For many, many years Ira Riklis aspired to be an expert skier. He finally achieved his goal with the help of an excellent instructor, Mike Bartasuis. Over time, Mike taught him the techniques needed to make skiing second nature. But one of the most important lessons Mike taught was that there no safe and easy path to master the sport.
Non-expert skiers are scared of falling, a fear that Ira Riklis, who has broken both an arm and a leg, knew all too well. But to make an expert turn, skiers can’t be hesitant or afraid. Instead, they have to faith that they will execute every move properly and on time without even thinking about it. If anything is off, you’ll wind up launching yourself FACE FIRST down the mountain like a missile, a maneuver that Ira has come to call a “face plant.” And if you’ve never done this, be assured that it gives new meaning to the old adage, “no pain, no gain!”