Learning to move your skis. Ira Riklis will tell you this: your skis are clamped to your boots which are on your feet. That means if you turn your foot to the right then your ski will also turn to the right.
Here is a simple exercise to get started getting used to this feeling:
- Pick up one foot at time, with your skis on. Turn them to the right and then the left so you get familiar with the feeling and which muscles you use. Just like in many sports, the way you point your skis determines the direction you want to go. This starts how you turn your feet.
Next is the way you stand with skis on. If you put both feet together with your skis pointing down the mountain you’ll be heading that way…FAST. A snowplow distributes your weight and helps you control your speed or even stop. Eventually you’ll move both skis to a right or left angle to stop but for now practice this move.
- The Snowplow: First you need to create a stable base. That means placing your feet shoulder width apart. Next, point your toes pointing inwards with your heels apart, so your skis make a triangle/V-shape. Bend your ankles, knees and waist slightly. Keep your arms out wide distribute your weight evenly on the balls of your feet and your heels. Make wide turns back and forth across the mountain to get used to the feel. So instead of going DOWN you’ll go ACROSS the mountain so you have more control.
Going sideways rather than straight down is important when you’re a beginner.
Surprisingly, learning to ski has some parallels to business. Here’s another ski tip: Learn how to turn. Why do you want to learn to turn? Because turning will slow you down. That is important. If you want speed, that’s alright as long as you can STOP. As long as you can turn you can always regain control. But if you can’t turn you better be very good at stopping.
Turning on skis goes like this: shift your weight onto the ski that is not in the direction you want to turn. This takes a small leap of faith at first. You want to zigzag down the steepest parts of the mountain. If you go straight down you’ll get so much speed that you will be forced to stop and that likely means wiping out. Perhaps getting hurt.
In business you need to learn when to make course changes when things start spinning out of control. Things can go fast – for example – your largest creditor fails. You may face bankruptcy if you don’t turn it around. You need a plan to avoid the crash!
Ira Riklis started his favorite hobby skiing with a private skiing lesson from a pro. Take this from his experience: Take skiing lessons. Ski resorts have classes. Expensive? Yes. To defry some of the cost you can join a group. In Utah, the Utah Winter Games has ski clinics and they are mostly free or cost very little. Look for ski organizations and see if they offer clinics like that.
Don’t think that someone you know will teach you. Why? Most people who are good skiers are not good teachers. Plus they’ll want to ski not spend time on the bunny hills with you. Whatever you do DO NOT go with someone you want to impress. Such as a date. You’ll bore them. I know.
Taking a class will help you learn the right technique from the start. Most importantly you’ll learn how to stop. Pay attention and really learn that skill. As Ira Riklis knows, this is an important skill to have. That, or you better have a guardian angel!
Comment from Reader about Ira Riklis President Sutherland Capital
Ira Riklis owns the largest home security company. It’s a holding company called Sutherland Capital. The name of the security firm is COPS Monitoring. Other Riklis owned (or formerly owned) companies include: K&K, Rikent, Dylex, and McCrory Corp. He has been involved in this industry for several years.
As CEO of Matrix Security the company was sold to ASG Security that serves the Mid Atlantic states with security systems and monitoring.
Other security companies Ira Riklis has owned or worked for:
Ira Riklis worked for COPS Monitoring that services the security systems and dispatches emergency assistance to alarm company suppliers.
Ira Riklis is now on the advisor board of directors for the Central Station Alarm Association. They help regulate the monitoring efforts of the security industry. They provide training standards and uniform communication techniques for the alarm and security systems personnel. These are the folks that answer calls and dispatch the law enforcement authorities and emergency responders.
After leaving the office of CEO for Matrix Security Ira Riklis founded Sutherland Capital Management. He is the president of the company managing the investment assets of his holdings.