Will I fall over constantly on my first day? How to fall less, stay unhurt, and what to do if you are injured

The short answer

A first day on snow should not be one fall after another. People assume you have to fall a lot to learn. It works the other way round: the more you fall, the more wary you get, and the slower you learn.

Over the past few seasons students still fall, but not the dramatic kind. They fall in a controlled way and they know what caused it. A new skill usually takes about three runs before it holds without falling.

The right order: flat ground first, then the slope

Start on flat ground and get the feel, then take it to the hill once you can control it. A lesson run properly looks like this:

1. Find terrain that suits the drill
2. Practise at a level the student is comfortable with
3. Raise the difficulty gradually
4. The coach supports from alongside
5. The student completes it alone

How to fall without getting hurt

The main thing: do not catch yourself on a joint. Landing on your wrists is the high-risk way to fall. Your coach covers how to fall at the start of the lesson.

In practice, though, there is rarely time to react mid-fall. So the most effective approach is simply not to put a student onto something too hard while they are still unsteady. That is what prevents both the constant falling and the dangerous falls.

The most common beginner injuries

More common than either, though, are the bruises and grazes that come from gear that is not on properly. Boots should be as tight as they need to be and socks pulled flat, or hours of rubbing will leave marks.

Always wear a helmet

Riding without a helmet does look better, and we understand the appeal. But one fall is all it takes for a concussion, or worse. Wear a helmet. Every resort rents them.

Small things people overlook

• Glare: wear goggles
• Frostbite: wear a face mask against the wind
• Dry skin: indoor heating in Japan is very dry, so drink water and use lip balm

Which protective gear to buy

Start with impact shorts, wrist guards and knee pads. Helmets can be rented at any resort.

If you wear wrist guards, watch your glove size: gloves can end up too tight once the guards are underneath, and children's sizes are especially easy to get wrong.

If you are nervous about falling, how a coach handles it

With a nervous student a coach always starts by talking: working out what the problem is and how far the student is willing to go, then support, then building confidence.

The method is plenty of flat-ground practice and simple task challenges, turning hard into boring. Once something feels boring you have it completely, confidence follows on its own, and the technique has gone in without you noticing.

What to do if you are injured in Japan

Riding alone or with friends

1. Check where you are hurt and whether you can move. If you stay put, make sure you are not going to be hit again
2. Work out where you are: lift towers are numbered
3. Ask a friend or a passer-by to find Patrol and tell them your location. Patrol needs to know: where you are hurt, the colour of your jacket, and whether you are conscious
4. Patrol decides whether to take you to a clinic or treat you there

Watch our demonstration clip (Instagram)

During a lesson, this is what your FUYU coach does

1. Checks the injury with you
2. Calls Patrol in
3. Interprets for you if you need a clinic
4. Makes sure your insurance paperwork is complete

Insurance

FUYU carries third-party liability insurance as each resort requires. We strongly recommend taking out cover in your own country that explicitly includes skiing before you travel.

What ski insurance needs to cover: rescue costs start at ¥100,000

When to sit the day out

If you have genuinely had enough, say so to your coach. They will adjust to where you are. This is a trip you do not take often, and we want you safe and enjoying it.

Next

Skis or snowboard? How to choose for your first time

Do you need a ski instructor for your first time?