To be absolutely terrified to go on a skiing holiday tomorrow

Ok, here's the good news:

Lessons are gentle for beginners and they will be on nursery slopes. Speaking as a novice snowboarder, you tend to fall less often on skis and learning to start and stop us a damn sight easier! Instruction is usually a few hours a day as you are expected to practice afterwards on the appropriate slope. This is your cue to disappear to the swimming pool and sauna to ease your muscles or swan off to the ice sculptures, shops, pub...you get the idea. Even if skiing is not your thing, there's usually a lot of other options in the resort.

Finally, take it steady, especially on the first two days. It's not the exercise that kills you (although some fitness preparation does help), but the altitude.

You normally choose between morning or afternoon for group lessons. They start on the nursery slopes and move into blues over the course of the week.

I used to ski and snowboard, but now cannot due to a very sensitive knee. I still go with the group we've always gone with, and I generally have plenty to do - spas, walking, photography, restaurants, bars, chilling with a book etc.

Hi OP

I feel your pain - my husband is a very proficient skiier and was desperate to go on a trip our friends were doing.
I’m also overweight and exercise averse so was nervous as you describe.

I chose to do private lessons rather than group but honestly it was all very gentle and the instructors won’t let you progress onto anything you can’t manage safely - it was all easier and less scary than I anticipated and there were people of all levels and abilities which was really reassuring to see. By the end of the week I’d decided I was in fact more of an apres ski kinda gal but honestly still had a wonderful week drinking hot chocolate and reading my book in the afternoons before socialising with the group when they returned late afternoon each day, there is more to do than just ski I promise!
Good luck and hope you enjoy it!

Hope you love it OP. I remember my very first ski holiday abroad, turned out to be the first of many. I could ski though as we skiied as often as snow permitted (we're in Scotland) but had my first proper lesson abroad.

I can't ski now due to my knees 😭

This is very spooky, I was just reading about Natasha Richardson. Please be careful OP and wear a helmet.

I felt absolutely the same just before I went skiing for the first time. It is a bit tricky to get the hang of, you absolutely WILL cry with frustration (I did every day) but please stick with it, once you get the hang of it (which you will) it is the most fantastic way to spend a week and I now would sooner go skiing than any other kind of holiday. The scenery is beautiful, you’re out in the fresh air doing something fun, the food is great, it’s sociable. Honestly it’s great. You don’t have to be an ‘active’ person to do it.

Take two pairs of gloves. You can then change into a dry pair at lunchtime which will make all the difference to your comfort.

It is hard to learn to start with. But stick with it and you'll probably get addicted and love it! Just have fun.

You realise you don’t actually have to turn up to the lessons if you don’t want to? Maybe try one but if you hate it you hate it...they aren’t going to come to your room and force your ski gear on you!!!

That being said I’m also overweight (yay...down from well into obese) and I ski - and have skied at all weights! You might find you love it - try to let the skis/hill do the work and never try to do a snow plough pointing down the hill...always turn across then you will be able to stop.

And get silk glove liners while you are there...it makes getting gloves on and off so much easier.

Where are you going?

YANBU to be nervous. People have died skiing (Natasha Richardson) or been seriously injured (Michael Schumacher) and they were wealthy people who undoubtedly had the best gear and instructors etc. It’s not worth the risk and I wouldn’t do it, it’s too dangerous.

More often than not, people who have bad (fatal) accidents skiing are usually good skiers who push the boundaries by skiing too fast or in dangerous places. Please don’t be put off by doom mongers talking about people getting killed as it’s quite rare. As a beginner, you are likely to fall over quite a bit, but snow is actually rathe soft. Skiing is brilliant fun, please give it a chance. Just take it easy, don’t over do it at first, relax and bend zee knees. Oh yes, and do some stretching exercises to warm up first.

Salopettes aren't flattering on anyone- no-one will be judging you. You can always take a day or two off from lessons if you want to- or not do them at all! You might find you enjoy it- it is scary doing something new, but if you are in a group, chances are you will have fun!

Lots of people go for ski holidays every year, and only a small proportion of them get injured- and often they are more experienced skiers pushing their boundaries. If you keep within your comfort zone, you will be fine!

I live in a ski resort. I learned as an adult, as dh is a skier. I cried the first day as I felt like a whale, fell over, had no idea how to get up, etc etc.
Just do it. Grit your teeth. Put on a massive air of positivity and really make an attempt to learn and enjoy it.
You have two choices - you can be one of the middle aged mummies who refuses to give it an honest go (because it hard to try something new, and it makes you feel you feel stupid) and bails after lesson #2, or you can master this thing, destroy your fears, and experience the sheer joy of whizzing downhill in beautiful surroundings in the fresh air, having boosted your confidence a billion times and put to bed twelve years of feeling bad about yourself.
You’ve got this.
Honestly.
Get out of your head and into the mountains.
Let 2020 be the year of ‘yes I bloody can!’ and not ‘oh no I couldn’t possibly’

The only person in my family who's got hurt skiing is DS age 14 who is the fittest, most competent of us. He skis or boards past his abilities and falls over. The rest of us just pootle down the slopes quite happily, take a break whenever we're tired, and have fun.

Have fun!

Oh,you're going to have just the best time ever! You will be starting with a group of beginners so all in the same boat.
I've been eight times now and should be good but because I'm self employed and dont want to break any bones,I go nice and slow and still snow plough alot. I cant seem to get the hip action thing so just go slow....then get to a blue and whizz down ( like bridget jones) .
By the third day you could be up in the mountains and feeling proud of yourself. Have a great time

Also, everyone's legs hurt on days 2 and 3, no matter how fit they are. Ibuprofen is your friend.

Furst time was,age 50! Make sure to go to the first two lessons..everyone will be falling sometimes and you wont be the worst. It will be slow pace. You can do it. And enjoy the scenery!

Ahh, it will be ok- the instructors will constantly change the groupings to make sure you’re with the right people. DH and I started together, he quickly progressed and I was in the wimps group which was social and fun!! Have a great time

Ibuprofen gel. If you do not have some get it.

Also consider taking a hot water bottle.

It's totally understandable that you're nervous, but skiing is amazing! I hope you find you love it too. The whole atmosphere, being in the mountains, beautiful scenery, feeling good that you've spent the day doing exercise so you can spend the evening drinking wine and eating cheese! Honestly, it's the best thing ever.

Have a fabulous time!

You are going to totally love it OP! group sessions wayyyy better than 1 on 1- I am v fit and even I found them exhausting and too pushy. I’m a nervous skier and group lessons allow me to go a bit slower. You will be cool in a beginners class.

I love skiing but I do the group lessons, hace a short pootle with the kids and hubby and then I go wallow in a hot bath, walk in the snow, watch the mountains with a coffee. It’s the most beautiful setting and utterly relaxing both on and off the slopes.

After 5/6 weeks skiing I still go in a much lower group class than I should because I like the confidence it gives me. Go at your own pace and you’ll be fine.

It’s a truly magical holiday. new year in the mountains will be bloody awesome. Enjoy it! Even if you hate skiing you will love the holiday.

Pa my first ski holiday I’d done no exercise. I had sore legs for sure but well worth it. Just go easy if it hurts and have another vin chaud instead!

I skied every year when I was younger but never really enjoyed it - I was scared and being somewhat hefty in the arse area I found it really difficult to get up when I fell over, which was frequently.
So I gave it up but still went on the skiing holidays (DH and DS love it) and just did my own thing, swimming, strolling, reading, browsing in all the gorgeously expensive shops, or just enjoying a hot chocolate with a slug of brandy in. In short I relaxed and enjoyed myself.
So if you discover it's not for you it's not the end of the world. But let's face it, loads of people absolutely adore it. It's quite possible you will too.