Anyone not enjoy skiing?

[LuciferRising]

On a ski holiday. 4 days in. Lessons and then afternoons free. Had lessons before we left. Feel like I am just about tolerating it. First holiday.

Everyone you talk to seems to be passionate about it.

As my username suggests, I love skiing.

It is not for everyone but if your boots are hurting you then they are not the right size / fit and you can always go back to the ski shop and get them changed. They are happy to change them.

If you are too hot or too cold then you are not dressed correctly. Wear layers and take them on or off to suit.

First thing is the morning getting the gear on, lugging the heavy skis to the lift and then queuing is a massive faff but the views and exhilaration is worth it to me.

Some people just hate it. Nothing wrong with that. I would hate sitting on a beach all day. Utterly boring to me but we are all different.

I love skiing now, but I think it takes a few weeks practice before the pleasure outweighs the pain. Being a beginner sucks a bit unfortunately - if you can bear to stick with it, you'll probably enjoy it a lot more in a couple of holidays time. DH started as an adult and it was ski holiday number 3 when he got 'the bug' and loved it. But obviously you can still have a lovely time in the spas, at apres etc if you don't want to stick at it.

I love it. Usually.
Trying to teach 2 year old this season has been ‘challenging’. But we live local so no need to do the full on day thing.
We drive over around 10.30am, ski with a child that mainly involves shouting LEFT, RIGHT for max 1 hour. Eat long lunch in a lovely mountain hut. Another 30 mins pootling around.
Home for a muelled wine and recover for the next week.

But I love the nice wide red runs, the hot sun in winter on your face, lunch in thermals and sunglasses.

How the kindergarten takes 50+ children age 2-6 years boggles me

Unfortunately skiing is not enjoyable when you're learning and even worse as an adult as you have the fear factor thrown in too. My DH grew up skiing but my DC and I have had to learn and there have been many tears between us. Finally we can ski but it has taken years.

As for cold and wet - not a week ago - it was warm with a week of sunny blue skies but yes it is miserable if it is snowing and cold.

I agree with other posters might be best to go somewhere with other activities.

Me. In my first year teaching in Switzerland, I went as part of the team taking our school year group of 10/11 year olds. I snow ploughed down the mountain for 3 days then had an epiphany. It was not compulsory to learn to ski even though I didn't have to pay to learn. I went for the next 10 years or so and really enjoyed going for walks, sitting in the restaurant at the top of the mountain drinking hot chocolate, snow shoeing, and riding the ski lifts. I never skied again and I don't regret it.

Also to add I always take a break half-way through the hols to give my legs a break and just relax and enjoy some me-time - could you take tomorrow off, lie-in, coffee somewhere scenic etc?

Hated every minute I was on the slope (I didn’t get very high) it was a work thing so had an instructor the whole time for 3 days. Fell awkwardly hurt my knee and it’s never been the same since. Might have enjoyed it more if I didn’t have an instructor but not wasting my money to see if I do. Loved the other aspects of it though!

I'm fine with layering as a hiker and runner. But down to one thin base
layer and my jacket I was still too hot.

Don't enjoy sitting on the beach all day either.

@ToffeeNotCoffee I know we've never met, but I love you!

My ex's family were like this. They were his step-family. There was barely a person in London who didn't know that he had 'family in Verbier', he'd get it inot any conversation. The talking about skiing started in about August. 'When are you going, are you going, is there snow yet, what kind, is it good snow, I'm going but then I'm lucky, we've got family in Verbier.'

I don't ski. I have ME, for one thing, and if I were the healthiest person in the world, it still wouldn't be my thing. They asked me soon after I met him - we had loads of other things in common, btw, and were otherwise happy - and I said oh, no, thank you, not for me.

It became clear that wasn't a good enough point of view. It became the thing that broke us up. One of his more pernicious Perpetua relatives said once, 'oh it must be very difficult for Esther, not skiing, and being involved with a family like this.'
Why? Why was it difficult for me not to care for someone else's hobby? You go, I'll see you when you get back. How is it so difficult? You weren't allowed to do that.

He and I were otherwise very suited, but the fact that I wouldn't join their ruddy cult was unacceptable to the rest of his step-family.

So you, Toffee, are now my heroine! Thank you for cheering my day.

You are welcome !

A couple of my friends hate it. I loved it, but only been twice, many years ago.

@EstherTW

Glad you got away from the 'Verbier Clan' they sound like a bunch of snobs anyway.

When my husband was skiing, I ran on the gym treadmill as I was training for the Paris Marathon later that year. I don't mean to be a wanker, it just comes out that way.

I also ran around several circuits the village but the water in my water bottle froze.

really enjoyed going for walks, sitting in the restaurant at the top of the mountain drinking hot chocolate, snow shoeing, and riding the ski lifts. I never skied again and I don't regret it.

^This is what I do as an alternative to skiing. I'd like to try snow shoeing.

This!

I've tried to like it repeatedly over a period of nearly 40 years. It is just pointless. If I am not terrified I am bored stiff. The last two times I've just not bothered and instead have pottered about, taken the lift up for lunch, walked, swam, read and ate melted cheese. That is a far superior way to spend a week IMO.

I felt like you on/after my first ski trip. But DH wanted to go again, so I did, and I enjoyed it a lot more.

Out of interest, where are you? Some resorts are really not geared up for beginners.

As someone has said up-thread - if your boots hurt, they're not right (yes, they'll never be the most comfy footwear, but they shouldn't be making you miserable). If you're cold, you're not wearing the right clothes. And I'm not sure quite how you're getting wet..? (unless you're skiing in heavy snow in a non-waterproof jacket, or falling over a lot in powder without your snowskirt done up?).

And Apres is by no means a compulsory part of skiing, which again leads me to wonder if you're in the wrong (kind of) resort.

I totally get that skiing is not for everyone. It's like everything - if we all liked the same things, the world would be a funny place. But there are so many different ways to experience a ski trip so I wonder if you're on the wrong trip.

I persevered and now love it. Doesn’t mean you have to (love it or persevere).
But I think people are generally keen to share their enthusiasm - whatever the hobby.
Oh, you must go to Park Run, you’ll love it. (It starts at 9am on a Saturday, I can promise you I won’t love it.)
Oh, camping is great once you have the right gear.
(No it’s still shit and uncomfortable, only slightly less so.)
Oh, you must make your own mayo/pasta, shop bought will never be the same again! (It will still be a lot easier and cheaper, thanks.)
etc…

Yup, and I'm on a ski trip as we speak. Have taken lessons, have been sking for several years - anything but a gentle blue and I'm terrified all the way down.

But I do it for the kids, so they won't have the fear. And I have to say, the views are amazing and spending time with friends after a day on slopes is actually really lovely.

in any case, next year the DC will be sent to a ski camp all by themselves. I will never enjoy it.

Some of these are from other posters. My equipment is fine. I'm not cold. I get too hot. I burn in minimal layers. Im sweating, not wet from the snow. In Grandvilera and good for beginners and intermediates.

Me too, find the restriction of the boots horrific, the tight too hot clothes, being crap at something everyone else can do doesn't appeal, too much structure and liklihood of injury. Love the idea of it but not for me.

I lost my nerve.

So instead I go snowshoeing or hiking or running, and we all meet up at the end of the day, tired and happy after doing the things that we each like.

Also I'm quite popular on group ski-ing holidays, as I'm the one who will occupy tired DC who want to come off the slopes earlier than the teens and adults, or keep the injured company, or whatever!

It was one of the things that split up my marriage too
He was a good skier, I was not, and he insisted on holidays with very moneyed friends who were also excellent skiers
and it was really hard to feel confident in that group
He left me & the DC for a much much younger colleague from work who is a good skier

I like ski resorts with a nice town - like the vibe,
don't like skiing and I'm clumsy , so guaranteed to break something. I'm quite happy with a hot chocolate and a book and a warm place - looking out at snow and sun

I have a thin shell jacket with no insulation that I wear on warm days. I also have a warm jacket but it is has been much too warm this week.

I love it - married to a suisse man and so go the whole time. It's so good for the soul and love being in nature (when not too busy during school holidays)

We used to go cross-country skiing when I was a teenager and I really liked it. Had only done alpine skiing a couple of times and had no real recollection of either enjoying it or not.
Thought I'd take DC for the first time this year. DC liked it. I tolerated it. I find it rather repetitive to be honest by the end of the week. It'd be fine if it was a cheap activity but at that price I want to actually look forward to it!

I much prefer cross country skiing which requires some effort and whish is so much more peaceful. I don't like crowds! I very much doubt DC would be keen to do cross country though.
I guess the next few years we will be having sun holidays instead!