Non-expert skiers tend to lean into slopes. That way, if (or, more accurately, when) they fall, they fall just a short distance and land on their behinds. For a long time, that’s exactly what Ira Riklis did. Other than a certain loss of dignity, falling on his tushy, which he describes as “extra padded” didn’t really hurt. But the technique—born from the fear of falling face first—kept him from his goal of becoming an expert skier.
It was ski instructor Mike Bartasuis who finally convinced Ira Riklis that he needed to get over his fear and learn proper technique. Doing so meant performing “face plants”—falling face first heading downhill time after time. And unless you’ve done so, you can’t know how painful it can be. Each time feels like a punch in the face when you hit the snow or ice. Pain radiates down your entire body, especially your chest because after the face plant you land with a thud on your chest. Then there is the fact that your face is covered in freezing snow, which, as it melts, saturates your clothing. But as you improve, you fall less often, and the pain fades to a distant memory. In its place comes a sense of joy and exhilaration as glide gracefully and confidently down even the most challenging slopes.