Is it too late for me to become a freestyle skier?

How to Become a Freestyle Skier

• Answer:

  While many skiers enjoy the sport for its relaxation and exercise benefits, many freestyle skiers seek the adrenaline and challenge of defying gravity and performing aerobatics over the snow while on skis. Freestyle combines the Olympic sports of skiing aerials and moguls. Aerial skiing involves skiing off of high jumps and performing somersaults or flips in the air before landing. Freestyle skiers execute jumps and tricks in fields of moguls, or snowy bumps, as they careen down runs. With the right training, almost anyone can become a freestyle skier. Difficulty: Moderately Challenging Things You'll Need 185cm long skiis for men, 175cm for women (for moguls) 160cm long skiis with narrow width (for aerials) Ski poles Ski boots Ski suit Kneepads Helmet Trampoline Water ramp Instructions Develop strong basic skiing technique. Once you can safely ski treacherous downhill runs, you are ready to begin learning freestyle skiing. Seek training from instructors in your area to become competent at basic skiing skills. Find an instructor that can teach you skills designed for alpine and freestyle skiers, including balancing strategies and techniques called ski-edge control. Practice jumping on a trampoline to master jump techniques essential to the aerial component of freestyle skiing. Work with a ski instructor to avoid hurting yourself on the trampoline. Trampoline preparation will help you learn to land your jumps safely. Exercise jumps using a water ramp. Many ski courses have access to this equipment, and your instructor will guide you in its use. A water ramp allows you to practice jumping techniques while you fall safely into a pool of water to avoid injury. Practice your new skills repeatedly under the supervision of your instructor until she decides you have reached a level of competence that allows you to work independently without risking injury. Once you are prepared, you can enter freestyle skiing competitions. Tips & Warnings Tip: Ensure you have mastered the skills necessary for moguls and aerial courses before entering a freestyle skiing competition, as you will be required to demonstrate these skills on safe, monitored practice courses before being allowed to sign up. Warning: Never attempt the tricks carried out by freestyle skiers, and do not attempt to ski courses designed for this style, without the appropriate training. Failure to learn the skills required to safely land jumps or navigate a field of moguls could result in serious injury or death.