Beginner Ski Foundation

Welcome to Gulmarg and the WeSkiHimalayas family! Upon your arrival, check into your accommodation and take some time to rest and let your body acclimatize to the mountain altitude. Later in the day, you will meet your instructors for a welcome briefing to get an overview of the week ahead and review basic safety protocols.

We start the day by getting you fitted with all your essential ski gear, including boots, skis, poles, and a helmet. Once geared up, we head right out to the snow to get you familiar with your equipment. You will learn the proper way to walk in your ski boots, carry your skis, and click into your bindings. Starting on flat terrain, we focus on balance by sliding with one ski, then both, and covering the most important beginner skill: how to fall safely and easily get back up.

We transition to the gentle beginner slopes (baby slopes) to learn the foundational technique of skiing: the "snowplow" (or wedge). You'll practice gliding downhill and pushing your heels out to create the wedge shape. By using your inside edges, you will learn how to control your speed and come to a safe, complete stop on command.

Now that you can control your speed and stop, it’s time to steer. You'll learn to transition from a straight snowplow into controlled turns. By practicing how to shift your body weight to the outside ski (weight on the right ski to turn left, and vice versa), you will learn how to confidently navigate across the slope.

Today is all about flow. We focus on linking your snowplow turns smoothly, transitioning from a left turn directly into a right turn without stopping in between. Instructors will work with you on maintaining a balanced, athletic stance with your hands forward to create a consistent, natural rhythm down the mountain.

To maximize your time skiing down, you need to learn how to get up efficiently. We introduce you to the surface ski lifts (button lifts or T-bars) on the beginner slopes. You'll learn the etiquette of the lift line, how to grab the lift safely, maintain your balance while being pulled uphill, and slide off smoothly at the top.

With the lift mastered, today features extensive, continuous practice to build your leg stamina. Instructors will provide individualized feedback to correct your posture, ensure proper knee bend, and refine your turning technique. We’ll also do fun "follow-the-leader" runs to help you feel the natural pace and flow of the slope.

Your final day features a free practice session where you can apply everything you’ve learned and cruise the beginner slopes at your own pace. If your progression is strong and you've mastered your turns and stops, you might get the exciting opportunity to head up the Gulmarg Gondola to Phase 1! It's a thrilling chance to experience a higher elevation and test your new skills on a longer run to cap off the week.