To push the ski instructor down the hill????

[DorotheaDiamond]

I know I need to angle my knees into the bloody hill…I’m trying to angle my knees into the bloody hill…it’s not happening.

Repeatedly telling me to do it is not helping my skiing at all! I completely understand what you are trying to say - my body just won’t do it.

Paints white the mental picture OP

Can they stand next to you and give you a visual?

Bend zee knees

@LaurieFairyCake

Bend zee knees

This. Anyone can be a ski instructor!

TURN TURN TURN

I know what it should look like. I know the correct position when I’m standing still. I can’t do it on an icy black run and it’s destroyed my confidence. Oh and constantly standing still on the slope to tell us the same things that you’ve been telling us for 4 days is destroying my knee even more than trying to do it…which I’ve told him repeatedly.

If we haven’t got it repeating the same description every time is not going to work.

I wish I could find an instructor who could explain things in different ways to find one that clicks!

I've been skiing for years but stick to red and blue slopes, much prefer a nice fun run then fearing for my life struggling down a shear cliff!

Shoop shoop shoop

Surely the only way to angle your knees into something underneath your feet is to dislocate them? Maybe pointing that out will get him to change the terminology.

@SilverDragonfly1

Surely the only way to angle your knees into something underneath your feet is to dislocate them? Maybe pointing that out will get him to change the terminology.

Or bend them backwards?!

I found being told to look down the slope to where I wanted to go, rather than where I was going, helped create the right natural bend, if you see what I mean?

But yes, been there! In the end the strategy is to avoid icy blacks, tbh ;-) especially on 50 year old knees...

Are you with friends who are good skiers? Can one of them 'teach' you instead?

I had 1 day of lessons with a guy who's only instruction seemed to be "press, press" then sacked it off. One of my friends who's a really good skier took me to the top of a blue run and we worked our way down with him coaching me. He does have the patience of a saint though!

Thing is I’m actually a pretty good skier - if I do it right I’m the best of our group…I just panic on icy blacks and my body locks into the wrong position! I can do it perfectly well on decent snow - the scraping sound on ice sends me into stiffness and everything goes wrong!

And the instructor constantly repeating that I need to angle my knees and look down the hill as if I’m an idiot is not helping!!! He can’t seem to grasp that I know exact what to do but just can’t force my body to do it!

@DorotheaDiamond

Thing is I’m actually a pretty good skier - if I do it right I’m the best of our group…I just panic on icy blacks and my body locks into the wrong position! I can do it perfectly well on decent snow - the scraping sound on ice sends me into stiffness and everything goes wrong!

And the instructor constantly repeating that I need to angle my knees and look down the hill as if I’m an idiot is not helping!!! He can’t seem to grasp that I know exact what to do but just can’t force my body to do it!

Oh God; I'm with you - ice sends me into a total panic

Shoulders down the mountain to get your edges in. If you have your skis across the slope but are looking right down the fall line (could even stand there with both poles below your bottom ski), you will be completely safe. Helps train the Brain not to panic and turn up the mountain! Soft knees is key - creating a chant like saying the days of the week is most useful as overthinking leads to locked legs...

I had one day of being "taught" how to snowboard on a family holiday when I was much younger. I hated winter holidays with a passion before we went ("But you like water," they said..."it's just frozen water. And there's a pool at the hotel.") I still hate winter holidays now. It was horrible and I was made to feel like a complete moron for not getting it right...I didn't enjoy it at all. It's not fun. It's cold and horrible and if you get it wrong, you might break your neck. The pool they had mentioned was also freezing cold and 20-year-old me did not want to sit naked in a sauna with my parents and other oldies.
We have snow in winter where we live now anyway. I've taken DS sledging multiple times and that's fine. He loves it. I quite enjoy it. I've refused to go on any winter breaks ever since. Give me a beach and some sunshine instead.

Go down a blue run that ends with a pub.

I hate black runs and cross them horizontally. It can take me hours to get down a black slope. Bugger that!

I’m definitely overthinking that’s for sure….what I can’t do is get from panic turn up mountain to correct position! Plus I’m not sure I can physically bend my knees enough to angle the skis to bite on icy black..,which doesn’t help :-(

Got down it fine by myself without trying for the controlled carving turns…

Might be another a wee 1:1 on a run you are finding hard.

Im reading this so jealous of anyone on holidays !

I can’t do it on an icy black run and it’s destroyed my confidence.

You're having lessons on a black run? I would have thought black runs are only for people for whom lessons are a distant memory.

You can leave the lesson. You don't have to stay.

@RandomLondoner

I can’t do it on an icy black run and it’s destroyed my confidence.

You're having lessons on a black run? I would have thought black runs are only for people for whom lessons are a distant memory.

Why? You do know professionals have lessons right?!

First world problem darling x

Went down a blue run this afternoon which was icy as hell. I hate the scraping sound and the feeling of the ski "going". You wouldn't get me on a black run for neither love nor money!

Ice: wide stance. Sharp skis. Ignore.