Where to go skiing in summer? Roller skis Skiing in autumn summer

Alpine skiing in summer on the “Subtleties of Tourism”

Every spring, skiers of all stripes and levels of skiing clutch their heads in despair, because the “dead season” is approaching, when the dear, dear, slippery snow melts, an even green cover of grass falls on the mountains, and skis must be put away for at least 6 months. However, not everything is so bad: in fact, our amazing planet Earth is ready to offer fans of dashing descents excellent snow-covered resorts all year round. All you need to do is look further beyond the usual “horizon” of countries and slopes where you usually ski. After all, as soon as the season ends in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s time to update your ski suit in the Southern Hemisphere. (And this is not to mention indoor complexes with artificial ski slopes.)

So, let's look at the most popular ski resorts in the country where you can ski in the hot summer.

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North America

Of course, North America is not the Southern Hemisphere, but this part of the world also has its own sweet spot, whose altitudes allow you to ski here right up to the beginning of July. And his name is Mammoth Mountain, in California. In addition, pay attention to the resorts of Colorado, where, depending on the weather and the amount of snow that has fallen during the winter, the season is extended until the end of June.

In the Canadian town of Whistler-Blackcomb, thanks to the glacier, you can ski until August!

Europe

Old Europe is not ready to let its tourists go and is also in a hurry to please skiers with glaciers. For example, the slopes in the Austrian resorts of Stubai, Tux, Kaprun and Sölden are open 365 days a year. In Switzerland, it is worth checking the weather in the resorts of Zermatt, Verbier and Saas-Fee; it is likely that skiing here will be possible even in June. Italy has five summer areas, but only Passo Stelvio is open year-round.

Australia and New Zealand are a paradise for summer skiing. Almost 40 first-class resorts open their doors exactly at the moment when the whole of Europe begins to mourn the passing of the sparkling season.

South America and Asia

More than thirty comfortable resorts await their guests in Argentina and Chile, and there is a lot of snow here and of excellent quality. Here are just a couple of resorts that are worthy of attention in the hot summer months for all fans of skis and boards - these are Portillo in Chile, Las Lenas and Cerro Castor in Argentina.

Oddly enough, Asia also has its own ski resorts, and not only indoor ones with artificial snow. For example, in the Kazakh Chimbulak in the summer you can safely ski on natural snow (from June to October the ski lifts may be closed, but there is a lot of snow on glaciers nearby for freeriders). Another worthy summer skiing option is the Gassan glacier resort in Japan.

Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand are a paradise for summer skiing. Almost 40 first-class resorts open their doors exactly at the moment when the whole of Europe begins to mourn the passing of the sparkling season. Most of the resorts are located in the Australian state of New South Wales: these are Thredbo and Perisher Blue; in the state of Victoria, it is worth paying attention to Mountain Buller and Falls Creek.

The largest resort here is Perisher Blue, which begins its season in early June by turning on its lifts, of which, by the way, there are more than 50.

In New Zealand, the season begins, as a rule, two to three weeks later than in Australia, but the painful wait is worth it - the local tracks have a greater difference in altitude and more interesting terrain. Which, of course, will primarily be of interest to confident skiers. New Zealand resorts also have disadvantages - a smaller number of ski lifts and a less developed infrastructure (however, don’t even hope to be left without après ski or a cozy hotel - in this regard, everything here is “five plus”). The most popular resort in New Zealand is Whakapapa, with twenty lifts.

Chile, Valle Nevado

The resort is located in the heart of the Andes. Many families come here - in Valle Nevado there are slopes especially for children, where kids can learn to ride and hone their skills. In addition, there is an “International Ski School”, taught by professional instructors who can communicate fluently in at least two foreign languages. There is even a separate school for children, which accepts children from 4 to 7 years old.

It is not recommended to come here for more than a few days. Better - for a couple of weeks. The main skiing takes place at an altitude of more than 3000 meters above sea level and there is a high probability of so-called altitude sickness. Therefore, it may take time for the body to get used to such climatic conditions.

However, holidays at the resort are not limited to skiing. There is plenty of other entertainment here too. For example, you can have fun in a nightclub or bar.

Season: June-September;

Highest point: 3670 meters;

Height difference: 810 meters;

How to get there: the nearest airport is Santiago (60 kilometers);

Visa: not required.

Australia, False Creek

Experienced tourists call this place wonderful for a family vacation. And all because guests are offered a wide variety of entertainment. For example, there are cozy restaurants from which live music can be heard, film festivals and various kinds of competitions are held. And, of course, you can ride here. True, the slopes are unlikely to surprise experienced skiers. But regulars of this place assure that you can hire an experienced guide who will take you up to absolutely incredible slopes. But you should only trust those who know the local mountains like the back of their hand. You understand why.

Season: June-October;

Highest point: 1780 meters;

Height difference: 380 meters;

How to get there: the nearest airport is Melbourne (374 kilometers);

Visa: required.

Argentina, Las Leñas

One of the largest resorts in Argentina. The peculiarity of this place is that both beginners and experienced slope conquerors can ski here (lessons are provided for the former). There are even specially designed downhill courses for extreme sports enthusiasts. By the way, in Las Leñas you will certainly be asked to sign a document confirming that you understand: skiing outside the paved trails is dangerous. And I will closely monitor that you keep your word.

Season: June - September;

Highest point: 3430 meters;

Height difference: 1190 meters;

How to get there: the nearest airport is Malargüe (70 kilometers from Las Leñas)

Visa: not required.

Italy, Passo Stelvio

They say about this resort: skiing here is equally pleasant both in winter and in summer. Snow, white, sparkling snow - all year round. Both beginners (one of the best ski schools in Europe operates here) and professionals flock here. By the way, in addition to the picturesque slopes, Passo Stelvio also has many hiking trails leading to untouched corners of nature.

Season: May - November;

Highest point: 3450 meters;

Height difference: 690 meters;

How to get there: the nearest airport is Verona (120 kilometers), Milan (132 kilometers);

Visa: required.

New Zealand, Whakapapa

The resort is located on the northern slope of the Ruapehu volcano. Thousands of snow lovers come here every year to ski. In addition, the resort itself is one of the largest in the country and is equipped with everything necessary to receive skiers at the international level.

Of course, the volcano itself deserves special attention. Its last eruption was recorded in September 2007. But even this fact does not scare away tourists. After all, on the snow-capped peak, in the Ruapehu crater, there is an unfrozen lake, which was formed during one of the volcanic eruptions. The water in it occasionally heats up to 20 or even 30 degrees Celsius. You can get here by taking the ski lift and then taking a short walk. After that, you can ski straight into the crater of the volcano.

Season: June-October;

Highest point: 2300 meters;

Height difference: 675 meters;

How to get there: the nearest airports are Palmston (222 kilometers), Hamilton (190 kilometers), Auckland (335 kilometers), Wellington (348 kilometers);

The complex design of the GrasSki is based on a true flexible ski

In terms of scale, FIS grass competitions are significantly smaller than the snow program. But the “little green brother,” despite all the difficulties, continues to exist. In Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and Japan there are 6-8 tracks each where the World Cup stages take place. Germany, France, China and Iran each have at least one route. To win competitions, you need to be not only a strong athlete, but also a competent mechanic.

Skiers who dream of “moving winter into summer” have repeatedly made attempts to create appropriate sports equipment. The evolution began with simple platforms with a single row of wide rollers and gradually came to the present state when the German Joseph Kaiser invented the track ski in 1963, long before global warming was widely advertised in the press. And just 16 years later, the first international World Cup competitions took place.

Track ski

Grass skis, like tractors, are divided into wheeled and tracked, but if in the tractor world the wheels are faster than the tracks, then in alpine skiing the opposite is true. Wheeled skis are considered more versatile and less capricious to control. On wheels you can easily drive through clay and rocks. These days, wheeled skis are an endangered species, replaced by all-terrain roller skates with large-diameter inflatable wheels. Track skis, designed for well-prepared grass slopes, provide high speed and precision control, so there is no alternative to them in big sports.

The basis of a modern tracked ski is a rail - a metal profile with a cross-section in the shape of the letter “Z”, closed in a ring. A caterpillar rolls along a rail, which consists of bogies attached to a tape made of nylon fabric. Holes for attaching trolleys are burned into the tape with a laser. The trolley covers the rail with its rollers from above and below and rolls along it like a train on a roller coaster. The rail has a "secret" groove that allows carts to be inserted and removed. A grouser plate is placed on top of the nylon tape on the trolley, which provides traction with the ground and is responsible for controllability. The lug on the edges has grooved ribs that work in the same way as steel edges on a snow ski.

A profiled wooden base is attached to the inside of the rail. It determines the bending rigidity of the ski, the turning radius and partly the speed of movement, and also serves as the basis for fastening. In fact, this is a real wooden ski, which writes an arc under the pressure of the boot and makes the grasski behave in a way that is so familiar to a skier.

Grass skis, of course, are not as long as real snow skis. However, they are gradually becoming longer and have already grown to a meter. The International Ski Federation FIS has lifted all restrictions on the length of skis for competitions. The size of modern grass skis ranges from 65 cm to 100 cm, the approximate turning radius is from 8 m to 25 m, and the number of carts is from 15 to 23. The shorter the length and, accordingly, the turning radius of the ski, the easier it is to learn to ski and the smaller speed can be developed. The more trolleys, the smoother the ride, but the more weight. Modern materials make it possible to reduce the weight of the ski, increase speed and achieve the desired behavior from it. Racing athletes use titanium platforms, hardened rails and axles, turned wheels, carbon fiber shields, and individually profiled wooden platforms.

Only forward

Some people believe that grass skiing is not much different from snow skiing and water skiing, while others argue that upon closer inspection there are many differences. For example, sliding is only possible forward and completely impossible sideways. Therefore, in order not to fall off in a turn, you need to control the ski very carefully and accurately, especially in the lateral direction. You have to perform what skiers call a “clean carved turn.” It is difficult to brake on grass skis because it is impossible to slide, and they have not yet made disc brakes for them. Therefore, you have to slow down when driving up a slope.

At the very beginning of training, when skiing at low speed, grass skis feel similar to roller skates. But then, as experience and speed increase, the tracks become more and more like snow skis. Experienced skiers accelerate on grass skis to the same speeds as on snow skis. The sports techniques of winter and summer skiing are so similar that they allow riders to train all year round. One of the leading grass racers, Martin Stepanek, notes that by riding only on grass and not training on snow at all, he performs well in snow competitions and even earns FIS points. In addition, over the 30 years of its existence, grasski has become popular not only among snow skiers. A group of people has emerged who fanatically love grass skiing in its purest form and consider it an absolutely independent sport.

Where to go

Unfortunately, today it is impossible to purchase a miracle projectile in Russia; skis can only be ordered abroad. Professional athletes ski mainly on skis from two competing Austrian companies founded by former grass skiers: Speedy Jack (owned by racer Christian Balek) and DLWH (Klaus Spink's company). The price of track skis with bindings ranges from Є300 to Є600. An athlete needs more than ten pairs of skis per season. Most amateurs have to change or repair skis at least once a summer, so it is advisable to immediately order grasski with a repair kit.

You will most likely also have to look abroad for smooth grassy slopes without stones and bushes. Austria, the Czech Republic and Japan can be considered advanced countries. In Europe alone there are more than 40 herbal resorts. Grass skiing is popular in Andorra, Belgium, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Poland, and France. Summer skiing is organized even in large alpine resorts such as Val d'Isere, Sieur Chevalier, Les Deux Alpes.

Approximately the same number of resorts exist in all other countries of the world, mainly in Japan and Taiwan. Almost all of Taiwan's mountainous areas are suitable for grass skiing, which is why more than 20 resorts have been established there. There is no snow in the local mountains, but the grass is forever green and never even freezes. In addition, Taiwan produces its own grass skis. In Vietnam, where locals have no idea about snow, the first and so far only private recreation center with a hotel, slope and ski lift was recently built.

The opportunity to ride grasski in Moscow is very rare. The Severnoye Butovo slope is used by the ski school for training athletes, and not for skiing for everyone. Ski parks near Moscow prefer to relax in the summer. And grass skiing from the nearest hill without a lift is a dubious pleasure. Still, we advise all enthusiastic skiers to take a closer look at grasski. Perhaps grass skiing will become the sport of the future when, as a result of global warming, there is no snow left even in winter. In the meantime, grasski can help skiers stay in good shape in the off-season, improve their skiing technique and enjoy the summer.

I have prepared a review of places where you can practice skiing during the summer. We are publishing this review, which includes countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, the USA, Canada and, of course, Russia, with our own small additions.

Germany

Austria

Ramsau am Dachstein. The village, located in the Styria region, is one of the world's most popular training destinations for cross-country skiers. The Dachstein Glacier is almost always very crowded. The glacier itself is located at an altitude of 2900 meters; you can climb it using a lift. The 5 km loop is prepared and maintained throughout the summer. After the first September snowfalls, its length increases to 10 km. More information on the website www.derdachstein.at

Pitztal Glacier. In the last few years, starting in September, it has been possible to train on cross-country skis and on the Pitztal glacier. There they prepare a circle 3-7 km long at an altitude of 2740 meters above sea level. You can get to the glacier by special express train. More information at www.pitztaler-gletscher.at

Kitzsteinhorn. Every autumn, a 3 km long circle opens near the summit of the Kitzsteinhorn. More information on the website www.kitzsteinhorn.at .

Switzerland

Le Diableret. The only place for summer cross-country skiing in Switzerland is the Le Diableret glacier with a three-kilometer circuit. The track is open from mid-May to early October. The second opening of the route for the winter season usually occurs at the end of October. More information on the website www.glacier3000.ch

Italy

Val Senales. This is a very popular resort among skiers, where you can conduct mountain training. The athletes' accommodation is located at an altitude of 2000 meters, and the track is 900 meters higher. Two circuits are being prepared in Val Senales: 2 and 5 km. The season starts from the beginning of October. More information on the website www.valsenales.com

Passo dello Stelvio. There are two laps prepared on the glacier in the immediate vicinity of the legendary Alpine pass, which can also be used in the summer months. More information on the website www.passostelvio.biz

Norway

Sognefjellet. Sognefjellet is the only place in Norway where you can ski on natural snow in the summer. You can usually ski there until the end of August. The glacier is located at an altitude of 1400 meters. More information on the website www.sognefjellet.no

Sweden

Gothenburg Arena. In 2015, a new ski hall was opened in Sweden's second largest city, Gothenburg. It became part of a hotel and sports center. The training circle is 1.2 km long. More information on the website nordicwellness.se/skidome

Torsby ski tunnel. The oldest ski tunnel in Sweden is located in Torsby, which is 400 km west of Stockholm on the very border with Norway. The length of the circle there is 1.3 km. More information on the website www.skitunnel.se

Finland

Vuokatti ski tunnel. The very first ski tunnel in the world is located in Vuokatti. Its length is 1200 m. More information on the website www.vuokattisport.fi

Vesileppis (Leppyavirta). A small ski room is located under the spa hotel, from the lobby of which you can take an elevator down into a tunnel that is about 900 meters long. More information on the website www.vesileppis.fi

All the ski tunnels of Finland in a large material "Skiing" FINLAND HOOKED ON THE PIPE

Russia

Training center Toksovo in the immediate vicinity of St. Petersburg, it offers excellent conditions for training skiers and biathletes, which includes a ski tunnel 750 m long and 8 m wide. You can ski along the track in both directions. The elevation gain on the route is 22.5 m with a maximum gradient of 18%. More information on the website www.utc-kavgolovo.ru

Australia

Falls Creek located in Victoria and is one of the most famous ski resorts in Australia. The Kangaroo Hoppet Marathon, part of the world-famous Worldloppet marathon series, takes place there every year. lies More information on the website http://www.fallscreek.com.au/

New Zealand

Argentina

Eagle Glacier this is a picturesque place at an altitude of 1500 m in the Chugach Mountains southeast of the largest city in Alaska, Anchorage. A 10-minute helicopter flight takes athletes from sea level to beautiful spring ski conditions on a glacier. Once the length of the tracks there was as much as 9 km. You can stay in a hostel a couple of hundred meters from the ski track. The Thomas Training Center operates under a special permit from the Chugach National Forest. More information on the website apunordic.com/programs/glacier-camps/

One of the longest ski seasons in North America - in Bende, which has become the traditional location for the US national team's spring training camp. There are winter beauties, breathtaking views, frequent snowfalls and lots and lots of sun. All this beauty is located in Central Oregon. More information on the website www.visitbend.com

Canada

The Becky Scott Professional Training Center is named after the World Cup and Olympic cross-country skiing medalist. It is located on a glacier Haig at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in the center of the Kananaskis park system in Alberta. Canadian skiers have been training there during the summer months since 1989! More information on the website

Winter in the central part of our country is relatively short - you will start skiing for the first time at the end of November, and already in April, take off your skis and start preparing for summer.

What should a skier do in the summer so that the skills acquired during the winter are not forgotten? First of all, it is necessary to put all ski property in complete order - skis, shoes, poles, ski suit. They need to be cleaned of dust and dirt, thoroughly wiped, dried, and ventilated. Skis for the summer are impregnated with tar or resin, and boots with a special ointment or fish oil.

The process of impregnating skis is simple - a thin layer of lubricant is applied to the sliding surface of the skis. This is best done with a linen cloth or brush. In order for the wood to better absorb the lubricant, the ski is preheated either on a gas stove or using a blowtorch. The lubricant is applied in several stages until the entire surface takes on the same dark brown color. After soaking, the skis are dried, and then, tying them together and placing a spacer between them, they are put away in a dark but dry place. It is best to store them by hanging them on a nail.

Shoes, cleaned of dust, are carefully inspected to see if they are intact. If necessary, they repair it and then lubricate it. It is better to warm up a special waterproof ointment or fish oil before use. During the lubrication process, which continues until the skin absorbs the fat, you need to make sure that the ointment is applied evenly to all areas. The sole also needs to be lubricated. It is good to wipe it several times with the remnants of ordinary sunflower oil. This type of lubricant preserves the sole well. Boots prepared for summer storage are tied together with laces and then hung in a dry and dark place.

In mid-summer, skis and boots should be inspected and, if necessary, re-soaked with lubricant. In cases where there is no tar or resin, liquid ski ointment can replace them.

Ski poles are also checked. They look at the condition of the rings, pins, and belts. If any part becomes unusable, it is either repaired or replaced with a new one. Dust and dirt are wiped off the sticks, leather and metal parts are greased, and then the sticks are also hung on a nail. This way they won’t disturb anyone, and, besides, the sticks won’t get bent in this state. Bamboo sticks should not be placed in a very dry place, otherwise they may crack and deteriorate.

You need to collect ski wax, warm socks, mittens and a hat in a certain place.

So, all the equipment is in complete order, and now you can seriously think about what is the best thing for a skier to do in the summer.

Let's start with morning exercises. It is absolutely mandatory throughout the year. If you wish, you can change the set of exercises every week. But this is optional. It is important to give work to the muscles of the whole body every time, and primarily to the muscles of the abdomen and legs. For this purpose, various bendings, squats on one and two legs, and squats on the arms are done. The abdominal muscles are strengthened mainly with exercises that give them a noticeable load. These include all types of exercises performed from a supine position and associated with raising the legs and torso.

To strengthen your arms, exercise with dumbbells. If you don't have them, you can replace them. They do it this way: they pass a rope through a block, at the end of which a small bag of sand or pebbles is suspended (they lift the load on the block with one or two hands). This device is also convenient because you can take it with you on walks. A suitable place for hanging the block is chosen, and sand or pebbles are poured into the bag. After working out, the block is removed, sand and pebbles are poured out of the bag, and the bag is put back into the suitcase or backpack.

In summer, there are ample opportunities for hiking, fishing trips, and swimming. All this is very useful for skiers. Experienced skiers never take a break between winter and summer. In the spring, after the end of the competition season, they continue skiing. On sunny days such walks are especially pleasant and useful. At this time the snow still lingers, especially in the forest, and the air is unusually clean. During these walks, many skiers are engaged, as they say in sports circles, in practicing individual skiing techniques.

When all the snow has melted, it’s time for cross-country, or, in other words, cross-country running. This type of athletics is accessible and useful to everyone. It is practiced by both adults and schoolchildren, swimmers and football players, gymnasts and track and field athletes, wrestlers and weightlifters, cyclists and rowers.

Running over rough terrain, in the forest or in the park, where the air is clean from dust and other impurities, improves health and is very beneficial for the body; it develops not only the muscles of the legs, but also the muscles of the whole body. People who regularly engage in cross-country activities have excellent lung development, and the activity of the heart and blood vessels is strengthened. Anyone who runs cross-country in the spring or fall can engage in any sport - his body is well prepared for such activities.

Cross-country skis are convenient because any terrain is suitable for them. Before starting to run, cross-country athletes perform several gymnastic exercises. They are approximately the same as in morning exercises: bending the body forward and to the sides, stretching, swinging movements of the arms and legs, squats, various jumps. This takes approximately 10-12 minutes. Then the running begins. It differs from running on a track in the variety of movements. The changing profile of the terrain allows you to either run at an even pace, then rush downhill or climb a steep slope, or even just walk at a normal pace.

Depending on the conditions, the running rhythm will change. In one case he is calm, in another he is impetuous. Cross-country is not only continuous running: it can alternate with fast walking, which is very appropriate in cases where you need to calm your breathing.

To begin with, the duration of the cross-country, including time for gymnastic exercises, should be about an hour. Gradually the duration is increased to two or more hours. At the end of the run, you don’t need to get dressed right away - you first need to calm your breathing. In spring and autumn, cross-country races are carried out once or twice a week; in summer, once is enough. During a cross-country race, you don’t need to run until you get tired—light fatigue is enough.

We dwelled on cross-country in such detail for the reason that this is one of the most accessible and most necessary exercises. For a beginner skier, cross-country running will be very useful. It will develop him physically and give him many necessary skills, which will then be useful in the winter during skiing.

A skier needs to have strong legs and strong arms. They are developed with all kinds of exercises. Sawing and chopping wood are very popular among skiers. Experienced athletes can also find special devices for developing strength - one of them consists of a block and a weight. Using this apparatus, you can lift a load by pulling the ropes either with both hands at once, as with a simultaneous move, or alternately with your right and left hands.

They also exercise with a load. Carrying a kettlebell or barbell with you is inconvenient. In this case, do this. Take an oblong, small bag made of canvas or canvas and, having arrived at the place where the lesson is planned to be held, pour sand, earth or pebbles into the bag. The bag is tied, and you get a projectile with which you can do a wide variety of exercises, and not only alone, but also with friends.

The sandbag is lifted with one and two hands. Lift it with your foot, placing the bag on your thigh. The bag is thrown in front of you and behind your back, and thrown like a ball to each other. Classes are over, the contents are emptied from the bag and the bag is put away in a suitcase or backpack until the next class.

We have mentioned only some of the exercises available to everyone. But there are a lot of them. Skiers engage in cycling or kayaking and pleasure boating. Athletics is also popular among skiers, but they do it not to compete in competitions, but to develop endurance and speed. The closer the end of summer is, the clearer the signs of approaching autumn become, and behind it the shadow of winter is visible. You will meet her not as a beginner, but as an experienced athlete who has had a good summer and, full of strength and energy, is waiting for the first snow to go hiking on fresh ski tracks.

During the summer months you have become much stronger. Your muscles have become harder. You can easily walk dozens of kilometers with a backpack on your shoulders.

And yet, before each new season, skiers are overcome with anxiety. They start training even before the snow, and the main place in them is once again occupied by cross-country. But they are now carried out more often two, three, or even four times a week. You don’t need so many cross-countries, but it’s still good to increase their number to two per week, not counting classes on days off.

In classes, a large place is given to so-called special exercises. You have already done them during exercise or in pre-cross exercises. However, now, in the fall, the number of repetitions of each of them increases. More and more load must be given to the legs. Squats on one and two legs should be done not only more often, but also with a load, that is, putting some kind of load on your shoulders, for example a bag of sand.

Skiers pay so much attention to strengthening their legs for the reason that the main work while skiing falls on the legs and the better they are prepared for this, the more complete ski trips will be at the beginning of winter.

There are special exercises for the arms. In the fall, exercises are often done with weights or using so-called rubber shock absorbers. They are made from elastic rubber, for example from old bicycle or car tubes. The thickness of the rubber is determined by its elasticity and is selected depending on the strength of the student. Using shock absorbers is simple - the middle or end of a rubber band or tube is firmly attached to a post, fence, tree, door handle or steam heating radiator, and then the exercises begin. The advantage of rubber shock absorbers is that they require force not only when they are stretched, but also when they are released.

A significant portion of fall training takes place outdoors; In this regard, you need to take care of your clothes. Many skiers use their winter suits for practice. They protect them well from wind and dampness and are comfortable as they do not restrict movement. Ski boots, in turn, protect your feet from dampness. But it’s still better to have separate shoes for autumn.

Old shoes with a small heel are quite suitable for this purpose.

Mittens and warm socks, a winter cap complete the skier's outfit for autumn activities.

In the fall, classes can be held in any park, on the territory of the stadium, and on weekends it is best to go somewhere closer to the place of winter walks. You should also use the gym, where it is convenient to perform the entire preliminary part of each lesson - gymnastic exercises.

The duration of autumn classes increases slightly as winter approaches, reaching up to an hour or more.

Everyone who plays sports or exercises is required to undergo a medical examination and learn about their state of health. You should maintain constant contact with your doctor, consult with him, and it is absolutely necessary to seek medical help at the slightest ailment.

As soon as the first snow appears, you can already get on your skis and try to see if you have forgotten those skills that you spent so much time learning the previous winter. When enough snow has already fallen, that is, it covers the ground so that you can ski without the risk of tearing them off on the ground, training begins.

One of our strongest skiers advises to conduct two to three training sessions a week at the beginning of winter. The duration of each of them is 40-50 minutes. You need to start your training by skiing on a good ski track for 5-7 minutes. After this, it is useful to walk for 10-15 minutes in deep snow. This type of walking strengthens the muscles and ligaments of the legs.

During the first training, it is especially important to pay attention to correct and free movement with alternating and simultaneous movements. While trying to perform each technique correctly, you need to avoid unnecessary tension. The ability to relax your muscles while running not only makes your movements easier, but also allows you to use your energy more economically. Before starting classes, it’s good to do a little preparation and perform gymnastic exercises you already know. After the first training sessions, which will show how the skills lost over the summer have been restored, you can slightly change the content of the classes, increasing both the length of the distance covered and the pace of walking.

It is good to include three or four accelerated runs lasting from 30 to 40 minutes, both in deep snow and on good, groomed ski tracks.

On weekends, you should definitely go for long walks. It is advisable to choose a place for walking so that you can walk not only on a flat surface, but also ride down hills. This will allow you to combine a walk with studying the technique of ascents and descents and further improving all skiing techniques.

The duration of training gradually increases and by the middle of winter reaches one and a half hours. After each lesson it is useful to take a quiet walk. Such walks calm the body after a strenuous run and bring it back to its normal state.

To check the correctness of preparation, control competitions, or, as athletes call them, assessments, are usually held in a school section or sports club. Such a test at a distance equal to that expected in the next competition will allow one to judge the readiness of the young skier.

It is recommended to compete at least twice a month. Moreover, in the intervals between them you definitely need to train. The plan for each workout can be the same as mentioned above, but with the difference that high-speed jogging will occupy a larger place in it, and the time for training itself will increase. To gain confidence, you need to participate more often in cross-country skiing, relay races, and school and district competitions. Masters and qualified skiers of junior sports categories try to train in any weather: snowfall, thaw, and ice. This is what a young skier should do.

When you watch experienced athletes rushing down a mountain, you can’t help but admire their agility, and sometimes fearlessness.

Every flat skier needs to get acquainted with the slalom technique, which we have already talked about.

You need to start getting acquainted with slalom from the simplest. You often see how young people themselves organize competitions that have something in common with slalom: they slide down a pre-planned path, on which individual bushes or stumps are located in a certain order. And if such a competition is organized on a clean slope, then ski poles, poles or branches are placed in the form of obstacles. These fun competitive games are very rewarding.

To begin with, you can set yourself the task of driving through one gate, and then their number is increased. The gates are placed at a distance of 5-10 meters from each other. It is somewhat more difficult to go around gates or poles on the right or left side. As you master this descent, the conditions will become more difficult. Even on simple distances where there are no steep slopes, you will not only have fun, but also acquire useful skills that will always be useful to you.

During a normal descent from a mountain, turns are made by stepping or “plowing.” In slalom, these turning methods are not always applicable, since you need to make several turns in a row at high speed in different directions. In these cases, it is recommended to do this: if an athlete is going down the mountain and there is a gate in front of him that needs to go around, then he should squat low and immediately climb up without lifting his skis from the snow. With this movement, the skis are freed from body weight and will move more easily across the snow in the desired direction. Having risen, they energetically turn their shoulders; if you need to turn the skis to the left, the shoulders are also turned there, while the right shoulder is pushed forward. If necessary; return to the right, then turn the shoulders in the same way, but push the left shoulder forward. Naturally, the skis will not turn themselves during shoulder movements and you need to be careful to turn them in the right direction in a timely manner.

The turns used by slalom skiers require practice and confident movements. You can also achieve this if you carefully practice your downhill turns. There may be some falls at first, but they should not be embarrassing. Until you master turns, practice and learn them on slopes without stumps or uneven surfaces.

Everything that was told about: training and skiing is absolutely necessary for a skier to remember.

In our country, the network of sports organizations is expanding every year. Physical education groups are organized at schools, institutions, factories and plants, on collective and state farms. Youth sports organizations have been created in almost all republics. It makes sense for you to join one of the physical education groups. There you will have good conditions for studying.

Join the ski section. In October and November, sections begin active preparations for winter. Each cross-country event attracts more and more people who want to prepare for the winter season. Groups are strictly selected based on strength. Together with them it will be interesting and useful for you to start preparing for winter. After all, you are no longer a “green” beginner, who not so long ago timidly took your first steps on skis, but an “old” skier.

In the new season you have different tasks. Improve the movement techniques you know and learn new ones. Try your hand at the competitions of the school, district, society that you will obviously join. Watch more experienced athletes, borrow the best from them. Don't be afraid of losing in competitions. Always find out the reason for your mistakes, and you will do better.

You have to love skiing, and it will not let you down, remaining a faithful friend for life. Many skiers, former athletes, still continue to devote their free time to this sport. On skis you can still see the first Russian champion Pavel Afanasyevich Bychkov and the champions of subsequent years Nikolai Maksimovich Vasiliev, Alexander Nikolaevich Nemukhin and other famous athletes. Most of them are already close to 70 years old, and they are still vigorous and glide along the ski slopes with enviable ease and confidence.