Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to give up skiing after 18 years...

90 replies

DoSomethingKirsty · 23/03/2016 15:55

Two days into our family ski holiday and I just don't want to do it anymore.

Sick and tired of squeezing my feet into in comfy boots (that cost a bloody fortune to get custom fitted for extra comfort). Sick and tired of always being last and holding the group up. Sick and tired of being petrified that I'm going to be hit by a snowboarder.

I am a fairly competent skier if the conditions are perfect and the slopes are empty, but as soon as the the light goes, or the snow softens or little piles of powder appear I go to pieces.

I stropped off the slope after one run this morning, as I had no clue where the rest of the group had gone and DH wasn't answering his phone.

AIBU to never set foot on a slope again?

OP posts:
wasonthelist · 23/03/2016 15:58

You should come skiing with me - I hate being the one everyone (no-one) waits for and never getting a rest. You are going to the wrong place with the wrong people.

Original poster
DoSomethingKirsty · 23/03/2016 16:03

I am going with my husband, kids and a couple of friends.

The children are all so much faster than the adults now and DH, to be fair has to keep up with them. I just get absolutely no enjoyment out of it. My friend is also on the slow side, but doesn't get phased by everything else going on around her.

The first day was good, yesterday started well and ended terribly and I now have no confidence left to carry on.

DH nearly got a ski pole wrapped around his neck when he suggested I spent some time on the nursery slope.,

OP posts:
Original poster
DoSomethingKirsty · 23/03/2016 16:05

That should be with, not going - obviously I am already here...

OP posts:
massistar · 23/03/2016 16:14

No, YANBU if you're not enjoying it.

YABU to pick on snowboarders as you're just as likely to be wiped out by out of control skiers.

hateflying1 · 23/03/2016 16:16

YABU to want to give up when the last time I went was 22 years ago, and I would love to go again (but can't ) Grin.

Seriously though, why not suggest another type of holiday next time? Or let your family go without you and you do something else - silent yoga retreat would suit me!

Original poster
DoSomethingKirsty · 23/03/2016 16:17

I've been wiped out three times - always by snowboarders: the noise a snowboard make freezes me to the spot! Having said that I had a near miss with a skier yesterday.

OP posts:
FishOn · 23/03/2016 16:17

You should come with me. Wide open groomed cruising runs, with no-one on them (Canada) and lots of sun.

I can't do bumps, slush or crud either. If it snows I go home Grin

amicissimma · 23/03/2016 16:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

naturalbaby · 23/03/2016 16:20

I'm finding I'm not enjoying things as much as I used to. The faff of doing it with 3 kids in tow takes a lot of the enjoyment out of it these days.
We're visiting very, very small resorts so it's much quieter. The car is also parked a short walk from the end of the piste so I go sit in the car with a book, podcast or newspaper for most of the day when I'm not in the mood!
No help for you in the middle of it all but yanbu at all.

Original poster
DoSomethingKirsty · 23/03/2016 16:21

We do get to do a summer holiday, so I suppose that is the compromise. DH said he would never give up his skiing holiday, just not sure I need to go too?

OP posts:
zoobaby · 23/03/2016 16:24

I'm a fair weather skier and the joke is that I go up the slope more than down, but I love it. Currently having time away with infant DC, and now secretly worried I'll hate going back. Confused

LovelyTrees · 23/03/2016 16:25

If you felt more confident would you enjoy it more? Would some ski lessons with a private instructor help? I have seen average/weak skiers improve dramatically in both skill and confidence with some good teaching.

But YANBU, you can do whatever you like on holiday. It's not meant to be a punishment Smile

LIZS · 23/03/2016 16:26

I know where you are coming from . We haven't skied for 5 or so years. I enjoy the mountains, hot chocolate and the good wide runs but hate the feeling of crowds, the sound of approaching snowboarders, the faff of getting ready, the worry that this time our luck will run out and someone will get injured.

8angle · 23/03/2016 16:26

We have a deal that we only stay somewhere on a skiing holiday that is enjoyable whether you are skiing or not. So if the weather is bad or we don't feel like it - we are still on holiday...

Piffpaffpoff · 23/03/2016 16:28

Would you feel confident heading off solo for a morning? Maybe some time by yourself, without feeling pressure from the rest of the party will let you refind your enjoyment. I like skiing with friends because they push me to try harder but I need to be in the mood - a lot of the time I am happier pottering around by myself doing the runs I want at the speed I want (and having a wee sit down when I want too!!)

Rosa · 23/03/2016 16:30

FInd a resort with a nice spa / pool. Or go up the chairlift , get a sun lounger and sit . Then if you feel like pottering down teh easy slope to the village do . If you don't then take the lift back down again. Go at your own speed. Or take a private instructor for an hour just to try and get your confidence back up. Ski at your own speed and have regular bar stops.

juneau · 23/03/2016 16:33

Presumably its supposed to be fun for everyone, otherwise its not much of a holiday. So no YANBU if skiing is no longer enjoyable. Would a few one-on-one lessons with a nice instructor boost your confidence perhaps? Sometimes all it takes is someone patient to give you the confidence to overcome your fears.

Your DH doesn't sound particularly sympathetic, but maybe he's finding it stressful trying to keep an eye on the kids and also wait for you?

Could your DH and DC cope in future if you didn't go along?

SparklesandBangs · 23/03/2016 17:00

I don't ski. Managed all of 1 session before agreeing with the instructor that my body wasn't up to it. Still went for years to help DH with the DC always somewhere with a pool or spa and a nice village. Haven't been since DC became teens and didn't need me anymore. I have a staycation it's wonderful. Do you still need to go.

Original poster
DoSomethingKirsty · 23/03/2016 17:12

DH is not sympathetic at all - he is of the opinion that I should just get on with it.

He's now thrown his dummy out of the pram and refusing to go on the summer holiday, which he apparently hates if I don't ski. I've ruined everything etc...

OP posts:
Original poster
DoSomethingKirsty · 23/03/2016 17:14

I've had loads of lessons - instructor look a bit puzzled and say I can ski.

OP posts:
JolieMadame · 23/03/2016 17:14

Have a few private lessons to get your confidence back?

JolieMadame · 23/03/2016 17:15

Just seen your last post. I still have the odd lessons and I've been skiing 30 years?

If you explain to a good instructor that you need your confidence building they should be able to help you

JolieMadame · 23/03/2016 17:16

Your DH sounds like a dick

Don't go if you don't enjoy it, or invite a friend along that you can spend most of the time drinking hot chocolate with...

Original poster
DoSomethingKirsty · 23/03/2016 17:16

God my English was crap there.

OP posts:
foragogo · 23/03/2016 17:24

I went last week and you are way way more.likely to be taken out by a snowboarder. I saw 4 accidents in a week and three were snowboarders going straight and v v fast crashing into skiers traversing in front of them at moderate speed. one was a snowboarder going round the back of a group standing at the edge of the piste listening to their instructor instead of in front and falling off the edge taking the instructor with him who was not best pleased I can tell you. Not that I am particularly anti snowboarders, my kids want to try it, just pointing out the age old fundamental incompatibility between people hurtling down mountains straight and those hurtling down weaving from side to side. It's utter baloney to say that you're just as likely to be taken out by the o es going side to side.

Anyway, what I actually came on to say is that I am a pretty experienced skiier, ski fast and am confident, would normally be at the front not the back and I still book into ESF advanced for morning lessons everytime I go skiing as I think it's helps confidence and fine tuning if you haven't been skiing for awhile or aren't the most confident/fast skier. Could you do that? the another advantage is taht you are then normally skiing with people at about the same level as you for half the day so don't feel like you are lagging behind / having to wait for people.