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.

My top tips:
Ski in the morning not the afternoon because the snow is easier to ski on in the morning.
If in doubt/feeling wobbly, lean forward, bend your knees and put your hands on your knees. It is the safest and most stable position to be in.
Quit while you are ahead (Ie before you get exhausted). When your legs are tired you are more likely to make mistakes and/or fall.
Build up slowly - do 1-2 hours the first day, 2-3 the next etc.
Ski directly behind the instructor if you can, so you can hear what they are saying. The last person in the group always misses out on all the teaching.
Remember that people of all ages, sizes, shapes and abilities ski so you definitely can too!!

Go OP! I didn’t learn until my thirties and tbh I don’t know why I persevered (well, ski-mad DP) because it was such hard work. It wasn’t until the third year I went that I woke up one morning and thought “I can’t wait to go skiing today”. Fast forward 30 years and I’m lucky enough to still be able to do it, and despite my advanced age I think experience makes me a better skier than I was when I was much younger and more energetic.

I'm so glad you liked it - I hated it, I Aupaired in Switzerland a long time ago when I was 18, the family had a chalet in the portes du solei and bought me ski school lessons at Xmas - I was awful at it, couldn't get on the stupid mushroom lifts, fell over and had my ski drive into my leg leaving a huge bruise, discovered I had a massive fear of heights once I got to the top of the mountain, was told by the non english speaking Instructor that I 'danced too much' ffs - I passed my bronze award then let them all get on with it and spent each weekend reading Ruth Rendell Novels whilst they all bounced around in the cold Beach holidays for me from now on!!

Brilliant update!

Jealous. I'm also in Switzerland trying desperately to enjoy skiing (and I am not a novice) but I still hate it. My DH and children love it but I just don't get it.

I love the mountains, the cheese based foodstuffs, the hot chocolate etc, but speed? No. It's just sliding down a hill, with lots of other people. Wearing horrible clothes.
Hate the kit faff. Hate the noise the lifts make. The fact that it's always so goddamn BUSY (I am tied to school holidays) and the fact that everyone else seems to think it's the best thing EVER.

I've also got too fat for my ski trousers and every time I sit down the poppers come undone and it's driving me mad.

It's weird because pre children I quite enjoyed it.

Bravo!

Enjoy!

Happy new year all!
Unfortunately my muscles decided I truly was a couch potato today even though my head was all up for it and dh overtook me and hasn't let me live it down but I'm so glad we're here and I actually participated

I'm already looking at the next trip

If you are going to do this regularly it is worth investing in your own boots...it makes an enormous difference. We also all have our own helmets - I'm fussy about sharing hats!!

Great update!
I got the technique down well, but when the slope was too steep, all technique disappeared as I leaned back into the mountain and couldn’t turn properly. Instructor never knew when I’d be top or bottom of the group!
My highlight was winning the competition on highest number of perfect turns (down a tiny piece of shallow slope). Kids faces when I beat them

Glad you love it op. I'm fat too but it hasn't held me back either!!

So glad you enjoyed. Result!!!