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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

Has anyone else just never got any better no matter how many times they have skied?

45 replies

Tellingitlikeitisnt · 20/01/2020 20:23

Between the ages of 16 and 48 I have been skiing 7 times
I have had lessons all but one of those times- in a group or privately in a pair.

I am fit and very keen but I’m absolutely crap at it.
Have never progressed further than blues.

Is that it basically?

I enjoy it and I will happily ski all day but I am so limited by the need to stick to greens and blues and yet I just cannot ski well enough to progress safely.

Should I give up?

OP posts:

superram · 21/01/2020 17:20

I have been about 11 weeks in total (over 20 years), 3 times in the past year. I haven’t improved since about week 4. I like a long blue and went down a couple of reds this time (fell once). I think it’s bring older I have the fear. I might have lessons next time.

Original poster

Tellingitlikeitisnt · 22/01/2020 07:07

Well I’m really pleased to hear I’m not alone!

Honestly I thought the normal trajectory was what I have seen from my friends and that I was just a failure.
Yes I’m very inflexible and I have been filmed by and instructor and I looked so stiff even I could see how much it stood out.

I am largely happy to stick to lovely blues but it does limit you in some resorts- even just managing the odd red would open the slopes up a bit.

I have had private lessons but I’m a pair so maybe this year I’ll go solo and really try and crack the technique issue

@greygirl yes some of the tight turns are fear based I think. If there is any steepness at all then I try to knock the speed out by turning almost back up each time which is exhausting on my legs and also twists my body in to the slope too which looks all wrong. I also hate any tracks and seem to instantly go back into a snow plough as I don’t trust my turns enough to parallel down.

There isn’t a snow dome that near me but maybe it would be worth a few trips before we go?

OP posts:

PlumsGalore · 22/01/2020 07:14

Me!

I have been on three weeks of ski holidays, have an indoor slope nearby, have been to the indoor one about six times a year for 4 years.

Ive had lessons, gone it alone and DD who started the same time as me is now a qualified instructor.

I’m shit, blue is my limit and i am slow, my technique is ok sometimes but other times it all goes downhill fast - no pun intended!

I have decided that in the fifties, i am happy with blues, enjoy it more when i have control even if i am always last, and make the most of the apres!

massistar · 22/01/2020 08:05

Excellent advice from @greygirl . I had a one to one lesson with a female snowboard instructor a few years ago in Avoriaz and she pinpointed what was going wrong and gave me tips to correct it. Similar to what you're saying OP that I was overturning on one side and kicking with my back leg rather than leaning in with my body.

I'm still the slowest, most careful snowboarder on the slopes but the fear has lessened now that my technique has improved. I turn on my inner monologue when I get to a tricky slope and go back to basics of correct technique.

Yeah it's fine to stick to blues (well actually not really on a board as a lot of them are too flat!) but it's also nice to be able to jump on a lift and go off and not worry about what colour of run is at the top.

And nothing compares to the joy of a glorious, long wide red with no one on it.

smemorata · 22/01/2020 08:14

I live in an area where a lot of people ski regularly as we are in easy driving distance of the slopes. However I'm in my late forties and a lot of my friends no longer ski as they have flexibility or joint problems. Only a few people can really ski safely over 50ish imo.

EvaHarknessRose · 22/01/2020 08:21

Is it worth introducing flexibility goals into your all year round training regime if you're sporty it might also help other things? Spend some decent time on yoga before next year? Not just in the weeks before but all year.

FlowerArranger · 22/01/2020 08:54

Some very good advice from PPs. I'd just add a couple of things:

In the run up to your skiing holiday, focus your fitness training on hip and knee flexibility and leg strength, especially thighs.

Secondly, on a clear, not too steep stretch, try to take really tight turns, increasing your speed and trying steeper pistes as you begin to feel more confident. A bit like slalom, and really focusing on keeping your upper body pointing downhill, with your hips and legs doing all the work of executing the turns. Maybe watch some YouTube videos to get the image of correct posture in yo your head.

But mostly just enjoy what you can do without fear.

Heatingson · 24/01/2020 22:51

I am horrific. Only learnt a few years ago but still look as bad as I did on that first week. I look like a robot. Just had three days of private lessons in preparation for our family ski holiday and I can honestly say there was no perceptible difference at the end. I start each day petrified. I do however love it and can by some miracle get down a red run. I am another one who does massive turns and basically zig zag down the slopes. I am sporty, strong, flexible and determined but it doesn’t translate to skiing. I’m really good at supporting other shit skiers though . Because I have to concentrate so hard I find it all consuming which is a wonderful thing in this world so full of distractions.

Panicovereveryone · 25/01/2020 09:28

It’s the fear that prevents people moving forward. Turning downhill on a vertical slope takes balls unless you’re 100% sure, usually the internal monologue kicks in and leaning back prevents success.

LoonyLunaLoo · 28/01/2020 12:22

Me! I’m actually impressed by your ability to do blue runs 😂

DH was able to ski black runs on his second skiing holiday and DS (10) is already better than me and he’s only been snowboarding a year at Chill Factor!

poshme · 04/02/2020 15:15

I have found my people!

I have been skiing lots, and still don't like reds- would rather do easy, wide blues.

This year I'm planning on having some private lessons on a dry slope before going and asking them to work on helping me to go faster without panicking, and how to stop reverting to snow plough when I panic. When I do that I get exhausted which doesn't help.

yy558 · 08/02/2020 09:42

Depends on the resort. Montgeneve had some of the nicest blacks I been

Also if you're ever in alp d'huez, sarenne is only graded a black for the length and the tricky short top part (not really a black).

Just go to enjoy it. I used to ski but turned to snowboarding because it makes the blues and greens so much more fun!

wiltshiregaschick · 09/02/2020 18:45

Tellingitlikeitisnt I have been twice now with SkiGoddess ladies only ski courses. They are fantastic for anyone ‘stuck’. The courses are run from Châtel. I haven’t got a bad thing to say! There are courses for all abilities run throughout the season. Katie who runs the courses has a long chat with you to make sure that you are on the right course. Made some great new friends. The chalet and food are fantastic!!! Made more progress in 4 days than in a few years of lessons

DuchessMinnie · 09/02/2020 18:54

DP is from the Alps so can ski absolutely anything. I used to try to improve but on one red I had a panic attack and cried all the way down in snowplough. I am comfortable on blues so am happy to stay there. I do try to do better turns and build up my speed but I essentially do the same 6 or 7 pistes all week. I'm happy with that. I'm 48, learned to ski at 15 then had a long break until I was 44 and met DP.

DuchessMinnie · 09/02/2020 18:56

Actually just remembered I took DS, 13, on a red last year- first time ever I tackled one without DP there. DS fell and lost his skis on the red and I had to go and get them and help him back onto them then guide him down. So maybe I am improving with all the steady blues I do.

hamstersarse · 15/02/2020 20:39

Oh how I love this thread as I thought I was the only slow learner!

I started when I was 42 and have done 5-6 weeks of skiing, maybe 7.

The last weekend a few weeks ago is the only time I have managed to not have a meltdown at some point in the day when I hit a ‘Steep horrendous icy bit’ which of course it’s not any of those things because it’s ‘only a blue’. I actively avoid reds although have mistakenly had to do them.

I had a lesson with a female instructor this year and she took me straight onto a red which was unexpected as I thought she’d take me back to the nursery slopes - my confidence was that bad 😂

Anyway, I see small markers of progress finally, I’m a bit faster, not getting the fear so much etc. But like OP I’ve been horrified with myself as to how long I’ve been totally shit for as I’m sporty and fit too. Skiing has been a challenge!!

rookiemere · 15/02/2020 21:18

I've found my people .
Just back from a weeks family ski holiday- booked for 3 days lessons in the hope of improving slightly so I can keep up with my friends as going for a long weekend in March. Well I feel as if I got worse during the week if anything.
First day attempted some slopes with DS 13 - ridiculously hard Blues and he kept shouting at me to go faster , which didn't help.
Second day - morning lesson went well except no other English speakers in class so didn't get much instruction, lesson inadvertently cancelled due to bad weather in afternoon but forgot to tell me. Third and Fourth day joined DHs lessons as instructor spoke some English. This was a class for just past beginners ( I've been skiing around 10 times ) . All going well until he made us cross a Black to get to the Blue and I had a total hyperventilating panic attack , totally mortified.

Last day ended up falling in slushy snow piles and did the rest on my bum.

It's totally a confidence thing and it's such a shame as when I'm on a nice slope I have a great time, but do need to be able to navigate through slush and slippy situations.

I've ordered that ski confidence book and am also planning to try to increase lower body fitness before I go again.

rookiemere · 15/02/2020 21:22

Oh whoops forgot I'd already posted earlier. Was full of such optimism before I went away !

BowermansNose · 16/02/2020 13:36

I’m the same. I go every weekend for about four years and can’t get past blues, or doing reds very nervously. I don’t see it changing.

DuchessMinnie · 24/02/2020 08:54

Just got back from a week in La Clusaz. I booked lessons for the DC, 10 and 13, every morning and I used that time to ski by myself. By day 2 I was doing really well on the blues, happy with my speed and technique. On days 4 and 5 I forced myself to do a red, the same one over and over. On the last day we all went skiing together. DP is native to the Alps, v advanced. Children were flying down the blues and I was markedly slower than all of them. DC asked why are you doing Granny skiing and why do you do snowplough turns when there's a steep bit?

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