Page 14 - 2021 Amazing Winter Mountain Holidays

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INTERMEDIATE SKIING:
TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Now you’ve started to get the hang of the slopes, it’s time to put your new skills to the test. Here’s what to keep in mind when you’re fine-tuning your technique and tackling trickier grounds.
WHAT’S NEXT
BACK TO BASICS
• As confident as you might be about having conquered your basic techniques, a little refresher wouldn’t hurt. As BASI ski instructor Steve Marsh says, “If you can nail all the basics really well, it will help you master the mountain better as you progress to intermediate skiing. A lot of people skip through things – for example, they might be a little lazy about standing on the outside ski – which will make steeper slopes hard.”
FLEX ZONE
• It’sallaboutflexiontechniques.Turnyourskisusingyourfeet,androllyourankles towards the upper slope.
• Always sustain a good bend (flex) in both ankles and knees.
SLIP AND SLIDE
• Takeonslipperyicepatcheswiththerightposturebydraggingthepolesinthe snow on either side of you.
• Ifyouencountertrickysections,learntoside-slip(inchyourwayslowlydown, without sliding forwards or backwards).
FIND YOUR BALANCE
• Nowyou’reinsteeperterrain,it’sallthemoreimportanttoupyourbalance and coordination. Try cycling or hiking with a backpack before your ski holiday.
THE MIDDLE GROUND
• Keepaneyeoutforskiingspotsthattestyournewfoundskills,butdon’t push you beyond your limits. Consider Club Med Tomamu, the newest Club Med ski resort in Asia, an intermediate skier’s haven. Also consider Paradiski, the largest combined ski area in Europewhich is home to
4 Club Med resorts.
DON’T BE A BACKSEAT DRIVER
• It’sacommonerrorthateveryintermediateskierdoesatleastonce. Skiing in the backseat means leaning too far back as you go down the hill. Learn to put pressure on the front of your skis so you’re better at speed on steeps, maintaining control through
jumps and drops.