COMMON FAULTS AND FAILINGS
(Mostly dealt with already, but repeated here to impress the beginner).
I.—Kit.
(1) Too heavy clothes. Woolly clothes. Have light, wind-proof, smooth materials.
(2) Tight boots with thin soles. Have large strong boots which won’t pinch the toes, even with three pairs of socks on, and which won’t buckle in the middle of the sole.
(3) Ski brittle, of bad shape, or of great weight. Get some one who knows good ski to choose for you, or, if this is impossible, send to a good maker for his best.
(4) Too short gloves. Have long gloves to draw over the sleeves of your coat.
II.—Condition of the snow.
(1) Abusing the snow. The better the ski-runner the less he complains, and vice versâ. Notice how the good men manage.
(2) Continuing a tour when danger may be expected. Only greenhorns and fools do so. Turn back, and try another day.
(3) Waxing ski when snow is just binding. Best not. The slight clinging will help you up, and won’t interfere seriously with the run. Probably, too, it will be colder higher up.
III.—Technique.
(1) Short waddling steps on the level. Lean forward. Slide.
(2) Can’t get up hill. Raise front of ski and stamp. Don’t go too steeply. Go slowly, but keep at it.
(3) Rushing up in front of others when on tour. Don’t show off. Probably you are one of the worst of the party; in any case, you are only annoying the others.
(4) Side stepping, ski cross. Raise heel of lower ski. (See p. 60.)
(5) Can’t start down hill. Be quick about it, and then you can.
(6) Legs apart and feet level. Keep legs close together and one foot forward.
(7) Leaning back on stick. Practise without one.
(8) Falling inwards when making a down-hill curve. Lean forward! Throw the weight on to the lower ski.
(9) Telemark swing. Can’t get round. Raise heel of the back foot.
(10) Christiania swing. Ski runs off at a tangent. Hold ski together. Swing on both of them.
(11) Not learning to turn to both right and left. Don’t keep on practising that which you can already do.
(12) Dropping over a jump without sats, or recklessly hurling yourself over. Both forms of funking. Keep cool and think of your form.
(13) Jumping too late. Don’t go quite so fast, and begin to straighten up earlier.
(14) General stiffness. Don’t get into any fixed style of running. Keep on changing your ground and trying new things.