Why do I never get any better at skiing

[Bloatedas]

As someone who is fit and sporty in other ways this has been the greatest frustration to me.

I have been skiing maybe 10 times over 20 years. Had countless group and individual lessons. I never progress from a very basic parallel that immediately turns back to a plough the moment it gets tricky. I can’t ski above an easy blue.

Im actually now getting worse. Look like a total beginner. The rest of my family are all amazing now and can tackle even the hardest blacks.

Im so demoralised.

Has anyone been like this and found a magic solution? Or do I just give up? I’m not one to sit in the spa so please don’t suggest that as an alternative as I would hate it! I love being out on the mountains and feeling physical effort. I just can’t ski!

@ParentingRollerCoaster I always get shorter skis than they recommend for my height as it makes turning and moving easier. Maybe it’s because my legs are proportionally short compared to my body that they work.

I could have written this post. Beginning to conclude skiing is just not for me. Also relatively sporty and fit. Just started too late don’t go enough and get The Fear of steeper slopes and revert to snow plough 🙄. Now my friends are all so much better than me it’s demoralising.

The singing thing is so true! The only way I survived my first ski trip was singing musicals in my head.

Getting my own boots and renting expensive skis helped me. Beginners skis are usual knackered, short and most designed for snowplough. Otherwise, lots of weight lifting and private lessons. I stated getting good when instructors took me over the jumps and offpiste. I'd never have gone myself, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone so normal asking was suddenly easier one instructor taught me and rigid terrified DH to waltz on skis and he could suddenly do blacks after that!

I literally said the same thing to DD on the chair lift yesterday whilst admiring that Frenchwoman style of gracefully gliding down steep slopes seemingly without much effort. I had a skiing accident 4 years ago and had to ski with a knee brace for a couple of seasons. I became a bit obsessed with watching tutorials online to make sure I was doing things right and I got pretty good, better than before the accident. Last year I did a pretty steep red and my technique wasn’t bad at all. This year I have regressed! I do my favourite wide blue runs ok but steer clear of anything too narrow or steep. I get The Fear too. I am going to go back to my video tutorials to prepare for February.

I would agree with this expect Europeans ski at age 2 and they ski full 6 weeks a year plus weekends. 10 times over 20 years is probably less that 50 times - you are probably almost starting from scratch each time. It’s just isn’t enough. Go at Christmas for 2 weeks, half term and Easter as well as weekends and you’ll get it. Go to scotland if Europe is too expensive. But you need to go regularly not 5 days a year.

Don’t go to Scotland unless you want to be put off for life, unless you particularly enjoy freezing fog and zero visibility. I live in Scotland and have only attempted it once - although it is better if you can go on one of the very few sunny days.

Sounds like you need a better teacher. My husband is an instructor and he got me from parallels to smoother parallel skiing by stamping the inside ski when you turn and then when that’s easy doing stork turns (fully lift the inside ski off the ground when turning) on progressively harder terrain. It helps you learn how to put the weight on the skis when turning and massively improves parallels (and makes plough pretty impossible).