When learning or practicing cross-country skiing, it is quite normal for skiers to fall – all you need to do is to get up the right way and resume.
How to Get Up After a Fall?
To get up after a fall in cross-country skiing, start by getting both the skis in parallel to each other. If you feel the skis are tangled, it’s a good idea to roll over on your back and lift your feet in the air. It is a nice way to make them parallel in the air and put your feet back on the ground. Now follow these simple steps:
- Step 1: Release your grip on the poles so that you can use your hands for support when getting up.
- Step 2: With the skis parallel on the ground, crawl forward so your feet are behind your body and your knees are on top of their respective skis.
- Step 3: Sliding one foot forward but still slightly parallel to the other one, hold and plant your poles and put pressure on the poles to lift you up.
What to Do If You Fall: Tips for Beginners?
As a beginner, falling means that you are learning! Here are some tips that can help you get up and be back on track in no time.
- If you fall when going downhill or uphill, always place your skis across the trail to ensure that you do not slide when trying to get up.
- If you have fallen in a position where your skis are going across the trail, it is a good idea to use your arms to support your body instead of the poles.
- When trying to get up, use your hips to pivot your body while getting support from the hands.
- Many beginners worry about colliding with the approaching skiers while they try to get up after a fall. In such cases, move your body out of the groomed tracks as quickly as you can.
- If you are struggling to align your skis in the right order when getting up, put your skis across the slope and take off your bindings to untangle your legs. Now using your free foot along with the hand and poles, put pressure on the ground and get up. You can dust off the snow and put your gear back on to continue skiing.
Final Thoughts
As a beginner, take comfort in the fact that even pros and Olympians sometimes lose their balance and fall. The key is to know how to get up safely, and before you know it, you will be back on track!
