sport

Skiing Tips for Beginners

Extreme / By

It is nice to try something new once in a while. It could be something simple or you could go ahead and do something extreme. What is important is to get to try something and who knows, you might enjoy.

There are various sports out there that you can give a try. There are some that are well known and could be done near you. There are also some even if it is well known but cannot be done at your place or exclusive at certain places. One of those is the skiing. Skiing is commonly found at cooler places such as Canada and Vermont. You would see skiing resorts in those places. If you had the chance to go to those places or even in other countries such as Switzerland or even Japan, why not give skiing a try. If you are a beginner, you will definitely be assisted, but here are some tips that will help you:

1. Know about the Place

It could be at the same or another country, but no matter what, you should familiarize yourself with it. If you are a beginner, there will surely be trails that are available for you. But even if that is the case, you should know about the trails and slopes and the difficulty of it for you. Ask questions about them with some staff or even some experienced ones that will help you. 

2. Know the Essential Gear

For skiing, you will have your gear that you would use and also essential for your safety. Here are the essentials that you will need:

  1. Ski Helmet – used for your head’s protection.
  2. Ski Goggles – not everyone wears goggles but it is helpful as a protection from wind and other particles that may distract you.
  3. Ski Socks – you cannot just use any socks when you ski. You should have one that will not only protect you from cold but also stay up and support you.
  4. Ski Boots – should fit snuggly around your leg, but not so tight as to cause pain or damage. The idea is not only to give you some support, but also to keep snow and water out of your boot. It should definitely not be cutting off circulation to your feet.
  5. Ski Poles – used for balance and propulsion. Find ones that are best for you and learn how to handle them correctly.
  6. Skis – a narrow strip of semi-rigid material worn underfoot to glide over snow.

3. Know the Basics

Now it is time for you to ski. The first thing you need to know is properly putting your skis on. Then after that, you should learn about the proper positioning, stance, and how will you flex and gaze your body. When practicing, you should learn about the following:

  1. Warm up
  2. Learn about the different kinds of slopes
  3. Learn how to stop to avoid dangers
  4. Do not go to fast but take it slow
  5. Round off turns and could be good for controlling speed
  6. Slowly progress to parallel
  7. Warm down

In case you fall it is important that you will know how to get up and have your skis once again. As a beginner, you can also have lessons. There are some things we cannot just learn by ourselves and need some guidance.

Rock Climbing Techniques for Beginners

Extreme / By

Sometimes, life gets too boring that we just want to try to do new things. It could be as simple as learning how to cook or play an instrument. It could be traveling to another place, either in another country or just somewhere near. It could also be some exciting sports or even more challenging ones.

One of the activities you could try is rock climbing. You could either do it indoors with artificially made climbing walls. If you want more challenge, there are also a lot of spots outdoors that you could try. No matter where you want to first try, you will surely be guided as a beginner. There are techniques that you could try, and here are some:

1. Footwork

The problem for beginners is that they tend to focus upwards and what to grab. One of the important aspects of rock climbing is what you will step on. There are techniques for footwork that you could work on:

  1. Smearing – If you’re facing an ambiguous surface with not much to stand on, you want to expose as much of your foot’s surface area to the rock as possible. Think of it as making the sole of your foot one with the rock. You want your feet to stick like a suction cup (not really, but you get the idea).
  2. Edging – Sometimes there is an edge to stand on, but it’s very small. In this case, you want to basically wedge the edge of your shoe sole into the edge, as square as possible. This will allow you to maximize your grip to the edge, allowing you to propel forward and upward.
  3. Hooking – In some instances you can use one of your feet as an additional hand, rather than using it as a base like you normally would with your feet. Make sure you are in a good position to do so, as you are temporarily sacrificing one of your two most stable limbs.

2. Use Your Legs

Since your legs are much stronger, make use of them instead of relying too much on your arms which easily tires. 

3. Grip

Gripping the rocks is very essential for this activity. It is not about just for balancing but also for pulling yourself up. Some rocks you will climb on are of different shapes and sizes and tend to get tricky. You should know what to do if you get there. Here are the techniques for your gripping that will help you:

  1. Crimp – Use your thumb to give your index finger a bit of extra support when it needs it.
  2. Open Grip – When you have large holds at your disposal, open your hands and wrap your fingers around it as much as possible.
  3. Pinch – Use your thumb and fingers to pinch the hold like a lobster.
  4. Pockets – When you have a smaller hold you may need to use less fingers but you still want to make as much contact with the surface as possible.

4. Body Movement

The way you will move your body is also essential. You should not be stiff but also not frantic. Eventually, you will develop your own style and dynamic that you are most comfortable with. In the meantime, you can also learn some of the techniques you can begin with and can use or practice on:

  1. Sidepull – Sometimes you simply can’t get a good grip to make upward progress. Consider instead making movements to the side.
  2. Gaston – Another option instead of making upward progress is to make outward progress, potentially making other opportunities for you to grab next.
  3. Palming and Stemming – When palming, you’re relying on your palm rather than your fingers. It’s usually combined in conjunction with stemming, or basically spreading as discussed earlier.
  4. Underclings – This happens when you simultaneously push up with your feet and cling with your fingers.
  5. Dynamic Moves – also called as “dynos.” It is a way of utilizing your body’s momentum to make a movement to a grip that is a bit out of reach.
  6. Core Strength – Not only is it good for a six pack, core strength helps ensure you are strong from the center.

5. Relax

In climbing, be sure you would have resting points to catch a break. It is also important to relax and do not let fear overcome you. Sometimes, it is what will trouble you and might cause you to fall.