Getting Up After a Fall
Falls will stop being frustrating ordeals and start being minor interruptions — you will be back on your feet in seconds.
The practical techniques for safely and efficiently standing back up after falling on any type of slope with skis still attached.
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Watch & Learn
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Key Moments
Get your skis below you and across the slope before attempting to stand
Get your weight over your skis — standing from directly flat is nearly impossible
Plant both poles uphill of you and push down with your hands to lever yourself up
Dig your uphill edges in before standing — stops you sliding while getting up
What It Should Feel Like
- ✓Like doing a seated crunch and push at the same time — core and arms working together
- ✓The skis naturally want to slide — positioning them across the slope first removes that resistance
- ✓A quick, confident motion once you have the technique — no more helpless flopping
Common Mistakes & Fixes
Trying to stand with skis pointing downhill
Always position skis across the slope first — they will slide out from under you otherwise
Not using poles to help
Plant poles firmly uphill and push — they provide crucial upward leverage
Panicking and making jerky movements
Pause, reposition calmly, then stand in one smooth motion
Practice Drills
Deliberate fall practice: on a gentle flat slope, fall sideways intentionally and practice getting up five times in a row until it feels automatic
Speed challenge: time yourself getting up and try to beat your record — makes the technique feel game-like and builds speed through repetition
No-pole get-up: practice getting up without using your poles — builds core strength for situations where poles are lost in a fall
The full guide
Reviewed October 2026
How to learn Getting Up After a Fall
Getting up after a fall is a basic ski skill, but it feels awkward until you know the order of the movements. The goal is to stop sliding, arrange your skis so they help instead of fight you, and stand without twisting or bracing on a locked arm. Practice it on easy terrain before you need it on a steeper run.
What it is and when you'll use it
This guide covers the common way to stand up with both skis still attached. You use the slope to your advantage by placing the skis below you and across the hill, then roll onto your side and push yourself up over your feet.
You'll use it after small beginner falls, slow-speed tip-overs, or any time you slide out and end up sitting or lying on the snow. If you are hurt, tangled with another person, or in a blind spot where uphill traffic cannot see you, do not rush the technique. Make yourself visible, ask for help, and stop skiing if something hurts.
Before you start
Practice first on a flat area or very gentle green run with soft, forgiving snow and plenty of room. Avoid lift unload zones, trail merges, and spots just below a rollover. Your first job after any fall is to look uphill and make sure no one is coming toward you.
Keep your movements compact. Don't catch yourself or push off the snow with a straight, locked arm; that can load your wrist or shoulder suddenly. If your skis have crossed, your legs feel twisted, or you are on very steep or icy snow, stay low, keep your skis controlled across the hill, move to the side of the run if you can, and wait for an instructor or patroller to help.
Step by step
Move slowly at first. The sequence matters more than strength, and rushing usually makes the skis slide away.
- Pause, breathe, and look uphill so you know you have space to move.
- Bring both skis downhill from your body and turn them across the slope, roughly perpendicular to the fall line.
- Bend your knees and pull your feet close enough that your skis are under you, not stretched far away.
- Roll onto your side so your chest faces partly downhill and your hips are above the skis rather than flat behind them.
- Set the uphill edges of both skis into the snow so they resist sliding.
- Plant both poles on the uphill side of your body, close enough that your elbows can stay bent.
- Push down through both pole grips with bent elbows while bringing your hips over your feet, then stand into a centered, balanced stance.
- Once you're upright, check uphill again before you start moving.
Why it works
Skis that point downhill want to run away from you. Skis that sit across the slope create a platform. When you tip those skis onto their uphill edges, the edges cut lightly into the snow and give you enough resistance to push against.
Rolling onto your side also changes the problem. Standing from flat on your back or from a deep seated position asks your legs and core to lift your whole body while the skis slide. From your side, your hips can move over your boots, so your skeleton stacks up more like a squat than a sit-up.
Poles are there for support, not for a huge heave. Short, bent elbows let you press down steadily. If the poles are too far uphill or your arms are straight, you lose leverage and may strain your shoulders.
How to practice it
Start without speed. Sit down intentionally on a flat or nearly flat area, place the skis across the slope, and stand up three to five times on the same side. Then repeat with the skis on the other side of your body so you do not build a one-sided habit.
Next, try it after a gentle sideways fall on a green slope. Keep the fall low and controlled: bend your knees, let your hip and side meet the snow, and avoid reaching out with a locked arm. As the movement improves, use less pole push and more leg positioning so you are not helpless if a pole drops nearby.
Finish each repetition by standing still, checking uphill, and gliding away only if you already have reliable stopping and speed control. Otherwise, sidestep to a safe spot or wait for help.
Common questions
Should I take my skis off to get up?
Usually no on gentle terrain, because keeping the skis on saves time and lets you ski away once you are standing. If your legs are twisted, the slope is too steep or icy to edge securely, you are blocking traffic, or you cannot stand safely after a few calm tries, stay low, move to the side if you can, and ask for help; only remove a ski when you can keep it controlled.
Why do my skis keep sliding away when I try to stand?
They are probably pointed too far downhill or not edged enough. Put both skis below you and across the slope, pull your feet closer, and dig the uphill edges in before you push. If the snow is very firm, move to a flatter spot if you can.
Can beginners practice falling on purpose?
Yes, but only in a controlled setting: a quiet flat area or very gentle green slope, away from other skiers. Keep the fall low, stay relaxed, and do not brace on straight arms. If anything hurts, stop the drill.
What if I fall on a steep run?
First stop sliding and get your skis across the hill. If you cannot edge securely or you are in an exposed place, do not fight the slope. Move carefully to the side, remove a ski if needed, and ask a more experienced skier, instructor, or patroller for help.