How to get up after falling on skis may not be the first thing you think to learn before skiing for the first time, but it should be.
It is inevitable that you are going to fall more than a few times throughout your skiing journey. Not knowing how to get back up safely can lead to more serious problems. But if you’re methodical about it, you can easily get right back up and continue to enjoy your ski day!
Keep reading to learn 3 things not to do when getting back up after falling on skis, and three ways to recover safely and easily.
Three Things Not To Do When Recovering From A Ski Fall
1. Not being cognizant of your surroundings
When you fall on skis, it’s easy to forget that there are other skiers around you still moving and grooving around the slopes.
Be sure to check your surroundings and make sure you’re not going to get hit while recovering from your fall. If you are in the middle of the slopes, scoot your way off to the side until you feel like you can take your time standing up.
It’s important that you take your time and stay calm while recovering from your fall, but also be wary of what is going on around you.
2. Trying to get back up while your skis are facing downhill
If your skis are facing downhill while you stand back up, you will find yourself flying back down the mountain before you’re ready to do so.
Instead, your skis should always be pointing perpendicular to the mountain while you recover from a fall in order to avoid having your skis slip out from underneath you at a bad time.
3. Not having the right stance to support yourself
It’s important to create a stable base for yourself when you’re on the ground before you begin getting back up from your fall. This will make it so you don’t slip and fall while recovering.
Keep your skis close together so you have a stable base to push off of. Keep your skis as close to your body as possible so you have less distance to travel meaning less room for error. And lastly as you begin to stand, be sure to keep your weight in your ski boots rather than behind you in order to avoid an additional fall.
Instead of making those mistakes, try these three techniques that will help you recover from falling on skis safely and easily. No matter which technique you choose, it’s important that you take a deep breath, remember to stay calm, and brush it off as quickly as possible. It’s all part of the learning process!
Technique #1: Take Your Skis Off
If getting back up while your skis are on sounds a little terrifying to you and you’re in a safe location such as the side of a groomed trail or in a flat area, you can just take your skis off completely in order to get back up. This is more time consuming, but it will make you feel more stable. To get back up after falling on skis by taking your skis off, start by taking a deep breath and staying calm. If you have a ski still on your foot, unclip it using your ski pole and plant it into the snow off to the side.
From here, use your hands and arms to push yourself up from the ground. If you're having trouble getting up, you can try using your ski poles to help you balance as you rise to a standing position. Once you feel stable, you can put your skis back on and continue skiing.
Technique #2: When your skis are on
When you’ve fallen and your skis are still on, all you have to focus on is getting back up without sliding down the mountain.
The easiest way to do this is to first, put both of your ski poles together in one hand. Then, roll onto your belly and get on your hands and knees, positioning yourself perpendicular to the hill while keeping your feet wide apart. It’s important that you are facing sideways to the mountain here so you don’t start gliding down the mountain again before you’re ready to.
Place your skis on the ground in a V-shape with the tips pointed out at the tails pointed toward each other. Once you feel like you’re in a good position, it’s time to begin standing up.
Bring your hips toward the sky and slowly start walking your hands back to your feet. It’s important that you keep your weight on your hands here until you feel balanced enough to stand all the way up with your weight on your skis. Once you’re standing all the way up and are ready to head back down the mountain, first look both ways and uphill. Then, slowly make your way back to parallel and continue on your merry way!
Technique #3: If You’re Not As Flexible
If you’re not that flexible or would just rather have the support of your ski poles, try this technique:
First position your skis close together while facing perpendicular to the mountain, as if you were about to do a side plank. Get on one elbow and then plant one of your poles on the ground next to your ski. Place your hand on the pole then grip and push yourself up with your arm. As you do this you can slowly start to lift your hips and toward the sky and transition your weight onto your skis as you feel comfortable.
As you rise to a standing position, bring your other ski back under you and use your poles to keep your balance until you are all the way up. You may need to make a few adjustments to your stance and positioning before you feel comfortable and stable on your skis again.
When you’re ready, just make your way back to parallel and keep sending it down the mountain!