Total beginner- what will I be able to do?

[Bunnycat101]

I’m a total beginner going for my first ski trip soon. I’ve been on a dry ski slope years ago but otherwise essentially nothing. I’m taking lessons each day but what sort of level does the average beginner get to. Will I be limited to the green runs in a week or might blue be a possibility?

Similarly no idea about what sort of progress is normal for children. Our operator suggested the youngest wouldn’t need a ski pass for the full week as would most likely be on the nursery slopes for at least a couple of days.

With lessons you should easily be on blues by the end of the week. Children will be off the nursery slopes quickly, depending on how good the green network outside the nursery slopes is in your resort - where are you going?

According to my dh we can’t go skiing until I have taken lessons on a dry slope

He is adamant about that!

interested to hear other views

At the risk of being unhelpful, it will depend to a large degree on a number of factors, including how adventurous (or conversely cautious) you feel and how you happen to take to it.

But as a guide, I would say that progressing to blues would be well within the grasp of many beginners within their first week. Some will prefer to stick with greens; others will graduate onto reds and possibly the odd black run.

Expect to start learning to master the snowplough ('pizza') and then to move onto linked turns. Once you are getting the hang of the latter, then all green runs any many blues ought to be easily accessible. But enjoy - take in the surroundings and hopefully the Easter sun also, and make time for overpriced hot chocolate with an amazing view from a mountain top cafe!

If you're in a resort with a good 'set' of well linked beginner runs (e.g. Flaine) you may well not need a pass for the first week, or at least the first few days.

The children will probably be doing black runs by the end of the week and you will still be shitting your pants on the nursery slopes! I jest, but only slightly.

How old are you? Which resort are you going to? How fit are you? How old are your kids?

You may all be knackered after the ski lessons and fancy doing other things in the afternoons. Is there anyone else the children could ski with, or is it just you?

“The children will probably be doing black runs by the end of the week and you will still be shitting your pants on the nursery slopes! I jest, but only slightly.”

haha this slightly terrifies me. I have one child that is fearless and uncoordinated and one that is fearless and very agile. I suspect the latter one will progress pretty quickly and overtake us all.

The children will be absolutely fine @Bunnycat101 . They are made of rubber and have no fear because falling over doesn't hurt them. That's why I asked if there was anyone else they could ski with or if it was just you.

How old are the children? It makes a huge difference how quickly they progress.
You should be skiing blues by the end of the week but really depends on the resort and the conditions when you go. Some are graded differently in different resorts or even different parts of resorts.
I love skiing and you wouldn’t get me near a dendex slope for love nor money. Do you have a snow dome near you; they are much better (and kinder if you take a tumble!)

We were all on blues & the kids some reds at the end of week one of lessons (private lessons with me & 3 kids in the group). However I was interested this year as we went skiing with a group of families that not everyone progressed at that sort of rate, so your basic athletic ability comes into it an extent. I am not particularly fit but I am bold & physically confident, which I think made a difference to my progress.

It really depends where you’re going. It must be France if they have greens. If it’s Val D’isere or Chamonix, be wary of the blues! Val Thorens or elsewhere in the 3vs, Flaine, la Plagne, Alpe d’H etc, you’ll be fine. Don’t get too caught up on colours, there can be a huge variation between one blue and another. Many greens are essentially roads and can be narrow which presents challenges to novices. Your instructor will know all the best places ;)

Kids will progress faster as they have lower centres of gravity and it’s easier for them to get up when they fall over. Plus typically no fear.

Have fun!

I thought I’d do a quick update after day 1 to see if it helps other beginners

My husband hadn’t skied since he was a teenager on a school trip but he picked up back up almost immediately and did a blue run on day 1 (although accidentally as he’d missed the sign for a green)… . I got onto greens on day 1 and felt more in control by the end but it was hard work and I felt the fear. First green was a wipe out and I panicked and fell. Second was much more enjoyable.

Child 1 was v motivated and seemed to take to it quickly and will be out of the snow garden tomorrow. Child 2 (younger) couldn’t really be bothered and spent a good amount of time making a snowman. She will definitely be in the snow garden tomorrow.

Fantastic news @Bunnycat101 . I'm glad its going well.

Final update- kids 6 and 8 did brilliantly. They were confidently doing blues. I was shocked how quickly the little one progressed given she wasn’t very motivated on the first day but she found it hard work and was quite emotional and hot at the end of most lessons. 8 year old is the one that has caught the bug and is desperate to do it again.

Husband and I both got to blues and actually found them less challenging than some of the green bits in our resort. A lot of our greens (like a previous poster noted) could be pretty narrow and high. The wide blues felt much nicer than the narrow greens over a cliff edge.

I’m glad we did it but we definitely felt the fear as adult learners. Our teacher was wonderfully patient but I’m not sure if I’d do it over a more chilled out sun holiday.