Getting over the fear?!

[RosieLig]

Any tips?

I seem to have developed a bit of a skiing phobia. I've been 4 times, had lots of lessons etc... I know what I need to do but really struggled this week in Austria.

Sometimes I ski OK (fine down an easy red) and others I'm rigid with fear on a blue.

I'm so annoyed at myself. My skiing is technically better that it used to be but I'm more terrified each time I go! Anyone been through similar and got any tips?

Thanks.

[HolyTerror]

I'm afraid this is entirely unhelpful, but I simply decided in similar conditions that, as ski-ing was an entirely optional and in fact fairly arcane activity, rather than a crucial life skill, it was absolutely ridiculous of me to put myself through fear in order to do something I didn't particularly want to do anyway. So I just stopped. Why take expensive holidays to do something that makes you scared and miserable?

(PS. I should say we never actually went on ski-ing holidays, we just stayed with friends with a family chalet in an area with lots of ski-ing. When we go now, I have a lovely time going on long snow hikes and falling off toboggans with my toddler.)

[crappyday]

Have you tried private lessons? I had a couple this week and it got me from total panic to thinking I could actually remember how to do it.
I was really clear with the guy- I look like I can ski ok ish, but inside I'm petrified of going wrong and hurting myself. He was great- gave me things to practise on my own as well which helped me to get down tricky blues.

[Linseed]

www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Skiing-Gallwey/dp/0679778276/ref=pd_sim_b_11?ie=UTF8&refRID=18QQKDQHYBTNXR1T1NY4&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

This book helped me quite a bit, as did watching the hilarious old you tube clips of the BBC documentary "On the Piste".

One to one lessons with a good instructor are invaluable, and there is also a skiing forum for women called ski divas which gives good tips.

[anotherdayanothersquabble]

Bach Flowers, resuce remedy and Mimulus.

[RosieLig]

You are all stars! Thank you. I feel quite emotional about it as I am a determined person and this is one thing I've struggled with despite the effort I put in!

It's such a lovely holiday and my husband and kids love it.

We're off again in 5 weeks so I'll read the book and get some private lessons booked.

[anotherdayanothersquabble]

Where are you going in 5 weeks? Cross country skiing helped me be a better downhill skier and is a personal challenge! Also, don't be afraid to tell your instructor what you want, not to scare you and change if you don't like them.

You don't have to love skiing, it's not a law!!

I used to do water sports, the more I did it, the more terrified I became, I stopped in the end.

[sandycloud]

I had a private lesson in France last year with an instructor who had been teaching for over 40 years. He told me you're a mother so you're trained to look out for risks and danger. He then said you have no control over the slope so don't be scared of it. Think about what you are doing. It really seemed to help. Was very embarrassed when he had to keep picking me up. I did get better.

[FreeButtonBee]

agree private lessons make a massive difference to confidence. It revolutionized by last trip entirely.

[SkiDilemma]

You know what, I've got worse too! I used to be only nervous of blacks, now I worry that it might be red that's more like a black!i had a really nasty fall and smacked the back of my head last year on day 2. Never really recovered. I've done about 10 weeks skiing in my life but I resorted to doing big wide turns after my fall! I get really freaked about pointing down the hill when there's a certain gradient. Agree that being a mum has made it worse. My db has skid less than me but tackles any black run fearlessly. I never progress any more as it takes me all week to get as good as I was the previous year!agree that lessons may be the answer as I've not had any really for years. This feb I'm having lessons.

[vicnew]

No useful advice, but just wanted to say I feel exactly the same. I have been skiing about 5 times, and we are due to go to Tignes at half term. I have had lessons, group and private and just can't get over the fear and end up side slipping down anything more than an easy green, I seem to get worse rather than better and feel so fed up of it! At least there will be plenty of good food and Vin Chaud.

[Trickydecision]

Rosieleg, you seem similar to me - good conditions, sunlight, uncrowded easy black piste, no problem; flat light, poor visibility, chopped up snow, too many skiers and I can be a gibbering wreck on a blue.
These days, because we are ancient, DH and I tend to stick to nice comfortable runs anyway. Too old to enjoy being terrfied.

I think it helps a lot to to revisit a resort and are therefore familiar with the runs. I bet we have all been down runs which start off innocuously, then you turn a corner and find an unexpectedly precipitous drop, with groups of skiers standing at the top peering nervously down. Avoiding these nasty surprises tends to minimise marital rows.