What the expert says ...

Sally Chapman is one of the UK's leading female skiers and a highly qualified ski instructor. She runs her own ski company, Inspired To Ski.

Be balanced Ask yourself, 'Could I sustain this position without the ski boot holding me?' If not, then you are leaning too far back or forward. You want your weight distributed evenly.

Feet first Initiate your movements from the feet. Don't turn the shoulders or hips first. For example, if you wanted to turn left, you'd press down on the right big toe. Keep legs apart and work both feet independently: focus on pushing against one ski while the other acts as your stabiliser.

Look where you're going Beginners have a strong tendency to look down at their feet or at the tips of their skis, but try to look where you're going. Not only does this aid balance and control, it also improves body awareness.

Create 'S's, not 'Z's When you are beginning to link your turns, think about creating smooth, S-shaped curves in the snow, not sharp zigzags.

Don't be afraid to fall Everyone falls over, and trying to stop yourself falling when you're already out of control can be more dangerous than going with the flow. Never use your poles to stop if you're heading for a fall. If you have a choice, fall on your bum rather than your knees.

Get into the rhythm Many instructors suggest humming, singing or counting when practising linking turns to encourage a nice, rhythmical action. (Pole planting is also used to encourage rhythm.) Inhaling as you start the turn and exhaling as you finish also helps - and is great for calming nerves.

Make friends with your edges It's only when you realise the importance of your edges that you'll be able to turn smoothly and link your turns.

Don't be too proud to snowplough The snowplough is the first thing every skier learns, and consequently is seen as a beginner's move. But a snowplough can be any skier's friend in controlling speed and direction. Remember to snowplough by pushing the heels out, not rolling the knees in.

Getting started

Join a club The Ski Club of Great Britain (skiclub.co.uk, 020 8410 2000) is 'the voice' of recreational snow sports in the UK, providing news, training advice, events, resort reports, snow forecasts and discounts on travel and gear. SnowsportGB (snowsportgb.com, 0131 445 7676), formerly the British Ski and Snowboard Federation, is the governing body for competitive snow sports. You'll find details of your nearest ski club here.

Try out on a fake slope You'll get more value out of your holiday if you already know the basics when you arrive. There are currently three real snow slopes in the UK: Tamworth, Milton Keynes and Castleford. The biggest is Tamworth's SnowDome (snowdome.co.uk, 0870 500 0011), which features a 170m real snow slope. For a list of dry slope and artificial snow venues in the UK, go to skiclub.co.uk.

Rent skis and boots If you're giving skiing a go for the first time, don't buy - rent. Ensure that the rental store knows you are a beginner, as shorter skis are easier to learn on, and the bindings will be set looser.

Get in shape Ski Fit classes, at David Lloyd and other health clubs, will help you get into shape, or try reading Fit To Ski And Snowboard (McGraw Hill, £9.99). Sally Chapman's Pock'It Instructor booklets (£11.95) and Skier's Toolbox DVD (£14.95) focus on technique (inspiredtoski.com).

Pick the right resort The Great Skiing And Snowboarding Guide (Cadogan, £15.99) or Where To Ski And Snowboard 2007 (NortonWood, £16.99) offer detailed resort reports. Make sure there is a variety of easy slopes, and that the ski area is accessible. A resort with a good snow record is also important - you don't want to learn on ice. Inspired To Ski (inspiredtoski.com, 020-8877 5775) offers Novice and Nervous courses, Women's Weekends, and courses for experienced skiers. Neilson (neilson.co.uk, 0870 333 3356) has specific 'Learn to Turn' resorts which are good for beginners.

Andorra, Canada and North America are good 'learn to ski' destinations, with English-speaking tuition, while Chamonix, Meribel, Val d'Isere and Verbier all have British-run ski schools.

The gear

Ski clothing is more varied, affordable and easy to find than ever. TK Maxx and Topshop have decent ranges. Or try specialist stores Snow+Rock (snowandrock.com) or Ellis Brigham (ellis-brigham.com). Technical fabrics ensure you stay warm, dry, comfortable - and pong-free. But for your first trip, try to borrow some of the clothing, rather than forking out a fortune. Layering is the key to staying warm. You need a wicking base layer, an insulating mid-layer and a robust but breathable outer layer to protect you from the elements. Wear thermals or long johns for extra warmth. You also need to invest in proper ski socks (tubes) to keep your feet warm and protect you from chafing from your boots. Gloves and a hat are essential to keep your extremities warm. You also need specialist snow sports eyewear - check out Adidas Eyewear (adidas.com) for goggles in fab colours and interchangeable or prescription lenses. Once you know you're hooked, it's worth buying your own ski boots to ensure perfect fit and comfort. Get advice at a specialist store, and expect to spend around £200. A final consideration is a helmet, growing increasingly popular on the slopes. Prices start at around £50.

The upside

Aids balance and kinaesthetic awareness Staying upright on unstable and changing terrain builds terrific balance skills and a greater awareness of body position

Increases aerobic and anaerobic power According to the Institute of Sports Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Innsbruck, skiing demands high levels of both aerobic and anaerobic power to facilitate repeated brief bouts of intense effort between lower-intensity periods

Improves core stability Keeping the upper body 'quiet' while moving the legs demands good core stability and postural control, German research shows

Strengthens legs Skiing builds strong thigh, bottom and hip muscles. The steeper the slope, the higher the muscle activity - particularly in the thighs - says research from Brussels

Lengthens endurance Skiers are often out on the slopes for 4-6 hours a day, building aerobic and muscular endurance. Research shows that elite skiers have a high proportion of slow-twitch, fatigue-resistant muscle fibres in their legs

The downside

Knee injuries These account for 28% of all skiing injuries, according to the Croatian Medical Journal.

Inaccessibility You can ski only at certain places and at certain times of year, which makes your rate of progress slow and your chance of injury higher.

Lots of hassle Walking around on slush, wearing heavy, slippery boots, carrying your skis, poles and day's necessities isn't everyone's idea of fun.

Head injuries Out of 84,200 winter sports injuries recorded last season, 17,500 were head-related. But researchers believe that 7,700 injuries and 11 deaths could have been avoided if the skier had worn a helmet.