Heelside boarders face down the mountain, back toward the hill, and edge with the back of the board. Toeside boarders face uphill, push down on the toes and edge with the front of the board.

Then it's simply a matter of looking in the direction the boarder chooses to go. That's the key. Where the eyes look, the body will follow.

One thing that has made life much simpler for both skiers and snowboarders is equipment.

New technology in ski and snowboard equipment has brought about new teaching techniques. New equipment has made it possible to teach students much more quickly. It used to be that in some cases it would take a full season to get students to where they could ski or snowboard on moderate terrain comfortably. Now some students can do it in a few weeks and in some cases sooner.

New teaching techniques also help.

With skiing, for example, gone are the snowplow and stem christie, once key maneuvers back when lace-up boots and wooden skis were standard equipment. A season or two with the stem turn, and it was time to begin working the skis into a side-by-side parallel.

Now, in their places are the wedge turn and wedge christie, which lead directly into the wide parallel.

It's now possible, through the Deseret Morning News/KSL Ski School as a foundation to the basics, for a skier or snowboarder to go from the very beginning beginner to a wide parallel, and ski very comfortably, or for a snowboarder to make linked turns in one season.

Director of the Deseret Morning News' ski program is David (Hoopa) Robinson, who is also director of the Alta Ski School. Director of the snowboard program is Maggie Loring, who is also director of the Snowbird Ski and Snowboard School.

The first class for both snowboarders and skies will be Nov. 17. The following two classes will be Dec. 1 and 8. Registration is on a first come, first-served basis. Cost of the three classes is $35.

Facts about 2007 ski, snowboard schools

Deseret Morning News/KSL Ski and Snowboard School

When: Nov. 17, Dec. 1 and Dec. 8

Where: Two-hour lessons each week for skiers at Alta, snowboarders at Snowbird.

Age: First-time skiers or snowboarder 8 or older.

Cost: $35

Registration: Snowboarders must register at one of the three Canyon Sports locations. Two sessions available — 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Limit 150 for each session. Skiers can register at Canyon Sports locations or at Deseret Morning News offices, 30 E. 100 South or by mail-in coupon. Limit 400 students.

Equipment: Canyon Sports is offering Deseret News students special rates and one-time pickup and return. That is, pick up equipment prior to Nov. 17 and return it four weeks later after Dec. 8 class. Cost is $31 for the four weeks for skis and $35 for snowboard. Store locations are 1844 E. Fort Union Blvd. (7000 South), 517 S. 200 West or 45 W. 10600 South.

Information: 237-2135 or 942-3100.

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E-mail: grassx@desnews.com