Using a ski pole for self arrest since it is basic knowledge for the backcountry, right up there with the kick turn. When I'm skiing in an area where I think a self arrest may be necessary I take one pole strap off so I'll retain one pole if I fall. In a fall; as soon as I begin sliding first I get my feet going downhill, then bring the pole around and under my armpit - then lever it up using my armpit as a fulcrum and gradually lever the point into the snow bringing myself to a stop. Not too gradually, of course, but you want to avoid just trying to slam the point into the snow since if you've developed substantial momentum you may dislocate something and fail to stop.. (Try and keep your body arched off the snow, thereby increasing friction at the pressure points of your ski pole, hands and feet).

I've performed many variations including one where I had both arms fully extended over my head, one hand on the pole up by the grip and the other down just above the basket... not pretty but I stopped. There was at least one fall where being able to self arrest on a steep slope probably saved my life, or at least kept me from bouncing off a bunch of rocks after about a 500 foot slide. On that occasion all I had to do after picking myself up was wait until I stopped shaking so I could traverse out.

Another factor, and one which seems to be ignored by a lot of people is what you wear. When I'm skiing slopes where I'm exposed to a dangerous fall I take off all my shell material - Nylon, gore tex, 60/40 whatever, and ski in pile pants and a sweater. If you fall on a steep icy slope wearing nylon you slide so fast your chances of catching yourself aren't good, even if you know what you're doing.

It's a good idea to find a safe place to practice the self arrest on a short steep section where failure isn't dangerous, and do it until you get a feel for it. You can stop on a very steep slope if you act correctly and immediately - before you get going Mach 2. Ideally you should practice it until it's a reflex.

I also wear a small fanny pack which will keep my shirt or sweater from riding up my back if I go for a long slide - I saw this happen to someone sliding on spring corn and his back looked like it had been dragged through a parking lot filled with ground glass. He ended up in the hospital with a bad infection.. not to mention it looked like it hurt a bunch.

I also wear heavy leather gloves over a liner - poly pro liner for spring and wool for the winter, and never ski anything steep without leather gloves or, god forbid, in shorts. Even in the spring when it's t-shirt weather I ski in heavy cotton pants and wear leather gloves.

I learned a lot of my self arrest techniques learning to ski the steep alpine style, but it's come in handy several time in the backcountry even though I'm not typically exposing myself to the same level of risk.

I also worked at a ski area and saw icy mornings where 4 or 5 people would be brought off the advanced slopes by the ski patrol and the injured people usually had two things in common: nylon outer garments, and no idea how to self arrest.

Good luck, and remember, the safer you are the longer you'll get to ski!

D. Craig