Ski snobs

[DuchessofCuntbridge]

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?

Skiing eh? On bloody snow? In freezing temperatures? Sliding about and falling over? My idea of purgatory.

Now 40 degrees of heat, brilliant, endless, boiling sun, smiling African people and bright colours wherever you look. That's my idea of Heaven.

But I sincerely hope you have a lovely time Duchess!

Haven't read all the thread but oh Duchess -you will have such a good time!!! I first went at school to Switzerland, and then in my thirties to France, Austria, then back with the kids to france, and and have been for the odd weekend in Scotland.

The kids and I are going at half term to Bulgaria. It is a bittersweet Holiday because my mum died four months ago and the boys were there with mum and I at the end. My sister was in itu at the same time so it was very stressful but the children were lovely. My mum left us some money - not a huge amount but some for the childrens savings accounts and a few extra s.we decided to go skiing as it's been such a crap year - the childrens second time - and we can't wait!!! Have had a couple of raised eyebrows about Bulgaria but we haven't been there before! Watch out for the 3rd day blues when you put your ski boots on and your legs hurt! I usually have the afternoon off that day!

Aw knackered I really hope you all have a fabulous time .

haha this is funny! I have lived abroad for many years in two areas where people just go skiing in the winter like we would go to play tennis or go for a run, there is no pretension or showing off at all.

I really REALLY can't bear the attitude of the social climbing / already posh English described by the OP as it is so fake and showy offy.

Personally, I have been skiing a few times when I lived in said regions but never took to it and got fed up of being shown up by toddlers on the nursery slopes so retired to the bar terrace to watch!

Although I love the snow and being in the mountains, I can't stand having two planks on my feet as it feels so unnatural (I have a background in a different type of sport so it's nothing to do with being lazy). Maybe i should investigate rackets or whatever it's called in English.

snowshoe, it's called snowshoe in English!

Haven't rtft but just wanted to say that I hate it when people say 'après ski' like as a noun.

'Oh yah, you must go there, the après ski is amazing'

Argh!

I love skiing and live very close to some of the resorts that kind of Brit seems to love.

It was an amusing pastime of dh's and mine to listen to the goings on of the various posh brits on the chairs going up and take bets as to how they would cope going down.

Generally speaking, the louder and brasher the worse they looked on the way down.

We are currently the decathlon kit and local resort type, as the dc are little and money is tight - can't say I miss much of the fancier stuff, the skiing can be just as good in the cheaper resorts (although the lifts can be somewhat painful).

Loving the sound of Bulgaria, can someone point me to some good resorts there?

I love the mountains . Not that fussed about ski ing to be honest ( stick to the blues and greens me ) but the alps ! Sob! And lovely cheese ham and potato based food

My first skiing was aged 39.5 yrs and I too got completely confused by the whole resorts, area etc etc. (Husband skied a lot in the past) But as a family we are now hooked-absolutely love it-despite this year only being our third trip and me missing all of the last one from a day one injury! We go to an indoor slope in between time to keep our hand in. But re-iterating what others have said-lots of people go, pootle down a slope in the sunshine then spend most of the day supping expensive booze and eating expensive slope side snacks, then partying all evening. We think it is expensive so ski from lifts open to lifts closed to get our money's worth, then are so knackered we just eat then sleep! Once you go you will understand a bit more about how it all works and the different areas/resorts. But it definitely is one of the things to do, like playing tennis!

Cam always spot those who went skiing during the holidays as they are either off work with broken leg or coming in with broken ankles,arms,wrists etc.

Tignes is ace!

Have a blast! & I totally agree about the 3rd day being painful lol.

I'm always delighted to hear people say skiing is their idea of hell. Leaves the slopes quieter for me!!

I know loads of "normal" people who ski. DCs state primary participates in an inter school competition at the local dry ski slope, some parents have organised ski lessons at same place for school kids who want to go and lots of people seem to take day trips to Aviemore etc (I'm in Scotland) and to Europe in the holidays.

I know there are lots of complete knobbers in the world but not every skier is one! Don't ski myself, btw...

I ski every year but only because my husband and children love it. We get use of a chalet for free so its a cheap holiday.

I'm a shit skier. The dh and children are lithe and athletic whilst Im trailing miles behind and wobbling at black runs.

I try not to go on piste but they nag me to. However, I absolutely love the mountains, freshair, views and the chance to chatter away in my very basic french.

It'll be lovely - you'll have a fab time.

I think you are taking these people you work with too seriously. People tend to like to say their bit on everything not just skiing. And why the reference to them going to public school? I don't understand why that's relevant.

Lucky you going skiing! Have fun!

To add to the points raised by a couple of posters, you're going to get a lot of lactic acid building up.

Despite doing martial arts/cross-country running/football for 20-years, chuck in tennis for 5 and golf for 10, and cylcing almost daily for close to 25-years, when I first went skiing on snow, my legs were pumped like Arnie's at the end of day-1

There are almost certainly videos on the web somewhere that show how to carry out a thorough massage on your own legs (I might be teaching you to suck eggs) but at the end of the day, spend 20 minutes putting your legs through a bit of hell to get shot of the lactic acid.

30-minutes on the bike in the gym (or a day's cycling in the Brecons) doesn't do what a non-stop blast down an 8 km run will do.

Never skied Tignes but I used to go the Alps a couple for times a season, usually France for one week and Austria/Italy for the other. I've gone off the French resorts in recent years due to the influx of Russians but everybody I know who has been to Tignes loved it.

It's always good to spend 20 minutes enjoying a vin-chaud or hot-chocolate in an amazingly scenic place, whilst you plan your next run. If you can learn to 'edge' your skis, you can amuse yourself and your fellow skiiers, by spraying snow on the boarders, as they clog up the middle of the piste.

If you can learn to 'edge' your skis, you can amuse yourself and your fellow skiiers, by spraying snow on the boarders, as they clog up the middle of the piste.

Ah finally a true ski snob has joined us...

I'm a snowboarder who tried skiing the first time and hated it. Got on a board and it was amazing :D but you are right about the snobiness. The times I have gone to Europe it has all been full of people parading themselves. I learnt in North America and also have been to NZ and it is completely different there, much less of the posing and far better mountains There is definitely a snobbish element. But you will have a great time regardless. Not all people are up themselves. Very jealous!

Enjoy yourself, there is nothing better than skiing dawn till dusk. Squeeze in a quick snack and drink here and there throughout the day in the mountain cafes.

I'm always the one who turns up 3 minutes before the bus is leaving and piles on absolutely knackered, then whilst everyone else is partying I am passed out in bed.

Oh and it's a holiday where you can actually lose weight so an added bonus! I ate my way round West coast American ski fields one winter and lost a stone regardless. It's very good exercise.

I learnt to ski in my early 30s and am now a total ski bore, even though I'm crap. I don't think the people you are talking to are snobs, looking down on you, they are just enthusiastic about something we Brits only get to do once or twice a year and that's why it is such a novelty. I can't even ski this year and I still check the mn skiing threads and shop for skiwear bargains for the kids. Utterly boring but thankfully there are plenty of other ski bores where I live/work so can live it vicariously this year. OP maybe your one week will convert you too...!

You only have to look at how quickly this thread is filling up to see how many ski bores there are on here how much people like talking about skiing

I am off skiing in Austria on Sunday. My partner loves skiing (but is not a ski bore in fairness) and cannot understand why I have not taken to it. When I explain the boots hurt my varicose veins, that I keep getting cramp (no fun in ski boots and skis), that I permanently fear falling, that I hate all the layers, that it is all such an expensive faff etc., I am reassured that I have just had a bad start or three in the skiing world and that I WILL love it and it is essential for family harmony and dynamics.
Our DS is now 3, so will have ski school this time but someone has to look after our 11mth old too (me!!!). Phew! Not entirely out of skiing though, as we are going with two friends who are equally determined to make me love this torture sport.
You sound like you will be fine though OP with your fitness and skating skills. Hope you enjoy it!

I loathe it but love our ski trips. We ski most years in Canada, I've never come across any snobbery or parading though, just a really chilled happy atmosphere. I normally have one day on the mountain,sulking about boots, socks, layered clothes (makes my teeth itch) cold, lifts and the fact I hate sliding down mountains then I spend the rest of the time reading,running, swimming and shopping (translates into drinking cocktails vaguely close to shops whilst reading)

This year I'm not even bothering to hire skis. It's just not for me. Dh and the kids will spend 9 days hard at it, I'll be lucky if they come down for lunch even once as they eat all over the mountain, they love it.

I meet them at the bottom if the slope when the mountain shuts, in a pub and we get tipsy whilst the kids play in the snow or drink hot chocolate and then we go for food.

Hopefully you'll love it, but if not don't listen to all the people who say you just need to do it a bit more, I did and put myself through all sorts of private lessons, tantrums etc despite being able to ski very week, I just don't like it ;) if we do talk about it with friends it tends to be enthusiasm for a hobby, but more often than not it's about the lovely restaurants and atmosphere ;)

Very well not week!