To be absolutely terrified to go on a skiing holiday tomorrow

[snowpatroller]

I am just overweight. Do zero exercise. I'm fairly young enough to be able to chug through being all of the above but dh has booked the ski holiday now and I was apparently required to up the numbers of the ski school beginners group otherwise he'd have had to pay for private lessons so am now part of the group apparently.

At first I thought ok I can do this. But now that it's happening I'm terrified. Lessons start Monday. I went out and got all the gear I think I need today. I don't know why I'm so scared. Maybe I never try new things and am pretty happily set in my ways! Can anyone reassure me? Or maybe tell me I have a justified reason for being scared.
Don't want to tell dh and ruin the holiday. My dc will also be coming and I'm glad they'll get the experience I suppose.

I have been in exactly the same position as you.

I’m now a very reasonable skier and love going.

I guarantee you that if you put your head down, push through the fear and discomfort at the start, you will reap the benefits a hundred times over,

There’s nothing in the world like flying down a slope on a sunny day, in a gorgeous snowy landscape. And the good news is that it’s mostly about technique (that can be learned) rather than fitness and physical ability.

Apres ski is amazing, off the slope at about 4, coffee and cake, beers from five, fondue for dinner and buckets of wine - knowing that you’ve earned it .

Seriously, give it your best shot now and you won’t regret it.

I hope you love it op I really do. It’s bloody frustrating at times and you will ache in places you never knew you had. However that first glass of apres ski mulled wine wine will never taste so good.

If you can fit it in try and take a different coat for the evening as wearing a wet ski jacket once you have warmed up is not fun. Ditto the gloves.

Hope you have a fabulous time

Thanks I am definitely feeling better now after all these reassurances. I will definitely cry at some point ha mostly probably feeling sorry for myself. Tips for ibuprofen gel and hot water bottle taken on, Will have a look tomorrow, going to pack a mini first aid kit.
Managed to peel off the salopettes.
I don't think I could possibly look any worsening anything after putting them on. At least I feel smaller instantly now.

I think I have everything now though.I have said that if I think it's too much I will go find hot chocolate somewhere nice although apparently Swiss prices for a coffee alone are enough to get me back on the slopes

I bloody loved skiing but not everyone does. People will be kind and instructors are highly trained and take care of you. I hope you love it as much as I did.

Another tip -- if it's Switzerland take a hip flask!
You can fill it with duty free booze to add to your coffee or chocolate....

@nachthexe, the OP doesn’t have to choose between being a ‘middle aged mummy’ refusenik and some perfect skiing self of ‘sheer joy’. It’s not some kind of ultimate test of character, it’s a hobby no more or less valid than macramé, brass rubbing or five a side football.

It’s perfectly possible to just find it a bit boring.

Skiing is a great equaliser. Approach it with a can-do attitude and you may surprise yourself. I found the hardest part was managing all the clothing and kit. It's just bulky and awkward. But actual skiing is fun and you get a true sense of achievement. My first trip I suffered so badly with sore knees and quads. Second time around, I bought knee support things made of neoprene and they made soooo much difference.

I've just completed my first black diamond mountain, and I started at about the same point as you, essentially dragged on a switz holiday by my friends, I took a ski course, and it developed from there, don't get pissed off when you (most probably) fuck up on your first attempt (even though you probably still will ) but know it's not everyone's cup of tea, even after trying it!

I mean, I hope you do like it, obviously, OP. I’m just saying it’s not a character flaw if you don’t. I can ski quite well — I stay a lot with friends in the Swiss Alps — but it’s just not interesting to me.

Do not panic! I'm currently on a skiing holiday - I am size 24, 5 foot 5 inches, aged 55. The beginners group was fine. The whole point of lessons is that they want you to enjoy it and feel comfortable!

It's hard. Day 2.5 you'll want to chuck in the towel. Persevere, it's worth it.

Everyone looks awful in sallopettes and everyone in your group lesson will be a beginner. Remember sore legs are a great excuse to slope off early for a vin chaud and the more you ski, the more cheese you can justify eating! If you feel out of breath you can always blame the altitude or claim to be admiring the view- I’ve been slacking off in the fitness department more than I realised recently and struggled a bit last trip but I reckon I got away with it (fortunately I’m quite a good skier so can keep up with most even in the backseat and letting the skis do the work).

It’s not worth the risk and I wouldn’t do it, it’s too dangerous.

Well, ignore this poster, for a start! What a terribly defeatist attitude to life!

Indeed feigning. But my point really was that you have to get past the misery. Which a lot of mummies don’t. Because it’s hard to be a beginner. And your ego gets as many bruises as your body. But it isn’t possible to judge whether you find it a bit boring unless you can actually get past the shit stage (which you obviously have). I don’t have a problem with people who can ski but choose to do macrame instead - but I find it really frustrating when women fall into that whole stereotype thing and don’t even try because they don’t want to look stupid.
Like I said. I live in a ski resort. It drives me bonkers when hordes of women sign up for bloody expensive lessons and bail.
It’s like breastfeeding. No one tells you how bloody brutal it is to start with, and so loads of women stop before they even get to the piss easy part. If there was more normalizing of the bloody flesh bit, more women would realise it’s normal and put the effort in to get past it, instead of panicking that they are too shit and giving up.
Just get through the shit bit and THEN make up your mind.

Buy magnesium tablets and take them. Stops your muscles aching as much. And drink plenty water at altitude. Try not to skimp on boots x

Hi OP I went skiing for the first time about 2 years ago. Was in a beginners class and it went very very slowly! They will only bring you to very gentle slopes in the first couple of days. It's completely fine.

OP, I’m a stupid middle aged mummy who had one group lesson and bailed, because I realised I was doing something I would never enjoy. I have very little balance and fundamentally dislike feeling out of control in any way going down slopes! Sorry, nachthexe, it wasn’t about ego or fitness, but terror, and realising I was trying to go against my own nature.

So instead I snowshoe, which I adore, and find enormous fun. It’s also physically demanding but doesn’t scare me. I also hike so I get to see the beautiful snow in a way that I am happy with. We’re all different and don’t feel like you’re a moral failure if skiing isn’t for you. Have a lovely holiday.

You're going to hate me in this thread but if you don't want to do it, don't. It's your holiday too! I am only telling you what I wish someone had told me when I was pushed into having skiing lessons against my better judgement! If you do do it, make sure you have excellent insurance.

And like Doubleraspberry I love snowshoeing. No feeling out of control, no horrific accidents.

Skiing is brilliant.

Ski boots can make the front of your legs sore as they’re rigid with no padding, sticking some really fat sanitary towels to your leg or a folded sock inside your sock works well to stop it.

It will be fun. Doing the easy slopes and beginner lessons will help a lot. I found it hard with not being fit mostly when I fell over. It was just harder to get back up again but I’m sure you’ll be fine. Have fun OP.

@SimonJT that’s a terrible idea. You need to be able to feel the boot properly to ski properly and the boot liner should be sufficient.

As others have said, it can be a bit frustrating at first (although the scenery and ski lifts and fresh air are always fab). Everyone was a beginner once, so just make up your mind to persevere for the week with a smile on your face. If you can just get through the first week you will be good enough to ski easy slopes on future trips which will be a lot better than never being able to join in with your family. Have a great time!

Do not put anything inside the ski boot other than a ski sock! Beginner rental boots are already mushy and you do need to be able to connect with the boots properly or you will fall. If they hurt that much they don't fit right, ask the shop to change them.