Skiing newbie - after 2 attempts I can't snowplough 😕

[Newhouse76]

Thanks to everyone who has helped me with my single parent ski holiday planning! DD and I are off to Les Arcs on Saturday.

I have had a lesson at a Snodome and one yesterday on one of those revolving artificial ski slope things.

I am so rubbish that I dont think that I will EVER be able to ski 😳.

I can't get my feet into the position of the snow plough and my feet find it impossible to be in a wider position at the back, whilst my knees are bent. I have poor ankle flexibility.

I'm now really worried that I will be unable to ski at all if I'm physically unable to get into the basic position. DD and I have joint private lessons booked for 4 days of the holiday but the instructor yesterday described her a 'fearless' and she was miles ahead with other instructors clapping at her efforts!

Feel a bit 😳 So any hints and tips would be appreciated please

It's easier to ski on real snow than on artificial, so don't despair that you can''t get it yet.
Go for shorter skies than your height would suggest, and as light as is possible for your weight. You will find it much easier to manoeuvre with shorter skies and lighter weight will be easier on your ankles. You can always swap them when you get more proficient.
Don't panic, and don't let better skiers persuade you into doing runs beyond your competence at first.

Don't worry!
You might be better off putting dd in with same age group and do private yourself.
A group beginner class is good for morale boosting. I went last time and we were all rubbish day 1 but by day 6 were away. Don't expect too much in first two to three days.... Days 1 to 3 were really basic about standing up!

Or think about instructor taking dd off for half session if she is way ahead while you practice basics. But see if you can book to change to a group adult beginner class. It s going to be more fun with other adults who are at beginner level.and you all falling over... And better for dd if she with others same age. Same ability. For classes.

I was with dd 16 at beginner..she missed one day and was still better than me by week s end. But of our group of oldies we were all managing nice runs by the fourth or fifth day.

I feel your pain, I love skiing but I am so bad at it! One thing which has helped me (not sure if you would get a chance to do this before Saturday though...) is to have insoles for my boots - they correct your alignment and make things so much easier and more comfortable - it's the same thing as having the right running shoes. Mine are custom moulded ones, but I'm sure you can probably get off the peg ones too.

Also don't feel like you have to stick with the same boots you rent on the first day - if they don't feel right then ask to change, it might make a real difference!

Have a chat with your instructor on the first lesson & explain that you seem to be progressing at different levels (it is more difficult to learn when you're older - I learnt in my 30s and soon got used to being totally outclassed by 5 yr olds) - they will have this all the time in private lessons so will be able to set your mind at ease with how they'll work with it to get the best from both of you.

Like others are saying artificial snow is completely different from the real stuff so I’m sure you’ll get it when you’re in the alps. You’ll also benefit, I think from the extra space on nursery slopes compared to inside - they’re big and wide and a very shallow gradient so you can really get the feel of the position you need to be in before needing to turn or stop - there simply isn’t the space at snowdomes.

It’s also worth considering that a snowplough is rarely used once you’re a more competent skier - you’ll be doing parallel turns and using a turn to stop also. So not being able to do it might mean you just skip ahead and find a technique that suits you. Having private lessons helps with this because they’re teaching you not the generic way of learning to ski.

If you really can’t get it or get too frustrated you could go over to the dark side and try snowboarding? Your feet will be fixed then.

Enjoy the holiday - it’s absolutely chucking it down in the alps at the moment. Too exciting.

Thanks everyone - I hadn't expected so many responses so quickly! I really really hope that I improve.

I had booked private lessons as I was so rubbish and well behind the others beginners (although all had skiied before) in my class at the Snodome and felt I was holding people up. Its too late to change into a group lesson now so it's a good idea re the instructor taking DD for some separate practice.

Will i be ok allowing DD wants ski ahead of me in the afternoons when we are free and alone? Should have given thid a bit more thinking, she is a sports scholar so of course would always have been ahead of me !

Yes You can go together
You both go up the chair lift dd goes down and waits at bottom or goes up again and down while you gently snow ploughing left to right to left
But first couple days you may only be on nursery drag lifts

Honestly I would call esf and book onto an absolute begginer adult group...leave dd with the private instructor.

It was good in a group with other oldies beginners. Your dd is going to be ahead 9f you that s life

kids and then teenagers were always miles better than me..despite me skiing all my life ...the artificial slopes are hell and real snow so different.
On artifical slope you really have to 'push' your skis against the slope to get them into a snowplough, on real snow they glide
do nto despair, give it a go, and most of all enjoy your holiday..the slopes/freshair/wonderful mountain vistas etc all combine to make it the most enjoyable/head clearing/mind relaxing holiday...( but then again i love skiing so maybe bias)
if you are not as good as dd ...well rejoice in her ability and book your own private lesson or adult beginners...it is usually fun in a bignners group..

I've been skiing for almost 30 years now & I still can't really snow plough! Just ask them to teach you how to parallel or stem turn, its more fun & safer I think. I wasted 10 years being a crap skier trying to snow plough, suddenly I was a good skier who could keep up with ppl. You could also try snow blades (short skis) as they are a million times easier.

Thanks everyone - really good advice! I'm going to look into some of these options.

Many thanks

Don’t despair OP. I know how disheartening it is to not be a natural at something you really want to be good at. My early lessons were awful and often ended in tears. A number of trips later I’m still not naturally talented but can now ski all the red runs at resorts and last trip I skied some black runs in St Anton

It's very probably not too late to book lessons for next week unless you have very specific requirements.

At a snodome/ dry slope the equipment will be old and ill-fitting. If you really can't do it why not swap to learning to board instead?

Same as PPs mentioned, I would think about separate lessons for you and DD. Go for small beginners group for yourself (some ski schools even do ladies only) if that would give you more confidence. Book your daughter into age and level appropriate group. You will still have time at the end of day to show off to each other what you have both learned. Like peppykoala I also learned in my 30s and my DC were miles ahead of me within days. The DC use to love meeting up at end of day and show us what they had learned followed by hot chocolate. We've not booked our ski holiday yet and this year might be the first year DH will go without DC. Feel a bit sad about that, but heck it will be so much cheaper

I was slow to learn. It took me a good few years of skiing to get to the point of being "a skier". Even now, after more than a decade of going skiing regularly, I don't think I am any good really 🙈

But it does get easier! I made it down a tiny bit of a black run recently and felt so proud of myself.

And it truly doesn't matter when your kids are better than you!

Separate lessons. If you can't snow plough you're not going to be able to go up onto the real slopes in the afternoon. You'll be practising on the nursery slopes.