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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Learning to ski ahead of an expensive holiday

32 replies

Lorey · 06/10/2024 16:02

I’ve always avoided ski trips as I don’t like to make a fool of myself. But having turned 30, I’m adopting a more just go for it mentality. I did have lessons at a dry slope as a kid but was totally useless.

Dh often goes skiing. I like the vibes and would like to do more than shop and eat.

My plan is to book lesson at an indoor snow ski centre. With current availability I will be able to have 4 x 7.5 hour day sessions before a planned trip next year.

My only question is will this be enough to not have a shit time? The place our friends want to rent is bloody expensive in one of the more posh resorts. If I won’t be able to even stand I would rather not go due to the cost.

I would definitely book lessons if I were to go on the trip.

thanks for any responses.

OP posts:
Kierparma · 06/10/2024 16:04

I did this. It helped.but I also booked lessons in the mornings at the resort as everyone i travelled with were better skiiers so they could go off in the morning without me holding them up (I also broke my ribs on day 3 😁 )

TickingAlongNicely · 06/10/2024 16:04

You will likely still need ski lessons there, but you won't be an absolute beginner.

Tbh... if you are with very experienced skiers, you will unlikely be able to ski together unless they stick to the easiest slopes.

TikehauLilly · 06/10/2024 16:06

We both (dh and i) snowboard and the kids ski. My DH decided he wanted to try and did the intensive ski in a day sessional a snowdome. And then another half day.

Was definitely worth it for him.

If i were you I'd take classes when on the slopes too when there. Even a couple of private ones the first 2 days will set you up well on top of the dome

Best of luck!

eurochick · 06/10/2024 16:06

7.5hr sessions will be a lot for a beginner. I'd suggest shorter sessions.

ArghhWhatNext · 06/10/2024 16:07

You will very much be able to stand. You might want to make sure someone else in the group is happy to stick to blues with you at the start of the trip. I would do a lot of leg exercises and general fitness training before you go as when you’re on a teal
mountain the pistes are an awful lot longer and that can hurt your thighs if you haven’t built them up. (Squats and lunges)

Original poster
Lorey · 06/10/2024 16:09

Sorry yes, when I say ‘I will definitely book lessons were into go on the trip’ I mean lessons at the centre here and at the resort also

OP posts:
Sunraysunday · 06/10/2024 16:11

I think 7.5 hours lessons would be too long… maybe have more, shorter lessons? TBH you prob won’t ski more than 30h in your weeks holiday, unless you are a bit hardcore! Enjoy ⛷️

AutumnStorms11 · 06/10/2024 16:12

How fit you are has a big impact skiing is exhausting and learning to ski more so. Lots of squats daily and lunges plus some cardio before you go. In resort If you want to have fun have small group lessons if you want to learn quick pay for a few morning private 2hr lessons your progress quicker.

Solasum · 06/10/2024 16:12

I would work on the assumption that you might be able to ski with them on the last few runs of the last few days of your holiday, but that the rest of the time you will be in ski school. As a beginner skiing will be much harder on you than experienced skiers, and you are unlikely to be able to manage full days without frequent breaks

MissMoneyFairy · 06/10/2024 16:12

That's a lot for each session, it's pretty tiring and I would have booked more shorter sessions. I'd also have a training session on snowboarding and walking around in ski boots, they take a lot of getting used to. Can you ice skate, that's often an alternative if you don't want a day skiing or the weather us bad. I was put in the beginner class on the slopes with a bunch of kids which was embarrassing.

Doggymummar · 06/10/2024 16:14

Gosh, I wouldn't book lessons more than 3 hours unless you are super fit. You'll never walk again!! 😅

TwinklyAmberOrca · 06/10/2024 16:15

Just book lessons when you are out there.

I went skiing in Courchevel with some friends. I've skied lots so relatively competent, as were most the others, but two had never been before. They just booked themselves into a lesson in the mornings, then in the afternoons one of us would take one of them to practice on the blue/green runs.

In the evening we all sat round big tables eating and drinking, having a laugh, comparing bruises, competing for the best wipe out of the day.

No one cared who could ski well or who was a beginner. Falling over is normal! You just need to learn to laugh at yourself - it's not embarrassing, it's hilarious!

Pistachiochiochio · 06/10/2024 16:18

Definitely get serious about ski fitness as it will make a HUGE difference.

Agree 7.5 hours is too long really. Presumably there are breaks built in. Is that 4 consecutive days?

Yes if you were to have 30 hours of skiing tuition that would make a huge difference to your enjoyment. But yes if they are all very experienced then you might not get to ski much with them.

Is there ski guiding available in the resort?

NoAprilFool · 06/10/2024 16:20

I’m (almost 20 years) older than you and learned to ski last year ahead of a holiday.

I started with a full day beginner session (it was fine, not too much at all. I mean I was knackered, but could walk/go to work the next day ) then had two shorter sessions. Ideally I’d have had more but no time. Then had lessons while there. I wasn’t bombing down black runs but perfectly capable of pootling down the blues.

Good luck and enjoy!!

Original poster
Lorey · 06/10/2024 16:20

I’m relatively fit. I swim twice a week and run maybe once or twice. But I do tend to focus purely on cardio so my muscles are not the strongest.

Great advice. Didn’t think about training up in preparation. Thanks

OP posts:
TemuSpecialBuy · 06/10/2024 16:23

Def train - google ski exercises.

Honestly you pick it up quite quickly out there especially if skiing and even if you do some lessons whe you go your lessons will be beginner group anyway

I recommend morning lessons and then afternoons you can fart about

AliceInWonderland24 · 06/10/2024 16:24

If you have the time and it’s not too much of a hassle, go for it. But you don’t have too. You will probably get more done in one day with a private instructor in the resort in one day than 4 days in snow dome. But if you feel you need it for confidence and want to know how to put ski boots and skis in, how to stop and do basic snow plough, sure, but that’s the extent of what you’d get through these sessions.

I am a big skier and ski almost exclusively off piste so when we go in groups there will be relatively few people who I ski with. We always end up in sub-groups and meet up for lunch 2-3 times and obviously the afternoons and evenings we spend together. We also always get a few beginners and they just book themselves into a ski school or share a private instructor and then we meet up as per above.

i find skiing holidays to be great fun and to be much more than just skiing. Do just go, book yourself into a ski school (I highly recommend a couple of sessions with a private instructor if funds can stretch to that). Do this 3+ time and you will confidently ski intermediate and easy blacks so a good investment if you like the vibe. 30s is nothing - you have decades of skiing in front of you.

AliceInWonderland24 · 06/10/2024 16:26

Also, I personally never found fitness to be a thing at all if you ski with good technique. I could ski from 8 am to 5pm sometimes with only a half hour lunch. I never exercised (neither strength nor cardio) until I hit menopause a few years ago. It does make a difference off piste I have to admit.

cheezncrackers · 06/10/2024 16:27

A few lessons at an indoor slope is a great idea and after four you will definitely be able to stand unless you have zero balance! I would expect after those four lessons that you will be able to put your skis on and take them off with confidence, stand, move yourself forward using your legs and your poles, ride the lift, dismount it without falling over, slowly come down the piste in a snow plough, being able to turn and stop. You will definitely need more lessons when you get there, but you will at least know the basics and have a little bit of confidence, which is worth having.

Original poster
Lorey · 06/10/2024 16:29

the 7.5 hours is the package offered as an intensive course offered by the snow centre.

My reasoning for not leaving all the learning until the holiday is that with the amount of money being forked I would actually hope to enjoy the break. And have the time to recover privately and not surrounded by friends on the trip.

OP posts:
olympicsrock · 06/10/2024 16:30

AliceInWonderland24 · 06/10/2024 16:26

Also, I personally never found fitness to be a thing at all if you ski with good technique. I could ski from 8 am to 5pm sometimes with only a half hour lunch. I never exercised (neither strength nor cardio) until I hit menopause a few years ago. It does make a difference off piste I have to admit.

You have clearly never been really unfit !

MrsTerryPratchett · 06/10/2024 16:31

You will probably get more done in one day with a private instructor in the resort in one day than 4 days in snow dome.

This. And unless they are really fit, everyone is 'recovering' to a certain extent after a hard day of skiing! That's what gluhwein is for.

olympicsrock · 06/10/2024 16:31

Lorey · 06/10/2024 16:29

the 7.5 hours is the package offered as an intensive course offered by the snow centre.

My reasoning for not leaving all the learning until the holiday is that with the amount of money being forked I would actually hope to enjoy the break. And have the time to recover privately and not surrounded by friends on the trip.

The sessions are too long . Have more shorter lessons , you will get more out of it and avoid not being able to walk for days after each lesson

Original poster
Lorey · 06/10/2024 16:31

cheezncrackers · 06/10/2024 16:27

A few lessons at an indoor slope is a great idea and after four you will definitely be able to stand unless you have zero balance! I would expect after those four lessons that you will be able to put your skis on and take them off with confidence, stand, move yourself forward using your legs and your poles, ride the lift, dismount it without falling over, slowly come down the piste in a snow plough, being able to turn and stop. You will definitely need more lessons when you get there, but you will at least know the basics and have a little bit of confidence, which is worth having.

Exactly it’s the confidence that I think will be make or break for me

OP posts:
InTheRainOnATrain · 06/10/2024 16:32

You won’t be able to have 7.5 hour long lessons at the indoor snow centre, the lessons will be 1-2 hours each and you won’t be able to ski there outside of a lesson until you meet a minimum standard of linking turns and stopping. That said it’s very much worth doing to find your ski legs. But be realistic. The indoor slope is akin to a nursery slope in a real resort so even if you’re crushing it on that, you’re still going to need lessons on holiday and you’re not going to be keeping up with the experienced skiers. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself! I would definitely give it a go.