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Ski and snowboarding

For ski chat, join the Mumsnet Ski forum. Check out our guide to the best resorts in Europe and our family ski holiday packing list.

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Original poster

Anyone learnt to ski as an adult and enjoyed it?

44 replies

KellysZeros · 13/02/2017 13:15

I've been learning to ski, and I've been for about 10 hours in total (I live in France where I can ski in a short drive from my house). I'm mid 30s and I've become someone who can do turns, but I have so many moments where I fall, lose control and I feel scared.

After a weekend trip with a load of expert skiiers, I feel really disheartened, and I feel palpably angry about the thought of skiing, and the frustration. Rationally, I know I've not been for very long.

Has anyone else got tips on how to get past that stage, and gone from feeling fear to actually enjoying it? To get past the fear and frustration stage.

(PS, I just posted this in chat before realising there is a ski topic)

OP posts:

tickingthebox · 28/04/2017 10:32

10 hours is nothing, I think I felt "happy" skiing on my own after about 5 weeks....

skyzumarubble · 28/04/2017 10:34

10 hours isn't enough - you'd be half way through a one week holiday with that. Day 3 and 4 of ski school for the first time are ime the worst - you want to be better than you are. It don't have the skill and it is incredibly frustrating. Break through that and you'll be ok.

In the other hand if you genuinely hate it what's the point in putting yourself through it??

darceybussell · 28/04/2017 10:45

I was only comfortable after some really intensive lessons that were really hard work - but now I really enjoy it. Book yourself in for some private lessons and do loads and loads of drills - it won't be fun while you're doing it but you'll feel loads more confident afterwards.

akkakk · 28/04/2017 11:00

There is a lot of psychology in skiing - being worried makes your body tense up and you ski badly - you need to be carefree like a child and suddenly it works!

I started mid 20s and have gone up to instructor level...
all about attitude / mindset

Okkitokkiunga · 28/04/2017 11:05

We've been going virtually every year now for the past 7 years. I have the fear. DH was virtually born on skis so doesn't get it. I can feel myself tending up just writing this post. But what I fear is other people. I don't mind falling over, I do it a lot . However last couple of times time we have been to resorts that had brilliant nursery slopes. I have accepted that I will never be very good because I don't like the whish whoosh of other skiers around me. But I can happily pootle down green and blue runs now and last time we went I only fell once the whole week. So basically if you persevere but don't go out of your comfort zone you can enjoy it. I'm now 42.

claraschu · 28/04/2017 11:07

I don't ski well at all, but I have realised that I just love slowly gliding down easy slopes. I love everything about it. I just avoid slopes where I have to go fast, which means I can't ski with my kids, but I can meet them at the bottom.

Original poster

KellysZeros · 28/04/2017 11:22

By the time now, I've probably had around 40 hours on skis, plus maybe 15 hours of lessons, and I'm afraid, I still don't like it. I HAVE to try again in the winter, but not through choice. I'd better stop thinking about it, as it just makes me anxious and angry.

OP posts:

FadedRed · 28/04/2017 11:46

I was thirty and DH 34 when we learned and are still loving skiing thirty years later.
However, our first holiday was two weeks and we had done a short course on a dry slope first. We spent the first week in ski school and the second week skiing with a lovely couple we met at the hotel, who were kind enough to help us down the easiest and quietist of slopes. This meant we gained lots of confidence as novices, and it paid off for all the years after.
I would agree with pp's about not going with 'experts' who are just wanting to go fast down the difficult slopes, it will make you anxious and nervous. Skiing is too expensive to not enjoy yourself. Take your time and don't be forced to do stuff you don't want to.
If you hire your equipment, get skis that are shorter than your height indicates, you will find they are much easier to control your speed and to turn on. Learn how to traverse and side slip, so you feel confident that you can get down the steeper slopes safely, at your own speed and feel you are in control.
If possible go out of school holiday times so that the slopes are quieter, and finish before the last hour, to avoid all the hooray Henry's speeding home on the last run before the lifts close.
You sound like you are being forced to do something you don't enjoy- really that shouldn't be the case. If you've tried and really aren't happy, then it's time to stop doing it.

Trills · 28/04/2017 13:27

Do you really really HAVE to try it again?

Can't you do something else instead?

Original poster

KellysZeros · 28/04/2017 16:38

Not without causing a family dispute

OP posts:

Original poster

KellysZeros · 28/04/2017 16:56

One of the biggest problems with skiiing is that there are only certain places you can do it and those places are usually far from home - so you have to go as a family. And secondly, for a reason I don't understand, it is viewed as a universally adored activity.

I quite like running, DH doesn't. So I don't force him to go on running holidays that cost him and arm and a leg, and tell him he has to like it. I get annoyed and angry just thinking about skiing.

OP posts:

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 28/04/2017 17:02

Yes me

I went on my first ski trip at about 27 and didn't particularly enjoy it. I persevered and now love it but it took me a few trips (and a lot more than 10 hours on skis!) before I could say I genuinely enjoyed it

I am now in my 40s and skiing is a big part of my family's life. I'm so glad I persevered

I'm still not a brilliant skier and never will be but I am resigned to that and it doesn't stop me enjoying it!

App1eCakes · 28/04/2017 17:12

I learnt when I was in my twenties. Petrified at first, still anxious now unless I'm on an easy run. I've probably skied about 10 weeks in total.

The only time I'm vaguely not anxious is during lessons. I always have lessons - my reasoning is that an instructor will not try to kill me, knows the runs well and will help me to improve (they might stretch me, but won't make me do anything dangerous).

With that in mind, I can relax a little bit on the slopes. If I have lessons in the morning then I will ski the same areas in the afternoon, with or without DH and the kids, who are all better skiers by now.

Can you find alternative in-resort activities, rather than ski? Just say you've had enough for the day / week and you'd rather relax by the pool etc. It's really no fun standing at the top of a run wishing yourself elsewhere, you have my sympathies.

Trills · 28/04/2017 18:01

It is very selfish to insist that your time and money MUST be spent skiing.

Okkitokkiunga · 28/04/2017 20:18

Kelly sounds very similar reasoning to our family ski holidays. The holiday before last I had an absolute meltdown and refused to ski another inch because DH just wasn't listening and trying to make me do things I couldn't do. Also asked him how he would feel if I said he had to go on a horse riding holiday where after a couple of hours lessons I would expect him to be able to go for a gallop in full control of the horse. He took note of both and last holiday our family skiing was at my pace. He skied with me when DC's were in ski school and he went off with them without me and on his own as well.
I am planning on doing a couple of trips to the indoor ski slope before the next holiday. It is hard, but I really want my DC's to enjoy it.

Also, have a drink. It helps.

EssexCat · 28/04/2017 20:28

I learnt this year at 42 and I absolutely bloody loved it. Absolute total novice before - half an hour at a snow dome and that was it.

Had group lessons in the total beginners group at a fab resort in Austria and it was really liberating to be with loads of other rubbish skiers!

PossumInAPearTree · 28/04/2017 20:33

How about boarding?

PossumInAPearTree · 28/04/2017 20:36

I learnt to ski in my mid 20s. Not crazy about it like dh. But I can get down most reds without falling, prefer blue runs.

I always skied in the morning, either lessons or on my own. Meet dh for lunch. Do a couple of runs with him and then go back to the chalet to read eat cake.

kittykarate · 04/05/2017 11:44

I had a bad time as a beginner on my last ski holiday. The group lessons constantly pushed me beyond where I was comfortable, and also possibly past my competency. The key to enjoying it is only to do the runs that you feel happy doing, and telling people to piss off if they want you to go faster/steeper/harder. I was totally happy on big cruisy blues, and did get faster as I got more confident.

Or you know - do cross country skiing. I love that.

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