Should I try renting, despite having my own skis?

A snowHead

Whilst agreeing with the thrust of the above comments I wonder why you keep going to new places? When you are a nervous beginner skier there's a lot to be said for becoming thoroughly familiar with a ski area - and the best way to achieve that is to join group lessons for a week, as an instructor won't take you to a slope that's too difficult. For apprehensive skiers not knowing what's round the next bend can be nerve-wracking.
In France group lessons are generally for two or three hours - if you join a group for morning sessions you could spend the afternoon with your girlfriend.

Lots of skiers on this forum started at an older age. You are coming across as a bit obsessed with your age - but for downhill skiing, with lifts to do the hard bits, age need not be any barrier. Well - not until you're quite a bit older. I am a mere 71 - started skiing years ago (at 40) but only started snowboarding in my 50s (never got much good at it and did fall a lot!!). Once you become competent at skiing - which will take you quite a few more lessons - it all becomes much easier. Constantly fighting gravity is hard work and, even more significant, apprehension saps your energy really quickly. Having said that, many of us struggle when conditions get difficult, especially in poor visibility, and there are times when only a swift retreat to a bar makes sense. One advantage of having lessons is that you just get on with it, even in conditions when you'd give up on your own - and that can help to build confidence, as well as skills.

A snowHead

@peter_h, I'm sorry that a lot of the comment here seems a little harsh but tske it as well intentioned from people who have been there done that to varying degrees.

To continue my ice cream analogy. You are a firm lover of vanilla who has come to a desserts forum to ask where else can I get the same vanilla then you've confused everyone by asking whether getting a different spoon will improve the taste of the vanilla. There must be a reason deep down you are asking these questions. Do you somehow suspect there may be more to life than vanilla? Do you see people eating fancy sorbets or fruit tarts or even sundaes and think I might enjoy those but I'm too old so it's probably not for me? Because people here will tell you those desserts are great at any age but you need to build up to them. And a scoop of vanilla on the side is often a great accompaniment.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@Dave of the Marmottes, that literally made me LOL

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Interesting how this thread has developed, I had a couple of thoughts while reading it*

1) Almost anyone will be able to tell when they like a ski and when they don't. If you tried some different skis it would quickly be clear if you liked them/didn't/were ambivalent.
2) 58 isn't old to start skiing, my old man didn't strap on a pair of skis until he was pretty much retired. 3 years later he's probably doing 3 trips this year and I'd happily take him to most pistes on the mountain as reckon he's good enough (although he may not be so happy about it).
3) Ski more. It sounds like you ski the morning and are done, the more you ski the better you'll be. The better you are, the less worried about what slope you're on.
4) Ski with people. Not all the time, but some of the time. It makes it more fun (IMO) and can really help your skiing. Group lessons or a snowheads bash would be a great way to find people of a similar level (I'm pretty sure the EoSB has first week skiers most years, right through to people that ski all season, every season).

*All just my opinion based on the people I've skied with and how I developed. I'm in a slightly different boat as only started skiing 4 years ago with the mentality that I'd ski as much as possible (as I was paying ££££ to do so), so skied first lift to last on most days. I was properly bitten by the bug so have quickly moved to doing multiple trips in a season and now have a slightly different approach in as much as I am a bit more picky about the conditions I ski in.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@Dave of the Marmottes, can I have some ice cream, please?

You'll need to Register first of course.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

PS - Vanilla ice cream can be very good.[/quote]

Indeed it can and though lots of people buy big spoons thinking they'll be eating Pistacchio all the time we all know true Pistachhio is a rare beast and we'll be eating soft scoop toxic yelliw more than even the Madagasan podded bits with bourbon.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

no, really, @SnoodlesMcFlude, my chum just skis on what's handed to her. No comments. No complaints. She truly clains that she never notices any differences.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I'm pretty poor at any kind of differentiation too - not just skis - was the same with the e-bikes I tried recently. In the end I chose the one that looked the prettiest. wink

snow reports

"Just curious as to why the question?"

Just to find out whether it is worth me renting something different.

I got the answer anyway: probably not. That's fine with me Smile

Thank you all.

You know it makes sense.

I'm not one of those people who think that unless you ski from first lift to last you're not a proper skier. Doing mornings only, then spending the afternoons with a non-skiing friend sounds absolutely fine to me, as does giving up when the weather gets nasty. Nothing like sitting in a cosy bar with a drink and a few friends, whilst the dead keen masochists carry on being gnarly. But the OP is confining himself to a tiny handful of pistes - even in resorts which are known to have a good range of easy alternatives. And he is very worried about coming across narrow tracks or the possibility of falls. IMHO it is this apprehension and anxiety, not the wish to just do half a day's skiing, which is undermining his enjoyment and which is likely to be allayed only by improving technique and confidence. Maybe if his skis are too "advanced" more beginner-oriented ones could be better. But consistent lessons are the first requirement - once people are competent skiers then one private lesson in a week is a good way to go. But not for the early stages, except for those natural and fearless athletes who can just get on with it (I've known a few of those, and bloody irritating they are too).

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

A snowHead

I’m currently standing at the side of a dry slope trying to read this on a small phone screen & all I can think is “I fancy some ice cream “

Help!!

Should I try renting, despite having my own skis?

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