Want to learn to ski or snowboard?

Experienced skiers and snowboarders make sliding on snow look easy. Beginners, however, often struggle with the feeling of motion without moving.

And then once they do start sliding, then what do they do? Most often they fall ... but it needn't happen that way.

Skiers and snowboarders can bypass some of the pitfalls of learning the two sports by taking a lesson or two. Which was the whole purpose of starting the Deseret New Ski School 61 years ago and adding the snowboard session 10 years ago.

"Teach the basics," the late Alf Engen, the program's founder, would say, and "you'll turn an individual into a skier." The same principle is true with snowboarding.

And that's exactly what the Deseret News/KSL Newsradio Ski and Snowboard School is intended to do — teach the basics.

Strange as it may seem to those who haven't skied or snowboarded, once a pair of turns is linked, in an upright position, skiing and snowboarding won't seem all that difficult.

It's simply a matter of learning how to stand, which is just like a football player waiting for a snap, or a basketball player on defense, or a baseball player waiting for a grounder ... eyes forward, feet apart, knees bent, and how to shift the weight — right/left for skiers and hillside/toeside for snowboarders.

There will be three lessons offered — Nov. 22, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13. Cost of the lessons and lift access for the three classes is $40. Ski classes will be at Alta and snowboard classes at Snowbird. This year there will be a split session in both skiing and snowboarding. The first session will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the second at 1 p.m.

There will be a limit of 200 skiers in each session for skiing and 100 snowboarders in each session for snowboarding.

Those planning to take the snowboard school must register at Canyon Sports — 1844 E. Fort Union Blvd. (7000 South), (801-942-3100); 517 S. 200 West (801-322-4220) or 45 W. 10600 South (801-501-9713). Entry forms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students need to make sure to register for either the morning or afternoon class.

Those registering early for skiing can do so at Canyon Sports; the Deseret News offices, 30 E. 100 South; or by mail.

Deseret News/KSL Newsradio Ski and Snowboard School coupons will periodically be printed in the newspaper; one appears today.

Each class will run for about two hours. After the first class on Nov. 22, skiers and snowboarders will have a break over the Thanksgiving weekend. Because it's not always easy for beginning students to get the right equipment, Canyon Sports will be offering special rental programs to Deseret News/KSL Newsradio students.

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