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.

Yep, definitely roll him down the slope! Although I think you're nuts for going anywhere that's cold enough for snow in the first place!

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

I haven’t been skiing for ages but remember that razor sharp edges definitely helps on ice.

Loooooooool this made me laugh more than I had imagined.

most many ski instructors are shit. Great skiers but not good teachers. If you're not getting what he is saying he should be explaining it differently. Change ski schools.

Hope you manage to enjoy the rest of your holiday OP

If you're a good skier you might be let down by the equipment. Do your skis have good edges? I.e sharp enough to cut your finger on.
If not they won't bite into hard snow/ice.

@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.

I thought this.

I was going to see if it's icy get your ski edges done. Also if you're a good enough skier to do blacks you can choose what you enjoy. I am capable of icy blacks, but I don't enjoy it. I save the blacks for days with good snow and enjoy blasting down blues and reds when it's icy. One of my best mates is a really capable and stylish skier, but she doesn't do blacks at all as she just likes to enjoy her holiday. Good luck!

Apologies if this doesn’t help, it sounds like you are moving from Red runs up to black runs. If you are actually at the level of trying to carve black runs like a racer then ignore but…

Do you have a bomb proof ‘hockey’ stop?? If you’ve got this both ways, you can use this to basically let the skis run, stop, repeat the other way. Once you are confident on the slope doing this you can release the stopping motion earlier and initiate the skid a bit later til eventually you just get the turn a bit neater. As you trust your edges more and more on the ice you’ll be able to be more confident in running the skis and skidding less on the edges to ‘carve’ back up hill, though I doubt any average punter is neatly carving turns with no skid at all on an icy black run. Also side slip on ice is your friend. I came to skiing from ice skating and so love an icy black run and yeah my technique could deffo be fine tuned with some lessons but I find icy black comfortable and controlled to ski and am not dead with legs on fire at the bottom so I’ll stick with it.

Please don't complain about being on a ski holiday when most folks can't go on one!!
And also skip the lessons and the black runs...

Icy black slopes make me heave just thinking about it 🤢

Also, where are you? Our Xmas ski is cancelled 😞

I ski in New England, ice is our speciality as most runs have it most days!

My instructor told me yesterday that if I panic just to focus on getting my body as close to my skis as possible. It sounds really stupid but when I tried it, it was brilliant. I am getting scared and then leaning back. When I focussed on trying to get my head and chest closer to my skis, I leant forward and my knees bent just enough, and then I got my control back. Its also simple enough that I could remember it when my teeth started to clench.

Forget the lessons and pootle around on your own avoiding black runs, maybe have a vin chaud and plan a nice route.

Please don't complain about being on a ski holiday when most folks can't go on one!!

Why? Come on, seriously? Must it all be about feeling grateful?

As for skiing, I went once and never ever ever again for me

I mean, you know this OP, but you need a different instructor. And possibly some Bach’s rescue remedy before you start.

Perhaps the instructor could angle their face into the snow, and you could angle yourself into the nearest bar

I abandoned the lessons today and had a perfectly nice time getting myself down the run how I wanted! Same plan for tomorrow I think!!!

@QuestionableMouse

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

this

If God had designed humans to ski, we would have much longer feet.

hth

First lesson I had the instructor was hitting me on the back of the knees shouting “Bend Bend”. I nearly bent my fist into her face! Then I had one telling me I need to adopt the position of someone trying to “sheet” (shit) over the other side of the ski. Oh the joys of lessons!

Avoid group lessons, get 1 on 1 lessons instead and stay off the black runs. No one should be on them unless they can ski well. Otherwise it’s just dangerous for everyone.

Reds and blues are good enough for me. Enjoy the skiing without the fear (never have been one for fear on holidays). It’s supposed to be fun.

ski instructors are highly qualified sports teachers. You sound like an arrogant individual who is blaming everything but you could just be having a bad day, if you are that experienced s skier, being up on the black slopes

@thatsallineed

If God had designed humans to ski, we would have much longer feet.

hth

Spat my tea,

Bloody hell @RubyThursday17! Can't you a be bit nicer??

Seems to be a serious lack of "goodwill to all men" on here today

And @bestbefore you could always choose not to read the thread if you're feeling fed up about not being on holiday.

Pizza - fries - pizza - fries...

@RubyThursday17

ski instructors are highly qualified sports teachers. You sound like an arrogant individual who is blaming everything but you could just be having a bad day, if you are that experienced s skier, being up on the black slopes

Most highly qualified sports teachers have no idea what it is like to not be able to do it. An instructor who has skied since he was 5 has no memory of not being able to do these things. An instructor who has only one way of explaining something might be highly qualified but is still crap. A decent instructor will have a variety of ways of explaining something, and will also know when a pupil is panicking and needs support rather than simply repetition of what clearly isn’t working.

You need to angle your knees into the hill, OP.

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