing something right."

Often, people don't think they have what it takes, are afraid of not fitting in, or worry that learning will be difficult. Some people think only young, fit, "extreme" athletes ski or snowboard. Age may prevent others from taking a lesson. In fact, learning to ski or snowboard requires little more than enrolling in a lesson and showing up eager to learn.

Snowsports welcome beginners of all ages. Kids start as early as age 2 and many adults ski well into their 70s. (My dad learned to ski at age 56 and has skied every year since.) And while physical fitness and natural talent may help, a positive attitude will do much more for you than buff biceps or washboard abs.

Still, negative experiences and perpetuated myths prevent many individuals from experiencing the sheer joy of gliding on snow. If these reasons for hesitation sound familiar, perhaps it's time to look at learning to ski and snowboard in the twenty-first century.

"I was terrified!" said Kiesa Kay, a 40-year-old writer and mom. "I tried skiing once in my youth and was a hurtling avocado. Then I tried once more in my 30s, and was humiliated because going to the rope area, I couldn't go forward and ended up flailing backwards yelling and falling over in front of my husband's friends. It was so humiliating."

"So at 40-now divorced-I decided to try again, with a lesson," Kay added. "The instructors at Eldora [in Colorado] were wonderful. They had me start on a bunny slope and took me through what I needed to know step by step. And the new short skis made learning much easier."

Kay's experience is common. Many adults are haunted by memories of unsuccessful attempts to ski or snowboard, and they may fear learning something new (and possibly failing again!). More often than not, though, adults who venture back onto the snow today are amazed at the difference modern equipment and teaching techniques make. Who knew that learning to ski or snowboard could be fun?

The Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI) have helped elevate ski and snowboard lessons throughout the country, and many resorts work to help instructors obtain certification and become better teachers in general. Today's teachers are a far cry from the Austrian ski racer-instructor 20 years ago whose only advice was "Bend zee knees!"

Instructors are now trained to help you understand skiing and snowboarding, regardless of your proficiency level, learning style, or how comfortable you are (or aren't) on the snow. For example, to help you escape the feared face plant, some instructors will hold your hands while you learn to balance on the snowboard. Others will teach you the "falling leaf" technique, similar to sideslipping on skis. Because it allows the rider to move downhill without having to link turns, falling leaf is a sort of safety mechanism that's useful when navigating challenging terrain. Many instructors will spend time helping you overcome your fear of the chairlift so your natural ability to ski can come out. Modern teaching techniques all but guarantee you'll find your balance while sliding on snow, and even enjoy the process.

New gear also deserves credit for making learning fun. Shorter parabolic skis with a soft flex facilitate turn initiation. Some companies, such as Burton, have even developed the Learn-to-Ride line of beginner gear, which includes shorter snowboards with soft flex and good sidecut to enable you to carve turns at lower speeds. For both skiing and snowboarding, comfortable boots and easy-entry, easy-exit bindings mean you expend less effort when dealing with gear and have more energy to focus on developing your skiing and riding skills.

Having gear that fits properly and is well adjusted will pay dividends to your on-snow experience. For example, boots that are too big will prevent you from being able to accurately navigate your skis or board. Edging movements are infinitely more effective when you're wearing boots that fit. Dull edges can "catch" and trip you up, whereas sharp edges help you hold on through slick sections.

Think skiing and snowboarding mean you'll spend your day freezing? Think again. Ski and snowboard apparel is designed specifically to keep you warm and dry, and it really does. Waterproof and breathable shells buffer you from the elements even when you're skiing in whiteout conditions. New soft-shell garments are ideal for windy conditions or for people who tend to sweat when skiing. And for those who are cold-blooded, down jackets with technical features such as waterproof coating, pit zips, and powder skirts ensure you'll be warmer than a sunbather on Daytona Beach.

If better instruction and foolproof gear still isn't enough to quell those nerves, consider these options.

* Take a lesson. Again and again, experience indicates that taking a lesson is the secret to learning to ski and snowboard. I spent a week body-slamming the earth with a snowboard strapped to my feet and repeatedly trudging up the hill to do it again. Then I took a two-hour lesson, and I was cruising down intermediate runs by lunchtime. Similar testaments are too plentiful to count. Take a lesson.

*Take a private lesson. Private lessons allow you to voice your concerns, have an experienced professional address them, and get the direct attention you need to overcome each one. Private lessons are also a good choice for someone worried about being the least talented student in a group lesson.

*Take a gender-specific lesson. Women's clinics in particular provide a "safe place" to learn. They're often taught by women who are knowledgeable about how women learn differently than men, and they teach accordingly.

"I have lived with physical fear being a significant inhibitor of learning new things," said 59-year-old Sheila Dierks, who learned to ski at age 38 and snowboard at 58. "I tried skiing with my son teaching me, but my big breakthrough came at Women's Wednesdays at Eldora [in Colorado], a wonderful program. All of a sudden there were women who understood and taught how women learn. I have gone for several years and always improve and gain confidence. Now I can ski some blacks and moguls."

*Take a friend or family for support. Joining with friends to learn something new provides an inevitable cheering squad and likely a lot of laughs. Plus, they may understand something in a different way than you do, which they can share to help you learn. The dynamics of knowing that caring people support you in learning is powerful encouragement.

"I learned to ski at age 35 when a close friend died of ovarian cancer," explained 44-year-old Laurie Fisher. "Her funeral was December 30, and it snowed like crazy on the way to the cemetery. Although I generally dreaded winter and cold, I decided life was too short. The next day, my husband, two children, and I drove up to the small slopes of western New York and enrolled in ski lessons. Since then our ski weekends have become a fun family event, something we can all enjoy at our own levels and moan about in the hot tub."

Try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing first to experiment with being outside and on snow. Even going sledding and reliving the spontaneous and unstoppable giggles of sliding on snow will help you gain the confidence you need to realize skiing and snowboarding are fun, safe, and well within your ability.

"Fear is the biggest impediment to learning," warned Deb Willits, a PSIA-certified instructor at Telluride Ski and Snowboard School in Colorado. "Fear not: There is always a way to teach and make improvements for every student."

More than anything, it's about having fun. If you show up with an open mind and positive attitude, you will learn and have fun, and you'll probably even get off the lift without falling.