It’s okay to fall.

Everybody falls. I’ve been skiing for as long as I can remember, over 23 years, and I still fall. Sometimes it’s when I’m pushing the limits of where I’m comfortable, sometimes it’s just a little tumble on the flattest part of the mountain when I’m not concentrating. It happens to all of us.

Anyone who says that they never fall, is never skiing. It’s a part of the sport and usually happens when we are out of our comfort zone. This is no bad thing, it is sign that we are pushing ourselves and progressing with our skiing. If it happens every 5 meters you might be overdoing it a touch but on the whole, a little tumble here and there suggests that our performance is moving in the right direction.

It can be scary, or intimidating but we should try not to be afraid of falling whilst we ski. The risk is inherent within skiing and to try to avoid it often leaves us stiff and rigid in our performance, increasing the likelihood of hurting oneself if we do fall. Embracing the idea that a little spill is a positive and certain part of the sport helps us to ski with less tension and more flow.

If the mountain and falling really scares you, it can be useful to move to an easier slope. Skiing should be exciting, not terrifying. If you can’t seem to find terrain that suits your ability, an instructor or guide can really help in setting you in the right direction, even if you use them just for a day. Either that or talk to people on the chairlifts or in the restaurants. You’d be surprised how many people have encountered the same problems and most are very willing to help a fellow skier.

Ski you next time.

Oli