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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Ski snobs

152 replies

DuchessofCuntbridge · 27/01/2015 13:43

I am going skiing next week for the first time in my life (I am late 20s). It is insanely expensive and I am still wanting to vomit at the cost, but I can finally just about afford it so am having a go. I haven't even so much as touched the tip of a ski before so it's a whole new experience.

I work in the city with a lot of very posh public school educated people who, whilst generally lovely, do often have warped views of the world.

So far at work, I have had to endure weeks of shocked faces and chants of "oh HOW have you never been before" from people at work. The same people then launch into seemingly endless diatribes about various resorts and asking me where I am staying, all of which is generally incomprehensible to me because its full of names of places I don't know and glaciers I have never heard of or descriptions of slopes/runs I will never be able to understand until I have seen one. When I do get a word in edgeways and tell them I am going to Tignes, I then have to listen to a lot of drivel about when THEY went there and how "it wasn't as good as X other place but it's better than Y place, and you should absolutely go to this insanely overpriced bar because it's just AMAZING for après ski... etc etc.

Even if I make it through all of this, I then have to endure hours of advice (often involving lengthy explanations of turning tips and "pizza and chips" demonstrations) as everyone seems to fancy themselves a ski champion - even those who have only been once.

What is it about skiing that brings out the snob in people? Why oh why can't people just say "oh that's nice, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. have a lovely time!? AIBU to tell them to shut up?

OP posts:
DuchessofCuntbridge · 27/01/2015 14:12

Kittykarate - they have NOT given me that sort of useful advice! Am literally going to go and convert my shoe size into metric right now!

OP posts:
Innocuoususername · 27/01/2015 14:14

Also, check how much you weigh in metric as they need this for adjusting your bindings (I think, either that or the ski hire places I've been to are really rude).

Innocuoususername · 27/01/2015 14:15

Mmm, that could be wrong. Maybe it's height? Ignore me Grin

Noodledoodledoo · 27/01/2015 14:17

The other thing I hated was everyone being adamant 'I would love it' and 'You'll be hooked' before I went.

I went for a week, had ski lessons every day, the group of friends I was with had different times for ski lessons so there was no real social side during the day, and spent the week knackered!

It wasn't for me and as others have said the idea of exercise all day, every day for a week really didn't work for me! It was hard work and demoralising.

Theboodythatrocked · 27/01/2015 14:19

Why are posters telling other posters they will love skiing?

I wouldn't. I hate snow. I hate being organised and wearing lots of layers. I hate repetitive exercises. I hate group holidays and chalets.

Sounds bloody crap.

BitOutOfPractice · 27/01/2015 14:21

Oh I hear you OP.

I was in the pub with my BF and bumped into a vague acquaitance of mine who proceeded to go on and and on about their impending ski holiday. How they go to this gorgeous little place that nobody knows about called PonceVille. The chalet they rent is just divine. But it's a place where only "real" skiiers go. I mentioned that I'd never been skiing and he was AGHAST. Just amazed. Felt sorry for me. Would tell me where the best places were if I ever wanted to go etc etc etc. Honestly he was vile

He turned to my very quiet boyfriend who had not said a word and said that he preseumed he'd never skiied either. My BF said, very quietly "Yes I have. In fact I used to own a chalet in PonceVille but we sold it when it got too touristy".

Silence and a hasty retreat from ski snob.

I could've kissed my BF who went back to quietly sipping his beer. It was ace! Grin

DuchessofCuntbridge · 27/01/2015 14:27

Bitoutofpractice - would have loved to be a fly on the wall!

I'm glad people have noticed the same issue with skiing and the Rah Rah Yah Yah Skiiers (as I have taken to calling them).

I am trying to lose a little bit of weight for some weddings this year so I will actually be attempting the skiing rather than sitting around, but it's interesting that so many people bang on about it but don't really do a lot!

Even weirder, one of the girls coming with us has decided she doesn't need lessons because (I quote) "I've been to a ski slope loads of times so I know all the basics". Really? Could I have saved myself a fortune in lessons next week by just popping down the ski slope? I thought it would be different anyway so didn't want to pay the extra if I needed lessons anyway...

OP posts:
DrDre · 27/01/2015 14:33

I've only been skiing once - hated it. Lots of my friends go but it's lost on me.

TheIronGnome · 27/01/2015 14:34

I MASSIVELY recommend having a couple of hours or even a day learning at an indoor slope (real snow) before you go- then you can actually make the most of the mountain when you go away.

I did it when I was booked on a college ski trip aged about 17 and it made all the difference.

Skiing is great... I'm going this year having not been on a ski holiday since I did a winter season as a chalet girl about 5 years ago! People just want to join in the excitement and enjoy having things in common to talk about, I think it's nice!

sparechange · 27/01/2015 14:37

It is no worse than golf bores, or people who go to the same stretch of Spanish coast every year or people who have a phd in local primary school league tables... Just yer standard one-upmanship and a chance to bore everyone with their limited knowledge

Tignes is utterly lovely and you'll really enjoy it

holls2000 · 27/01/2015 14:37

I love skiing and haven't been for a few years. if someone tells me they're going skiing I'm super excited for them and want to chat!!

Musicaltheatremum · 27/01/2015 14:37

I'm sure that's the main reason my SIL didn't like me. Have never skied. "Oh you 'should' go skiing. It's marvellous" went to a birthday party where I only knew one person and the group I was chatting to were all talking about their upcoming skiing holidays. Boring.

Johnogroats · 27/01/2015 14:38

I have to confess to being the world's biggest skiing bore - but I am not remotely Rah or Yah. At least I hope not Grin

I like to go to small, less well known resorts where normal (local) people ski. Usually wearing Decathlon kit, and not all the gear no idea Prada or whatever.

Imho the skiing in Val etc may be worldclass but you have to share it with some worldclass prats at vastly inflated prices.

But - have fun anyway!

kittykarate · 27/01/2015 14:44

"I've been to a ski slope loads of times so I know all the basics". Really? Could I have saved myself a fortune in lessons next week by just popping down the ski slope?

If you had an indoor real snow ski slope nearby getting lessons there would have given you a grounding in the basics. If it's a dry ski slope I think it feels a bit different. However, you'd have spent a fortune on lessons at your local slope, as looking at the prices for Chill Factor in Manchester it is NOT cheap and they want you to have done at least some lessons before you can go on the big hill.

funnyossity · 27/01/2015 14:44

Getting a couple of hours at an indoor slope is good advice.

Physically I think the first week is the worst. If you enjoy it by the final day you may be hooked!

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 27/01/2015 14:48

Your friend will probably still need lessons but they will be lower intermediate rather than complete beginners. Being on a mountain is v different than on ski slope but she will know basics of turning etc. Skiing becomes much more fun when you master the basics and the kit.

There is only one thing skiiers like more than skiing and that is talking about skiing. It may be a question of if you can't beat 'em join 'em Wink

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 27/01/2015 14:50

I agree Tignes is a fab resort by the way.

ApprenticeViper · 27/01/2015 14:51

BitOut That would have been an awesome conversation to eavesdrop! Grin

OP I would definitely recommend getting as much time at an indoor slope as you can before you go. Just getting the basics down will mean that you will get so much more out of it, than spending most of your first day on your arse on the nursery slope like I did Also, it will give you an idea of how fit you need to get before you go abroad - if you can't get out of bed the morning after a day at the indoor slope, then you're not going to enjoy a week of it!

NoImSpartacus · 27/01/2015 14:58

I'm a passionate snowboarder, but used to ski, and for me personally, if someone is going skiing for the first time, I get really excited for them, usually because they are excited too Hmm. It's not snobbery giving you some info about places, where to eat, etc. Yes it's a bit pretentious to tell you about 'the amazing lunch at the Gstaad Palace Hotel' they had last year, but let's face it, most food place are expensive in Tignes! Btw Tignes is a brilliant resort and it has some great beginner terrain. But please lighten up about it or you won't enjoy it, I have friends that have gone on their first trips with a grumpy, begrudging attitude, and they have not gone again!

BitOutOfPractice · 27/01/2015 14:58

I must admit I did a little fist pump when Ski SNob walked away Grin

I knew BF had skiied a lot in the past but I didn't even know he had had "a place" with his exW. He is very modest and I find out new things about him all the time. "Oh yes I ahve passed my PADI (sp?) open water diving" was revealed at the Christmas lunch table when we were chatting with my sister. He's great!

DarkBlueEyes · 27/01/2015 14:59

I grew up in a ski resort (yes lucky me) and have skied since I was six. I don't think I could endure a British winter without the thought of half term skiing to sustain me.

I love it and I have loved nearly every ski resort I have ever been to.

I was in Tignes last year and it was fabulous. There is an awesome public pool there with waterslides so do take your swimming togs in case you hate skiing!

Your friends are probably talking about the Folie doux apres ski which is one of the most bonkers places I have ever been in my entire life. And expensive. But definitely worth a visit just to view the unutterable madness of the posh Englishman/woman on a skiing holiday (I can say this as I is a foreigner) which is very entertaining!

At my ski club, we had a guy who took up skiing at 60 and became totally obsessed. So it's never too late!

Get fit, watch some skiing tutoring clips on You Tube and remember you need to be relaxed and loose like a goose not stiff like a spliff to make it all happen.

You will feel amazing when you come back - a week of being outside is just the best thing after a long grey winter.

Bon voyage!

PS eat lots of tartiflette

DuchessofCuntbridge · 27/01/2015 15:01

I am a bit concerned about the advice re indoor slopes now. It is insanely expensive already to go skiing - I am paying around £200+ for 10 hours of lessons when I get there with a private instructor that I am sharing with one other person... so do I really need to go and spend another £50 on lessons at a ski slope? Seriously??

OP posts:
DarkBlueEyes · 27/01/2015 15:03

Can you waterski? ice Skate? If you can you will be familiar with the feeling of gliding and weighting to turn, so that will help.

I once taught a woman to ski who had never been on snow skis but was a good water skier. She was doing parallel turns by the end of the day (this was in the days before carving skis too) and riding a t bar like a pro! Amazing!

Don't panic! If you can't afford it, don't do it, just go with your private lessons.

NoImSpartacus · 27/01/2015 15:04

Forget the indoor lessons, wait til you get to the mountains, it's actually easier learning on mountainous terrain and you will come on faster.

Theboodythatrocked · 27/01/2015 15:05

*Bit that's hilarious Grin

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