Getting Up After a Fall

Recommended practice time: 10–15 min

Introduction

Falls happen to everyone. The key is to get up calmly and safely: first secure space, then position your skis correctly and use your poles as a stable support. This short routine teaches a step-by-step recovery that prevents re-falls and spares your knees.

Steps

  1. Check safety and clear space
    Look uphill and make sure nobody is approaching. If possible, move toward the edge of the slope. Place your skis under your body, slightly apart.
  2. Release or step into bindings safely
    If one ski is on and the other isn’t, release it using the brake and pole tip. Align your boot, then step into the binding by pressing the heel while the ski is on the snow with brakes engaged.
  3. Align skis slightly downhill and set the edges
    Keep skis parallel with tips slightly downhill, directly beneath the hips. Engage the inside edges to stop them sliding backward. Soft knees, torso over the skis.
  4. Stand up using pole support
    Plant both poles on the downhill side in front of your knees to form a tripod: pole–pole–skis. Shift weight forward, press hands down and slightly back, and rise to a stable parallel stance.
Skier getting up after a fall: skis parallel slightly downhill, poles form a tripod for support.
Skis slightly downhill, edges set, poles as a tripod: a stable return to a controlled stance.

Typical Mistakes

  • Standing up without checking uphill — collision risk.
  • Pushing up on flat bases — skis slide backward.
  • Bending from the waist instead of the knees — poor balance.
  • Clicking in while the ski is lifted off the snow — unstable and knee-unfriendly.

Beginner Questions

My ski keeps sliding when I try to click in — what can I do?

Keep it under your body, tips slightly downhill, and edge it into the snow. If it still slides, place a pole horizontally above the ski as a small stopper.

Should my skis be across the slope or slightly downhill?

For getting up, many beginners find slightly downhill and parallel easier — feet tuck under the body more naturally. The real secret is set edges and the pole tripod.

How do I protect my knees while getting up?

Don’t twist the knee to force the boot in. If the boot is misaligned, step out, straighten the foot, and click in on a flat patch with minimal torque.

Instructor’s Tip

“Before you stand, take a breath and run a mini-checklist: space — bindings — ski position — poles. That tiny routine prevents most repeat falls.”

Conclusion

Mastering the get-up routine builds confidence. With safe bindings handling, skis set slightly downhill, and solid pole support, you’ll return to a stable stance quickly and keep learning with ease.