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Preface - The idea of writing this ski training manual was prompted by the sort "I remark I have frequently heard erstwhile good ski runners make: «At one time I felt I was a regular champion on skis, but with all these new techniques it's impossible to keep abreast of  things. •

01. Equipment - To get the maximum enjoyment out of ski-ing, it is very important to have the right son of equipment

The actual make of ski, etc., is not necessarily decisive. But what is important is the choice of equipment best suited to the kind of skiing you intend to do.

The pictures in this book illustrate the most suitable equipment [or touring, as well  as  for  downhill  running  andslalom.

02. Gripping sticks - No matter what kind of  ski ing you do, your stick should be there to assist you. The strap must he held correctly if the wrist is to obtain correct support.

I. Thrust your hand through the loop of the strap from below.

03. Turning Level - Let us assume that you have got your skis on, your sticks correctly held, and before sett­ing of we'll practise a few quick turns on the level.

Raise the ski well oil the ground, and with the sticks to assist you in maintaining balance, you will have no difficulty in carrying out this turn.

04. Ski-ing Level - For those first steps across the level you will find the so-called diagonal gait the simplest and most natural way of  skiing.

This really means, as in ordinary walking, moving opposite leg .and aim Forward .11 the same time — right leg and left arm, followed by   left  leg and right arm, etc.

05. Herring-Boning - Once you can move across  level country on your skis, the time has come to attempt .1 sleep climb. Frequently you will line! it impossible to ski straight up a slope.

Even with the assistance of sticks and arms the going will be too heavy. "Herring-boning" is, an easy and efficient me­thod of climbing

06. Skating Turn - When touring across undulating coun­try the skating turn is an effective method of negotiating trees and similar obstacles.

This turn enables the ski-er to change direction quickly, while at the same time increasing his speed.  The skating turn should also be tried with a double poling action immediately before and after the actual turn.

07. Traversing Uphill - Making your way  up a long slope you will find the least tiring way is it “tack”. just like a sailing-ship.

1. Both skis parallel, at light angles to the line of the slope.
2. Weight on the right ski. and the left ski raised and pointing in the new direction.  Left stick thrust into the ground close to the left foot.

08. Snow-Ploughing - You've readied the top of the hill, and you're now going to ski down for the first time. You first problem is to determine your speed, and to have your skis under complete control as you ski downhill. For this purpose the "snow-plough" position is the correct method of braking.

09. Half Snow Plough - Running obliquely down a slope a less pronounced “snow plough” position of the skis will, as a rule, suffice to brake, and control the skis.

When you come to learning your first turns, you will find this position, and the practice it gives in the distribution of the weight, of great importance.

Place the weight on the outer (lower) ski by bending the corresponding knee.  This ski should be edged a certain amount, while the upper ski should be flat on the snow, with comparatively little weight on it.

10. Snow Plough Turns - Learning to "snow-plough" will teach you the correct position of skis and body required for executing turns to the right and to the left. Transference of weight from one ski to another, combined with body torsion, will enable you to change direction at will. Ever)1 movement must be carried out rhythmically, and your skis should retain the full "snow-plough" position while the turn is being carried out. Make a note of ever) movement and twist of the body — use of the hips, etc., — from the first picture, and throughout the series illustrating the three "snow-plough" turns.

11. Stem Turn - The hallmark of the expert skier is to have lull control of his ski  turning, at  all speeds and  in  all  sorts of snow.

The stem turn — which is the basis of practically all advanced turns — is the turn which naturally comes first. It is a turn which can be executed on all sorts of snow, at moderate speeds. II you master this turn, so that you can use it without any difficulty, all subsequent turns, including turns at speed, will be nine h easier to accomplish.

12. Stem Christie - By now you should be getting more and more confident, and you probably feel you'd like to learn to execute a turn at greater speed.

The Christiania or 'Christie' turns are ideal for this purpose. The Stem Christie is more or less a high-speed turn, which differs from the stem turn mainly in that the position of the skis at the completion of the turn is different. In order to acquire practice in completing a turn with parallel skis, a stem christie should be learnt in three different phases.

13. Transfer Weight - In executing any turn there is a transfer of weight from one ski to the other. In the turns so far dealt with the weight is transferred from the inner to the outer ski. In a turn to the-right, start off with the weight on the right ski. transferring the weight on the outer ski with a rhythmical swing of the hips. Observe the sequence of movements carried out by the skier in this turn — a Stem Christie executed at speed.

14. Stop Christie - II your ambition  is to execute a turn which  is calculated to impress the onlookers, a turn carried out at lull speed in deep snow which brings you to an abrupt standstill in a flurry of powder-snow, — then the Stop Christie is the turn for you.

It is not as graceful as other speed turns, hut is used a great deal  for stopping.

15. Telemark Turn - This turn is getting less and less common. In the olden days ii was used a great deal by ski jumpers in completing their jump, with a turn on the flat.

In Central Europe, however, ski runners still cultivate this turn. and to be able to do the Telemark to both sides, when traveling down a steep slope, is still a hallmark of the expert. But it's not easy. You need great steadiness and control over your skis to carry out this turn.

16. Brief Survey - In my school of ski-ing the following is the sequence taught for pupils equipped with touring ski-.:

1. The skating turn.   Swift  change of  direc­tion.   A good kick-off at the moment  of turning increases the --peed.
2. "Snow-plough" braking. The simplest way ol   braking  on   skis.
3. "Snow-plough" turn. One or more turns at slow speed, concentrating on practising the transference of  weight.

17. Downhill - To get the maximum thrills and enjoyment out of skiing you need to feel quite at home on your skis, to have complete control over them and your body at all times, to be able to swoop down and slope, curving gracefully into a turn at a speed that will bring the tears into your eyes, while the wind whistles past your ears, and a cloud of powder snow shoots into the air as you execute your turn. Down. down, faster and faster, negotiating  bumps which  would  upset  the  less expert.

18. Downhill Running - Begin by practising on gentle slopes, with a gradual change of gradient, and then yon will be able to tackle steeper slopes. Ski down the slope, at first standing upright, and then with a more and more forward Hexing of the knees. There are essentially three positions for downhill running: upright, medium position, and the crouch. The ankles, too, should be flexed, thus enabling the ski-er to place the weight well forward, and to achieve a more correct position.

19. Negotiating Bumps - A-, you reach the other side of the depression lower the body by bending your knees. II you practise this technique you will Find that when negotiating a depression your skis will be on the snow the whole time, and you will achieve a smooth flowing movement.

20. Tempo Turn - The very name suggests the purpose of this turn. At great speed — or, if you like, at accelerated tempo — you can turn to It'll and to right as you ski downhill. This is the turn which the expert ski-runner delights in carrying out, leaving an "ex­haust" of powder snow to mark his trail

The characteristic features of the tempo turn are its graceful rhythmical movements. At great speed it's no use attempting abrupt powerful movements.

21. Slalom - Slalom is nothing more nor less than an exacting test of your turning technique. Slalom flags are set up on a slope of appro­priate gradient, arranged in "gates" in such a way that the ski-er's mastery of turning technique is tested as thoroughly  as possible.

A correctly sited slalom course should have "How"  and  rhythm.

22. Armwork - Frequently a turn has to be carried out very abruptly, and at slow speed. On such occasions the ski-stick is of tremendous assi­stance. By taking some of your weight on the stick. on the side to which you are turning, at the moment the weight is transferred to the outer ski, you will find that the turn is much easier to execute. I lie stick should be advanced by bending the elbow-outward, and not downwards.

23. Flush - The skier's problem in  this case is negotiating a  Flush. First of all he must find out from which side to tackle in combination of this kind. It all depends upon the position of the exit gate. Hut the important thing is to maintain good "height" for each gate. By anticipating the gate, and turning before he actually readies it. he will avoid losing height, and he will also obtain greater speed throughout  his run.

24. Hairpin - The important thing in this case is to turn round the second of the three posts without losing height or time.

1. Full  speed  from  the  preceding  gate  to  the  hairpin.   The position of the leading stick marks the beginning of  the turn.  I he transfer of weight  for the turn starts.
2. The weight is swiftly shifted over to the- outer  ski. The body rounds the post with inches to spare. Knees are Hexed forward.
3. The left hip is thrust forward, and at thesame time the left knee is flexed inwards in order to edge the outer ski as the new  line of direction is assumed.

25. Waxing - When you are ski-touring the better the glide you get on your skis, the more effortless your progress will be.  For this reason, when in doubt.  It’s a good tip to have your skis on the slippery side rather than on the tacky side.

In choosing the type of wax to use, snow conditions are all-important.  It’s always useful to get to know various types of wax.  You this right by putting more the same wax under your skis.

26. Wrong Waxing - If the waxing you have chosen doesn't give enough slide, apply a little of the wax shown be­low adjacent to ii and in the direction in which the arrow   is   pointing. If   the   waxing   you   have   chosen   tends to make you slip back,  apply a little of the wax   which   is  shown   adjacent   to   it and   in tin   direction  of the arrow.

27. Training Exercises - Every ski-er knows how important it is to be in good condition and in training when the winter season starts.

The best way to achieve this is to carry out a number of systematic exercises.

It just isn't any inn to discover, when you're ski-ing in the mountains, that you're not in first-class shape. You lose half the fun of skiing.

28. Conclusion - In conclusion.  When   ski   touring   in   the   mountains   or   in the woods, with all the variety this offers — skimming down a slope at lull speed, turning with consummate ease, with the pleasurable sensation all the time that your body is obeying your command, in a series of smooth rhythmical movements that assist you to defy the laws of gravity, you'll enjoy ski-ing at its very best.

THE END