I have been four times now and im still horrendous- what am I doing wrong??

[tiredemma]

Had our first ski holiday to Zell am See over new year 2008/2009- went to Ski school (which was really quite awful as there was far too many people in the group). Nevertheless, I felt I did quite well and enjoyed the holiday.
We booked to go again in Feb 2010 (same place)- In the mean time (over winter 2009/2010) my Inlaws moved to a ski resort in France and invited us over for 5 days in jan 2010 - On this trip I had a half day 1-1 lesson- again, I thought I did reasonably well, especially as it was only my 2nd ever trip.
we then went back to Zell am See for the prebooked skiing holiday (feb 2010)- we went with friends who were new to skiing so I spent a fair amount of time on the nursery slopes just taking it easy.

I think it was on this trip that I realised i was actually very shit at skiing and if I am honest, didnt really enjoy it much.

We spent Christmas 2010 with inlaws for a week and they still live in the ski resort- this time was probably my worse- I'm awful- truly awful. I just cant understand why I dont 'get it'. I know I can ski, but I am so slow, Im nervous and my legs ache from the minute I start skiing.
I actually find my legs are so aching and full of lactic acid that I find it difficult to stop- it is this I feel that makes me feel 'crap' at skiing.

My kids and Dp all seem to be able to shoot off and make it look effortless. I am a rigid mess.

So, is it me? is it a fear that can be overcome? More 1-1 lessons?? Unfit? (which would amaze me as I see women much larger than me tearing down the slopes)

Any suggestions (or horror stories of how horrendous you was initially???

Hear hear Kew. Trouble is, Bluddy, in spite of my repeated requests to go somewhere decent else, DH persists in returning to the same place time and time again because it's cheap and familiar, but there's nothing to do there but ski.

Last year I spent hours in the cafe doing bloody crosswords!

oh wow! there are some excellent responses here. Thanks so much-

Just done a night shift so going to read all this more thoroughly later- thanks again x

lots of women are scared skiing, despite good technique/fitness. i think it is because they are often with men other people who like to go down as steep and fast as they can. stick to a few nice cruisy blues until you are happy on those (and used to them) then work up to a couple more blues, etc. there is no need to do every run on the mountain.
i would also second lessons (private obviously better but a group lesson with similiar level people can be almost as good), and would suggest you go to your local uk slope (dry or indoor) and do a few sessions there - it will improve your fitness, but more importantly will let you practice.
i always sing - i sing 'don't stop me now' and 'it ain't what you do..' (what does anyone else sing?)

1. You haven't taken enough lessons
2. You haven't ski-ed often enough
3. You are probably not terribly fit (nothing very unusual here)
4. You may not like ski-ing anyway
5. You may naturally not be very muscular in your legs (like me), which will make ski-ing very difficult and tiring forever!

Some resorts have Ladies only lessons which may be more enjoyable. I don't think I relaly went it alone until 4th/5th week of skiing. Had a horrid fall in my 3rd week which set me right back. I find I always go backwards on the first day or two which is incredibly frustrating and can colour the rest of the week. Also make sure the equipment is decent quality and the right size. If in doubt try a size shorter ski and upgrade.

Agree with Liz - I can have skiied fabulously on day 1 but if on day 2 I have an attack of crapness (usually happens as tired from day 1 and previous days' travel) then I get rather sulky and defeated. And skiing is so much about mindset so it really doesn't help at all to be stuck in that rut.

Snow conditions make a big difference as well. One year I skied blacks, the next year it was really icy and I stuck to blues. The noise the skis made on the ice put the fear of God in me.

And don't forget the noise the mad snowboarders make when they're bearing down on you!

When I was learning to ski I was on one of the flat Blue motorway runs in Tignes. There were 6 snowboarders sat in a row in the middle of the piste, but in all fairness there was about 100ft either side of them. They were with an ESF instructer.

I came down a bit of a steep bit, out of control and screaming my head off heading straight for them. My mates who promised to rescue me if I got in trouble were all too busy pissing themselves laughing to help. The panic in these snowboarders' faces as they were struggling to get up was priceless. Luckily tehre was a 2ft gap between 2 of them and I managed to fit through it.

I think I struck a blow for skiers in the skiing vs snowboarding war that day.

I learned to ski in Scotland, it was almost always icy, so i found it quite difficult when i went abroad and they actually had proper snow. i think i fell over the first time i turned because my skis actually turned and I was expecting them to keep sliding !!

I'd just like to say there isn't a war between skiers and snowboarders, there is a war between thoughtless idiots and considerate polite people. I both board and ski and I don't think it's what you ride, it's how you act.
I think you struck a blow for people stopping in the middle of the slopes (which plenty of skiers and snowboarders do!)

now back to the 'how to be braver at skiing' debate.

no-one has answered my question - what do you sing/hum whilst skiing?

Sorry, you're right there is no war. I meant in tongue in cheek, I was a boarder for many years before I was a skier.

I don't do the singing/humming, maybe I should give it a go.

I am on my last evening in Les Gets. Emma, I have been a few times now and still really struggle.

I enjoy it when I feel in control and when I don't feel rushed. The leg cramps are very familiar. I find keeping well hydrated (think drinking a litre of water before setting off) really helps. And I usually feel better as the day goes on.

One on one private lessons also help a lot - i have found British instructors the most sympathetic and I have had a couple of really good lessons this week with a BASS guy.

I do have moments of really loving it, which I used to doubt I ever would - and it's fantastic to see DC doing well and full of confidence. It's a great family holiday and I also liek the fact I am outdoors every day and getting exercise.

Keep trying, you may enjoy it more next time - I'm sure all the voices on this thread hope so!

I am unfit, a bit overweight, and generally hate any other sport. I'm also very tall with not great balance. But I LOVE skiing!

I got taught as a child but it never really clicked until I had a great Bulgarian instructor as a teen, he had minimal English and followed me down the slope, shouting and poking me in the bum with his pole every time I leant back.

It made me realise that I had spent YEARS with my legs rigid, leaning back from the slope. As soon as your weight goes forward you have so much more control over your speed and direction, which in turn makes it so much less terrifying, so you can relax and learn how to do a decent parallel turn and once you can do that, you can ski pretty much anything.

I do still scream my head off most of the way down the mountain though! All part of the fun.

greygirl - to answer your question

I sing along to whatever is on my ipod - old stuff is good like Jimmy Cliff, Van Morrison

If I have no music on I often find "Always look on the bright side of life" has a good steady skiing rhythm and appropriate words for an intimidating slope.

Ditch the group lessons and find yourself a really cute instructor for one-to-ones.

You may not learn to ski brilliantly, but it'll beat sitting in a cafe doing crossword puzzles.

Dh hated ski-ing for many years (I had learned as a child and loved it, still do), but it clicked when he gave up on the group lessons and had some one-to-ones. Don't know if his instructor was cute or not!

I'd second the listening to music/singing tip - not so loud that you can't hear what's going on around you, but enough to relax you.

And the sooner you can relax and allow the skis to do the carving for you, the easier it'll be - but that means allowing them to face downhill for longer than you're probably comfortable with now - start off again on easy slopes until you're happy about it.

This is interesting, I am actually a reasonably good skier technique-wise but still a bit crap in action because I also still get THE FEAR! If anything I think my skiing is getting worse over the years, not better... I blame being dragged down too-scary things with DH and his friends too many times (especially ice which is my pet hate).

Those who have said singing works, I'm curious, do you have to actually sing or can just listening to music (on ipod or whatever) also help?

Emma one thing I do think is that it's hardest if you are "trying to stop" all the time - especially when you are still at the snowploughing stage, as then you need a lot more strength/effort to stop or turn than you do later on with other methods. So if you can convince yourself you don't want to stop, but to keep going (just in control), that might help. And if you can persevere, once you get to the next stage and learn other types of turns you should find it easier on your legs.

Also whoever said it is sometimes easier when it's (slightly) steeper has a point - as long as it's not steep enough to completely freak you out it DOES make it easier to turn etc, and it's more likely to "click" so that you feel more confident and start to ski better.

I will be watching with interest for other tips though!

Hmm I have always had private lessons, palomadove - no group lessons available where we go.

And the first guy was cute, but as an ex-World Cup skier I don't think he could really get into the head of a scared-shitless 42 yo mother of three.

That's a good point about not wanting your skis to face downhill; that's the moment I feel my greatest fear and lack of control.

One thing I find is that my feet feel 'dead' and useless when I'm ski-ing; I try my hardest to lean forward onto the boots but it just doesn't seem possible, which gives the equivalent sensation of trying to walk using only your knees for propulsion, if that makes sense.

Sometimes (I'm rambling now) I've found that it's almost 'clicked' by thinking of it as skating over the snow rather than ski-ing through it - seems to produce more of a flow.