I've agreed to go but I'm terrified

[nameuseroriginal]

I've agreed to a last minute ski holiday with my DH.

He can ski.

I've been to an artificial slope for a lesson once about 3 years ago....and hated it. I was frightened of going too fast or getting hurt. The boots hurt and I just looked an idiot.

I can't back out now, he would be so disappointed.

I've booked a 2 hour lesson every day while we are there but I'm still anxious.

Can anyone please give me some tips to make my first holiday more enjoyable?

Thanks

[cestlavielife]

Mark out a day off skiing and go snow shoeing in a group instead.
All the fun of mountain and snow and as easy as walking.just ask in resort for a group outing.

You could snow shoe every day instead if you enjoy walking

Try a three hour learn to ski session in a some dome before you go if you want to ski.

[LIZS]

Take some voltarol or ibruprofen gel, you will be sore on day 2/3 from using different muscle groups to normal. Make sure boots fit properly and ask the instructor to check you have adjusted them correctly as a bad fit will make skiing difficult and cause pain. Don't let dh coerce you out on longer runs before you feel ready, it could knock your confidence if you struggle or feel scared.

[MetuaVahine]

I'm half Norwegian, grew up in various Scandinavian countries and Switzerland and still cannot ski properly. BUT I love skiing holidays. You can do easy slopes, go sleighing, go to coffee shops, go walking (with rackets sometimes). It's great! DH and the rest of my family go on their fancy slopes for a few hours a day and we all meet in the evening for warm comforting food

[Polestar50]

Colorbomb
Oops! I completely agree, didn't mean to suggest that a few lessons is all you need (I've been skiing since a child and still always go to ski school for a few days at the start of the holiday).

I meant that you should be able to get the very basics with a few hours tuition, enough to slow and stop yourself on gentle slopes and hopefully get a little confidence. From there you can carry on learning and improving, turning, parallel skiing etc.

Also agree with people saying don't let your DH persuade you to go with him on more difficult slopes too early. It's easy to knock your confidence.

But do take a gondola up the mountain early on if you can, not to ski necessarily but to take in the views and get an idea about what all the fuss is about! There are often restaurants at or near gondola stations that you can walk to. REALLY hope you enjoy yourself!

[BlueUggs]

I tried skiing and hated it. I had diarrhoea every morning I was so scared.
I felt much happier the second week when I didn't ski, with a good book, warm clothes and lots of hot chocolate and apres ski!

[Colorbomb]

@polestar lucky you to learn as a child - I’m happy that my children will be in the same place but agree we are all rusty at the start of the annual break! I agree with what you say.... perhaps I’m a bit over sensitive as my DH says I should be on the Olympic team with the number of private lessons I’ve had but at least I can get around properly now and keep up... for now!!
Just a thought BlueUggs - it isn’t uncommon for a bit of a dodgy tum in the mountains - Mal d’Isere and similar nicknames! Not necessarily fear! But I have other friends who found learning in their 30s too much to bother with and prefer a good book and hot chocolate. On the other hand, I am glad I have persevered.

[BlueUggs]

@Colorbomb it was fear!!!!

[Buttercupsandaisies]

Most adults to be fair can ski easy blues by day 3.Unless totally uncoordinated! An you get to chill factor? They do beginners course over a day - some adults and kids did this before we went and were skiing in blues on their first day in resort

[EvaHarknessRose]

I’m facing this prospect too - DH has always refused to go (I did a bit when young) and now I’m 47 he suddenly wants to . At least he’s a beginner too though.

[ForgivenessIsDivine]

I ski and I live near the Alps. I have had some awesome days but honestly. .. I still don't get the passion and hype abut skiing.
I love the mountains, hiking, snow shoeing and swimming in mountain lakes (summer only!!) but do enjoy the company of my skiing friends and spent last weekend skiing a bit, hanging out in nice places, doing a headstand at 2,000m facing mont blanc and three hours in a truly blissful mountain spa, hot pools outdoors looking at the mountains. It's not all like that but that was as good as it gets for me!!

[yakari]

Sod skiing, I find it very meh. But snow walking on rackets I love, love, love!
You will like it - or you won't, but the one thing about ski holidays is there is usually a host of other options to try. So go for the lessons but honestly if you don't love it, try some other stuff. We go for a week each year - I ski maybe 4 or 5 mornings, I snow walk in the afternoons, lounge about a couple of mornings. Work out what works for you.

[nameuseroriginal]

I went and had a private lesson at Chill Factore yesterday.

I felt I could burst into tears while I was waiting for my instructor but by the end of 2 hours I'd managed to get down the beginner slope! I didn't get a 'thrill' out of it as such, just a huge relief I hadn't broken anything.

I suppose I'll just have to wait and see how I get on on holiday.

[turkeyboots]

Glad lesson went well, hopefully you'll love skiing!

My top tip is to bring decent snow boots for walking round when not skiing. It'll be cold and slippery underfoot and being able to get about and amuse yourself is important.

Also many ski lifts will take foot passengers, so if you don't want to ski, but do want to meet for lunch up high, there is usually a route you can take.

[PersonalTAgent]

Fab!! I've been watching the answers with interest! All very good. I'm glad your lesson went well. If I would add to some of the suggestions I'd say:
Take Compeed. I never go anywhere without a pack as I often do some walking or hiking and when Skiing I always have them just in case. Blisters are horrendous and Compeed just makes you not have any, they work like magic!
Try and warm your boots overnight. I'm not sure where you are skiing as you didn't say but a lot of places have a warm or dry equipment storage room and if you're really lucky they will have boot warmers that you can place your boots over and it will dry and warm them ready for the next day. Ensure you have spare socks in your luggage. Starting the day with damp socks or even damp boots can really make you miserable as cold feet means you're all cold. If you don't have a boot warmer room, remove the inners of the boots at night and keep them and the boots near a warm radiator to help dry them out and remove moisture.
This might be a difficult one if you plan to enjoy the apres ski! But try not to drink too much alcohol as this will not help in keeping your core warm if you have a hangover the next day!
Play about with the settings on your boots. If you feel your feet hurt or are going numb in parts, stop and loosen the clip at that area. That should help the blood flow back in there. There's no point in taking the boot off to get your circulation back only to put them back on at the same settings and you may have to play around with them before you are happy. Then again you may get it right first time! It all sounds like a lot to think about but when you're out there it'll all just come to you like second nature and you'll wonder why you were worried! Have a great holiday! You're going to love it, I'm sure! Winter can be a cold miserable time for some. Once you've learned to ski, you'll be looking forward to it :-)

[nameuseroriginal]

Thanks for the advice re boots @PersonalTAgent

The instructor recommended getting insoles made as my high arches were killing after 2 hours. Can I get these made in resort?

[Magicaljelly]

Rental boots in indoor slopes are notoriously old and knackered.
Likely they will be much better in resort.
If your feet are going numb, change your boots!

[LIZS]

You can get inserts made in stores like Snow and Rock but best done in a branch at the snow slope so you can try them out.

[Epiphany52]

Another nervous skier here 👋. Op my advice would be

1. tell your instructor you are nervous
   
2. don’t let your DH push you into things you are not sure about.
   

3 Don’t do a last run of the Day. You will know when you are done!
Have fun, take your time. Enjoy the apres 😊

[PersonalTAgent]

That's funny you say that, I actually have high arches too!! I went to Physio through my GP and they made me a pair of Biomechanical insoles to wear (in all my shoes). That could be one way. The other is to buy some half inserts. They really work and make the difference. If I were you I'd buy them here before you go and practice wearing them in your normal shoes for a few weeks before you go and possibly practice 10 mins each night wearing them in your ski boots around the house. That way you can also figure out where your hotspots are in your boots and adjust too. The best inserts I found are made by 'Superfeet' and they sell them in all shapes and sizes. You can also get them pre-made for you in resort at many of the good ski shops. It might be worth checking online to see who does it in your resort and even email them in advance for advice or to make an appointment. I sell a lot of ski and I often say to my clients it's best to plan before than wait until you're there and find out it can't be done. And then I end up emailing and checking it all for them!
Out of interest which resort are you going to?

[NearlySchoolTimeAgain]

We went last Feb for two days.

We’d had 3 x 1 hour private lessons in a group of 4 on a dry ski slope. I hated it and was terrified.

We skied for two days and I was exhausted. My legs spasmed for days. I’d done no particular ski prep fitness wise but did do some regular fitness classes. I had lots of breaks.

We had two one hour private lessons on that holiday and I was skiing some blue runs at the end.

At Christmas we had 7 days. Bought my own boots. Less fit. More weight. No aches or spasming. Boots are important to get right!

I love it! I’m the one pestering my DH to get up so we can go!

Good luck :)

[rosebristol65]

skiing on snow is so much better, and falling over is all part of the fun, but just remember it is a holiday, and if you start to not enjoy it then stop, and just admire the lovely scenery, take a gondola up the mountain and meet your other half for lunch, get the sun cream out and just relax. when the suns out and the snow is deep its the best holiday you can have, but if its freezing cold blizzard conditions and your boots are hurting it can be a bit of a nightmare, but a good book and a bottle of wine will sort that out.

[nameuseroriginal]

Well I've just got back from my holiday and can honestly say that I LOVED it!

I had a couple of beers to calm my nerves before the lessons and it took a couple of days to relax but I'm go glad I went.

By day 4 I could get down a green confidently. Blues seemed too much to take on this time.

Can't wait to go back! Thanks for all your support

[stringbean]

So glad you enjoyed it! I can still remember the thrill of learning to ski - I hadn't even stood up on a pair of skis until I put them on for my first lesson on arrival - but at the end of the week we skied down the mountain on a blue run. The feeling of achievement in the space of 6 days was phenomenal! Hopefully this will be the first of many ski holidays for you!

[eponine8]

Bravo nameuser 👏🏽 so thrilled for you. The first step is the biggest!

[ovenchips]

Isn't that a brilliant update? Nice one OP!