Am I crazy?

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Booked an Easter ski holiday with the kids: it's in 9 weeks time. We haven't skied since 2019. Super fit husband just announced that he's not going to ski as doesn't want an injury and going to enjoy walking, cross country skiing and lots of coffees instead. He literally couldn't believe that I was contemplating the idea.

I have skied all my life, but not terribly confident. Now in mid 50s and not very fit either. I'm a bit over weight and don't have lots of muscle strength. I walk dogs most days and have been doing some pilates since November. I love being up in the mountains and love the buzz you get from skiing, but do worry about getting hit or an injury.

My children are young teens and going to join ski lessons and then plan to ski on their own. They've done this before, but are no experts.

Any advice? What would you do in my situation? 🤔🤔🤔

I think he should have mentioned this before you booked as massively changes the holiday for you.

Skiing when not fit enough is just awful.

You mention muscle strength, have you got the leg strength to get up when if you fall? Get working on some wall sits...

Seems odd that he didn't mention he wasn't going to ski though

I'd be really cross with my husband if he suddenly announced this! I'm 49 so a few years younger than you, but like you I'm a bit overweight and not particularly fit, and I hope to be skiing for many years to come.

If I were you I’d work on my fitness between now and holiday. I’d book myself some morning group ski lessons and then spend the afternoons either with skiing with teens or with husband.

I think if you are decent enough skier you can overcome lack of fitness quite easily. Just do gentle carving turns and stick to easier slopes. I think if you should be fine, I've managed even whenI was terribly unfit!

I personally would not have let my younger teens ski alone (and bear in mind they've been skiing almost every year since 3). Now I'd be fine as they are older teens (16+).
So I'd insist on them skiing blue runs with you, they can wait for you at the bottom! And keep the challenging stuff for lessons. Or if they really.complain, find a ski lift that has blue and red runs off it and then go down each side (there's often bits like that). But at least you know approx where they are and if either you or they fall over and hurt yourselves there's someone who's expecting you.

I started skiing again after a 15 year break when I was your age. Do it now!! Your older self will thank you. I'm nearly 70 now and still ski better and longer than many women half my age.

But do prepare. Work on your legs, quads and calves, and your core. Try these:

Bowflex 3-minute plank
Lucy Wyndham Read's Thighs & Glutes
And especially this by Caroline Girvan - slowly and with much lower weights...:

Plus watch some YouTube videos by Deb Armstrong. Really clear explanations of skiing techniques.

Have fun!!

Why not have a word with some parents in the ski class? They might be happy to have your kids hang out with theirs in the pm (we have done this a few times).

I would not be happy essentially taking responsibility for someone else's kids when taking part in what is a fairly high risk activity.
OP I wouldn't allow young teens to go off alone. I'd be bloody furious with your husband too.
I'm not very fit but managed a recent ski holiday after a long break. As long as you don't go too mad you'll be fine. Knackered and sore, but fine!

Young teens should not get to ski by themselves until they’re competent on all pistes in any reasonable condition. We ski every year with 6 teenage nieces and nephews and it’s just the teen way to be overconfident and overestimate risks. If you’re in any doubt book them into all day teen specific lessons so they can challenge themselves safely or insist that they ski
with you in the afternoons and maybe they can go ahead but have to meet you at the next chairlift. Work on your fitness to make sure you can definitely get up off the ground and get your skis back on if you fall, maybe a private refresher lesson on day 1 for you too?

Why not do a mix of activities, you don't have to do the whole week downhill skiing. Book a one to one lesson for yourself to get your confidence back, normally it gives you some ideas on where you want to improve and you can ask for tips on the most enjoyable slopes. Find well positioned restaurants where you can meet DH and the kids in between runs/walks.

Give the cross country skiing a go, at least for a day, it is a really beautiful way to enjoy the mountains and even if super fit DH does skating, you can do classic beside him.

I agree on the kids - mine have grown up in the alps and are excellent skiers but even in the local resorts they know by the back of their hands, we stay on the pistes in case of any issue and it only this season, at nearly 17 that my son is allowed off on his own for the day.

Has your DH done X-country skiing before? We tried it once, and it wasn't as easy as it looks.
Why does he think he's going to get injured skiing? Especially if he's fit. He could always just take things a bit easier, then he's less likely to fall at speed.

But I'm guessing you've already said all that...

Join him cross country skiing some days and ski on the easier slopes some days? Let the kids do whatever they want on the slopes?

I know someone whose life was changed by a skiing accident/ neck injury. It's alright and great fun until someone loses an eye, as they say...

I'd be annoyed ith him for not mentionning it before. Surely the joy is sking together? But Easter is a long way away, so get into training right now. Plenty of time to strengthen those thigh and other muscles, and get more flex into your ankles. And why not join lessons yourself- you will be in company, improve, get more confidence, and probably meet others happey to ski in a small group outside lessons.

Different for me as DH has grown up on skis and I only learnt in late 20s.

You still have time to get fitter. Join a pilates class, work on stamina. You may find others to ski with in resort or by skicub of GB website,

Which resort are you going to by the way? Many resorts have 'ambassador' programmes, where you can meet up bottom of the lift to ski with a guide (not instructor) with a small group, at your own level. We have done this at many resorts in the USA and in Europe. But as, said, book into lessons- great to ski with others, get a feeling you are correcting old 'errors', better stance, etc- and meet others who may well ski with you outside lessons.

fleurneige - the ambassador idea sounds a great one, though I've not seen it before, and I suspect that in France the guide would end up in prison for unauthorised instructing....

Your dh sounds a bit of a twat...if you were expecting to all ski together and he now announces this ain't happening.
But ..I love skiing on my own...and ski happily when unfit...just do a few runs, coffee/vin chaud stop...potter down few more runs.
My kids skied with me until mid teens but used to do alternatives route down sometimes or we agreed routes and where we would meet at set time.
If you don't want to ski alone then maybe go to group lessons yourself in the morning?
If you want to ski do not alter your plans, do other activities just because your dh has suddenly changed his plans

It is possible to ski without being amazingly fit. Just take more frequent coffee breaks and finish as soon as you feel your legs can't take any more.
However it's an expensive holiday if one of you aren't skiing and it will be a bit lonely skiing on your own. I'd probably book into a few classes also to get to know what slopes are good for your level.

Take longer lunch breaks, pick an easy cruisy blues only, start ski after 1030 after a leisurely walk, take the teens up in turns, and then maybe have a day at the spa? Maybe pay for a ski guide for the kids