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?

We used to go over in the car, drive to the French alps, hire a mobile home on a campsite & ski at that resort. The expensive thing was the lift passes. We would take all 4 of us skiing for less than 1 person in a posh brochure!
Since my, (non-skiing) accident, we've not been able to go, although I have had an hour with DSUK at an indoor snow slope!

Pokemom - er sorry - just to clarify, I consider 400 quid PLUS ski hire and lift pass (so total, around £600) to be pretty expensive for a week when it doesn't include one night's food, any lunches or any drinks we might want to get outside of meal times.

I am paying the extra for semi-private lessons because 1. I have very little patience with other people, 2. the other person sharing with me is someone in my group of friends and 3. I have saved to be able to afford it because I thought it would be a nicer experience. Group lessons for 10 hours were still just under £200 in Tignes FYI.

Dear OP I am 43 and I have never been ski-ing!

Except for one weekend when I was studying in Bavaria when I tried out a bit of cross-country.

Unless you live in Scotland it's not very easy to do in the UK is it? If you lived in Aviemore and could go down the road to do it it wouldn't have the same cachet - it would just be normal. Because you have to go overseas to do it, it became something you needed money to do and hence the snobbishness.

I've not read the thread so apologies if I've already said what everyone else has said 100 times.

OP - Some very practical bits of advice from another person who is very much a novice skiier.

1. They will ask for your height and weight in order to adjust your skis. As someone else said, they'll need at least the weight in kilograms, they can often eyeball height.

2. Ski jackets often have a tiny pocket by the chest on the inside. I thought it was for a tiiiiiiiny mobile phone. But it's for your ski pass, so you can just walk through the gates without any hassle. Maybe I am the only person too stupid to have immediately got this.

3. Ski boots are really, really uncomfortable. It's difficult to adequately explain how uncomfortable they are. It will take you a while to get used to walking on them. EVERYONE looks like a tit walking in ski boots. Be careful on the metal mesh steps.

4. Your shins will probably really, really hurt after the first day. It's the pressure from the angle you bend your legs at and the top of the boots, coupled with inexperience. It doesn't mean your boots don't fit you - sorry, not much I can suggest but I promise it does get much better.

5. Ski lifts are quite scary. Even if you are fine with heights, timing is important, there is a mad shuffle to get on, you have to remember not to drop your poles, and knowing when to push off is very nerve wracking. If you've got a teacher I'd really recommend asking them to take you onto a ski lift when you're ready to go down a green (easy slope), so you can have someone talking you through it step by step.

6. It's definitely worth asking a friend to show you how to carry your skis. It's so much easier if you can slot them together and carry them over a shoulder. But (at least for me) it takes a bit of practise.

7. You are definitely NOT wasting money on lessons. You may well decide to have more lessons if you go skiing again next season, in fact, I'd advise it. It takes a lot of practise, and it's really invaluable to have someone watch you and tell you what you need to change.

8. I can't give you any advice about actually skiing, as I am so so bad. At the most basic level imaginable, it's about how you shift your body weight and balance. But you might find that it "clicks" for you in a completely different way.

Ooohhh, one tip I would offer (as a hater of boots and layers especially on my feet).

As the PP said, the boots put pressure on the shin, it is important to have well fitting socks and base layer and to ensure there is no seam or fold in the fabric where the boots meets the shin. I swear, this could make or break a days skiing. I taught the kids to tuck the base layer right down and the sock right up and then fold the sock over the top of the boot to reduce sag, then the ski trousers go over the top of the boot a thin silk undersock can also be brilliant. Wiggle toes to keep them warm!

Our lot head up the mountain with disposable hand warmers and on very cold days with foot warmers in their boots, they also have something to ensure they can cover chins and mouths following a very cold December where it reached minus 30 in parts and our little girl had awful wind burn on her chin. This is Canada though where it is much colder (not at the moment)

Other pocket essentials - tissues, your nose will run, fact. Lip balm. Sucky sweets for the lifts.

We go in two weeks, so excited! I really hope you have a fab time! I always did private lessons after my first group lesson with a women who insisted on being a princess constantly ;) hate people!! Private is worth the extra. When I got bored of my last lesson I took him to the pub instead...

It's all bllx. People in countries with snow ski because that's what they do, it's part of your life. Dropping the name of some resort is just like saying I drive brand X or Y because I'll look good. Certainly some resorts are better than others in terms of skiing eg difficulty or facilities but really all you need is a nice warm hotel, nice food and good tuition. I had an instructor in Colorado who pointed out that most people actually couldn't ski v. well they just got by. His ski tracks were like two v.thin snakes and he was v.funny and a great v.positive teacher. I was v.good at falling over but if I had the time and money I'd learn to cross-country ski. There is also snow-shoeing which is a great exercise and a lot of fun. Enjoy yourself but listen to the instructor and take your time.

I went with a group who had been skiing for years, I asked about ski school and was brushed off, ended up spending €150 per lesson with an instructor. I actually got fairly good and enjoyed it but the group I was with were snobs, it was all off piste this, white out that.

I might go again but not in a hurry.

I have only read the OP but so agree. It's like wine. Opining about the notes in wine is just a show of pretentiousness IMO: "I know about this" and only people who are wannabe posh do it.

I have a similar work set up and someone said to me yesterday, "are you going anywhere before the end of the season?" After I'd processed what they meant, I said I'd been skiing once and didn't like it. They were . But to me it's everything a holiday shouldn't be! I like warmth and seeing things, not sliding down the same slopes and spending the evenings in the same restaurants or hot tubs or whatever. And don't even get me started on people who make me try and come skiing and say I don't even have to ski! FFS. I know someone who goes skiing and barely skis and I do wonder about her choices. It can't seriously be what they want to do. Is just middle class aspirational bollocks.

I hate skiing, having criminally poor balance and a dislike of speed and heights, and fail to see why it's considered some kind of Rite of Passage that everyone's supposed to love. We often visit friends in Switzerland who live more or less on a ski slope, but we do other things instead.

I always dread the snow in this country, so I cannot understand why people pay to seek out snow just to return home with a broken leg. Is it too late to get a refund and go somewhere lovely and warm instead?

have something to ensure they can cover chins and mouths following a very cold December where it reached minus 30 in parts and our little girl had awful wind burn on her chin

Sounds like big fun. Not.

I'm with you Windchime, I don't understand it.

Bigpaw, does her family ski while she does other things? I love going despite hating skiing, I can totally chill, read a book, eat good food. This year I'm going to snowshoe through the forest on an ancient trail with a guide. Last year was horse sledding and fondue. No housework, no work. Relaxation and family time in a lovely place.

I forgot to add that there is also massive snobbery about Boarders vs Skiers. Two brothers barely spoke to each other for the week as one was a firm skier and refused to entertain boarding.

It's my secretary and yes. She says the same but surely she'd rather be with them, all chilling...? Or chilling on a beach? Seems so mental to pay £££ to read a book in a log cabin alone

I started at 34 and love it.

Some good tips by Love.

I'd just add, make a final trip to the loo BEFORE you get all kitted up with your gloves and jacket in the morning.

I just think there are a lot of people who ski (or go and not ski) because it's, as a poster said above, "what one does".

They would rather I was up skiing with them but its just not my thing, they love it so I wouldn't ask them not to go, why would I ask them not to do something they get so much enjoyment from? It's give and take, they get to do stuff that I like and they don't on other occasions, so it balances out (I love walking, they have suffered lots of nice long hikes in France, oohh and up and down the almafi coast ;) )

As I say, we all love the place we go to, its not a little village with one bar and the same place to eat every night, its a full town with loads to do and see - Museums, activity's, walks, cinema etc. I choose to read as its something I don't always get to do at home. Plus, we don't stay in a chalet, we go for hotels so I use the gym & pool and read whilst out having brunch/cocktails coffee, not sat on my own! I actually love having the downtime where I can pamper myself and do what I want, then we all party together from about half 3.

I don't believe we know anyone else who ski's so we're not influenced by it being something 'you do' but I guess some people are. If that's the case its a bloody huge waste of money! Not to mention the cold, the layers and the bloody lifts! I'm not sure I would go if it was a tiny village where I had nothing other than my book!

It does make me laugh, the snobbery between ski and snowboard! I think I would spend the whole time on my arse if I tried boarding!

We live close enough to ski for a day and be home for dinnertime. It's nice to see blue sky in winter and the kids and I like it well enough, but tbh, it's a lot of hassle for (especially as I advance in age) diminishing returns. I think it has a certain mystique in the UK (my family are ski-bores) because it's expensive.

Oh and one more thing that has come to mind - I spent the first two days of my week in agony with my hired boots. Everyone kept saying the shoes do hurt, you get used to it.

On day 3 the idea of putting them on again really didn't appeal - so I asked at the hire place if I could try the next size up and it was bliss - still uncomfortable as they apparently are but not feeling like my feet were being squashed the whole time.

I do take a size up in normal boots compared to shoes due to the shape of my foot but it is worth trying both sizes if they feel really bad.

One point on boots. I am a size 7(UK) and when I hired boots a couple of times, I was (unknowingly) put in men's boots, which increased my cramp problems no end. A chiropractor friend of mine said this is a common problem as hire places often put women with size 7+ in men's boots, but they are structured differently as a man's calf bulks in a different place to a woman's (or something).
Bottom line, women should have women's boots fitted.

And if your boots hurt, change them. I have a major problem with boots (I have all my own gear) and last new boots I bought were so painful I nearly fainted one day. When I took them back to the shop (well, the fifth time I took them back to complain) the NEW boot fitter said they were a size too small and completely unsuitable for my high instep.

My current boots are so comfortable I cried the first time I wore them!

don't put up with uncomfortable boots.

I ski because I love it not because it's the 'in' thing to do, sounds awful to be around people like that.

I said at the beginning that you will love it OP, but that is a silly thing to say because of course you may not like it all but I really hope that you do become hooked!

Private lessons great idea, you will come on much quicker. Can't remember when you are going but try doing lots of lunges and squats before you go just to try and strengthen your legs. They do take a bit of a hammering esp before you get your technique up to scratch. I found that the excitement overrode the pain though oh and the gluwein helped a lot too.

But every ingle person does this. Does EVERYONE love skiing that much? Have I missed out all these years because I've been poor?

in the UK it's really associated with wealth of course. But if you grew up near ski mountains it's not. I told someone here I was going skiing and they made some sort of comment like that's rather posh.

You're right. It's just snobbery. ignore it or tell them to bugger off. I love skiing but don't really like all the BS around it, especially here. Ignore it all and try to have some fun! make sure to stop on the slope and soak in some of the spectacular scenery.

My sister went skiiing and hated it. Her DH and DC loved it though

Sucky sweets for the lifts
Nonsense! Drambuie in a hip flask is what you want.

I will be very boring and say again what I have said on various skiing threads: I was 45 when we first went skiing, am now 70 and returned a couple of weeks ago from our most recent trip, having skiied at least once every year. I do no exercise normally, nor anything to get ready to ski. The need for super fitness is over rated, after all you have gravity helping you on the mountain. It is a lovely way to spend time with your family, which we still do. Everyone can do the sort of skiing which suits them, DH and I now do short days on nice comfy runs, DSs pound the blacks. Horses for courses or maybe beasts for pistes.
Top tip, not for you, OP, but for anyone planning to go with the family: train your DH (and kids as soon as they are big enough) to carry your skis.