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[Photo: ifyouski.com] Many beginners spend their first few days on skis in a paroxysm of fear; even more experienced skiers live through the occasional moment of terror. A realistic fear of injury is useful: it is your body's protective mechanism at work. But more often, fear results simply from the unfamiliar surroundings or the feeling of sliding. This is unproductive. The way to learn is to concentrate on the sensations of your skiing, and fear blocks your ability to do this. Avoid slopes that are well beyond your capability. Stop before you become excessively tired Talk yourself down slopes that you know you can ski Be realistic about the consequences of a fall. Always take the time to look around and enjoy your surroundings. If you continue to be tense and nervous, there are a number of learning methods that may be of use. These use techniques to focus your attention on kinesthetic sensations (the sensations arising from forces in your body), while blocking out worries and self-advice. The best known of these methods is called Inner Skiing (see Inner Skiing, by Timothy Gallwey and Bob Kriegel, Bantam Books).

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