Don't know if we'll ever go skiing again :(

[drspouse]

I am mid 50s and DH mid 60s but he has some health problems and he has been worrying he won't be well enough to ski again.
I always relied on DH to give me the confidence for anything more than green runs as I grew up cross country skiing and then I'd go off and do that on my own as well.
Last time we went DD was 4 and DS was just 7. DS has ADHD and sensory issues and while he has good balance he was very hard to teach and also hated the clothes and boots. I've tried taking him to Chill Factore and he wouldn't put on his helmet (we didn't even try boots, we were just doing inner tubing).
We were booked to go to Norway in spring 2020.
Now DH says he doesn't think he'll be well enough to go again, and it was already really hard to get lessons for DS (he's 10 in Jan and would still be a beginner, and he's very hard to teach - and of course there's the issue of him wearing boots and a helmet - he was actually fine with these when he was younger - we went with Esprit and he loved the snow club, did some pretty good skiing for his age, he's just struggling a lot more now, and also all of the lessons are done by age - children aren't supposed to be 10 and beginners!)

So...anyone been in this situation? Older children who can't ski? Partners who are feeling a bit fragile to ski? SEN children?

Did you see my message about snowboarding?

I think I'd be better off teaching him cross country as I could actually do that with him! DH tried snowboarding once and isn't keen to try again!

@drspouse

I really don't have any friends who ski! I went with friends once in my 30s and nobody from that group still skis/is still in touch with me/is still talking to me (actually the only person in the last group is a self important ex of an old friend so he's no loss).

I could definitely do with some lessons myself though, or the guided tours sound like my kind of thing too.

Perhaps try to find some new skiing friends.

Go on a skiing holiday aimed at solo travelers and keep in touch with people you meet on it or join some groups at your local ski centre and make an effort to cultivate friendships or even advertise on forums or noticeboards for someone in a similar position willing to buddy up.

Lots of hobbies don't involve the whole family and people get themselves hobby friends to go with. On the hiking holiday I did there were two women traveling together who had left their husbands and kids at home, on horsey trips it is unusual to find a couple who both ride and people tend to travel alone, with another family member or with a hobby friend.

I meant for your DS- you’d said about the boots.

You could try booking a lesson with Disability Snowsport Uk at Chill Factore for you and your DS. They're great and might be able to help your DS get started again. They ski and snowboard with lots of SEN children and their families.

They do group lessons for adults for different levels. Also private lessons (more expensive) - all ways to get off the greens and not be alone while doing it. Assumes you can find a resort where there is other stuff to do. Otherwise find a friend who wants to go and have a separate break?

@Bunce1

I meant for your DS- you’d said about the boots.

I don't think he'd do it without us. Cross country boots are softer.

Thanks all - the sticking point at Chill Factore was the helmet and it's a long way to go (twice so far) and a lot to pay to not put a helmet on, but I have just discovered thanks to this thread that the dry slope which is nearer has free lessons on a day that's actually convenient (lots of these things seem to be on a weekday, or at 8 am on a weekend).
So I think that will be our first try. DH also sounded keen (he's not a fan of dry slopes but the advantage is you can't get stuck up a mountain!)

Dry slope has been a fabulous experience for mine. He needs lots of practice with waiting for lifts and taking turns so it’s helped with other parts of life too. I also think getting REALLY physically tired once a week is important and harder to achieve as I get more creaky and he gets his adult strength.

That's great to hear @5zeds - mine is a preteen but I am also thinking I'll be more creaky as he gets stronger!

If you can afford it / face the travel Canada might work. Silver Star and Big White have great kids programs, a disability skiing group (they may also teach boarding to those without major physical disabilities), have outdoor ice rinks, tubing and even have a sort of giant bath chair on skis for taking people down runs. We took my elderly mother out in one to see my children ski - massive ski instructor skiing her down runs with kids bobbing about showing what they had learned. And a ladies day and masters program where you can ski in groups with similar ability skiers.