 Poster: A snowHead
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One of the major sources of the fear is fear of loosing the control. I think, as soon we learn how to control the skis, how to stop at any time, how to control speed, that basically we are in the control of most of it, then fear is gone and we start to enjoy the freedom of skiing.
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oh is that all? Silly me! Even if you can do all of these things fear can creep in and throw it all off. Some days I will fly down reds/blacks, dancing. Other days, I will be battling and cursing down a blue. The mind is a powerful thing and once it starts messing with you, it takes specific tactics and a lot of work to address it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Cheesie168 wrote: |
oh is that all? Silly me! Even if you can do all of these things fear can creep in and throw it all off. Some days I will fly down reds/blacks, dancing. Other days, I will be battling and cursing down a blue. The mind is a powerful thing and once it starts messing with you, it takes specific tactics and a lot of work to address it. |
This is exactly what happens with my better half....and it's quite hard for me to get my head around. She is a very capable, advanced skier, but there are days where she can't do, what came so easily the day before. The warning signs are usually there, from the minute she gets up...as she is like an unexploded bomb....and the wrong run, simply lights the fuse.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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^ yep, I've been skiing for nearly 30 years and there are still occasions where I get "the fear". Most notably in March just gone when I got scared on Sache in Tignes which had far larger, icier moguls and was far steeper than I remembered and I had to be coaxed down the steep section by a friend!!! ("Think of it as being green!!"). My fault for attempting it on tired legs near the end of the day.
I still don't like long, straight steeps as my brain tells me I'm going to lose an edge and slide to the bottom. It's all relative.
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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
This is exactly what happens with my better half....and it's quite hard for me to get my head around. She is a very capable, advanced skier, but there are days where she can't do, what came so easily the day before. The warning signs are usually there, from the minute she gets up...as she is like an unexploded bomb....and the wrong run, simply lights the fuse. |
Having once had to escort my brother's ex-GF , who was a very tidy skier on and off piste, all the way down Blackcomb Glacier and back to the lifts (even Ski patrol on their sweep were rolling their eyes and sympathising with us) I have to agree that some people are just UXBs. The reason seemed to be that she'd decided that he was taking her somewhere that was "too hard" and no amount of actual objective evidence re gentleness of slope angle, snow quality or indeed that the end of the "black run" was in fact a very green but very long cat track etc could trump that.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
| Cheesie168 wrote: |
oh is that all? Silly me! Even if you can do all of these things fear can creep in and throw it all off. Some days I will fly down reds/blacks, dancing. Other days, I will be battling and cursing down a blue. The mind is a powerful thing and once it starts messing with you, it takes specific tactics and a lot of work to address it. |
This is exactly what happens with my better half....and it's quite hard for me to get my head around. She is a very capable, advanced skier, but there are days where she can't do, what came so easily the day before. The warning signs are usually there, from the minute she gets up...as she is like an unexploded bomb....and the wrong run, simply lights the fuse. |
The unexploded bomb in the morning sounds like me on bad ski days - and then yup, a blue is a thing of nightmares. Sometimes it's to do with being mentally or physically tired for some reason - I'm not sure it's a coincidence that on our last trip I didn't drink very much in the evenings, and had far less of the fear (my OH, who sees it as his duty while on holiday to get plastered every night, struggled far more). So as others have suggested - plenty of time to relax, and not hugely long lessons, might help to make it a less tiring/scary/pressured experience?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@altis, There's probably something in that but I wouldn't know, having started at 4.
So I have never "grown up used to direct, grippy contact with the ground."
Very anecdotal story but my first wife (a Dr) was most amused once when I stepped onto a patch of ice in Edinburgh and apparently my fall reactions were those of a toddler, not an adult.
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As someone who also suffers from nervous skiing. Find fun pistes! Going down the kiddies piste where you ski through a set of punch bags and then hi-five Mickey mouse and round some tight corners, over some bumps through an igloo etc... Easier boarder cross pistes are also good. The key thing is that it gives you other stuff to distract you from the fear. There are plenty of little challenges, you missed Mickey's hand last time, can you get it this time? And it's fun! They're often quieter than the main pistes with lessons on. Pistes with bumps can be useful for getting used to speed - in Finland there was a gentle green piste with 5m high bumps (manmade) across it, you had to get up some speed to get over them, got me used to going that little bit faster.
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@Rcav, I'm not sure 5m high can still be classified as a bump, that's twice the height of a normal ceiling! 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| SnoodlesMcFlude wrote: |
| @Rcav, I'm not sure 5m high can still be classified as a bump, that's twice the height of a normal ceiling! |
Yes, that's why you needed a fair bit of speed to get up them and it got me used to going faster than a snail!
Actually, just chatted to my friend he reckons they were 2 or 3 metres high. I just remember them as being massive and a really big challenge!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Rcav wrote: |
| Actually, just chatted to my friend he reckons they were 2 or 3 metres high. |
Ah, yeah a 2m roller sounds more realistic, I can't think of anything I've seen that's 5m other than the huge stuff in the park. You're right that it can be difficult judging speed to get up the other side though.
Edit: For a sense of scale, a London bus is under 5m high
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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EMDR therapy may be a great option for your wife- would allow her to process the trauma of her fall and project to future skiing without any distress.
Info at: http://emdrassociation.org.uk
Usually works quicker than other therapies and less distressing than her just going and exposing herself to the frightening situation- although that should work eventually if all at her own pace.
I’m an EMDR therapist if you or your wife want to ask anything about it just pm me
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Poster: A snowHead
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I have been (and to a certain extent still am) in the position of your wife. I have found that lots of time in lessons on the local dry slope which is predictable and calm helps me. On the snow my last instructor said lots of practice of side slipping and hockey stops would help my confidence and therefore enjoyment. I'm sure he is right it's just unfortunate that these don't work well on dry slopes.
I wish you both a happy and calm weeks skiing.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thank you for all the advice and comments everyone. My wife has done pretty much none of the things suggested. However we are having a three hour private lesson everyday with an instructor from ESF called Alex. He’s started from scratch with both of us but after day two has split the lesson with two hours for Helen and an hour for me.
Helen is skiing brilliantly. She was skiing better at the end of the first lesson than she was at the end of the week last year. She’s also enjoying herself and when myself and Alex go off my my part of the lesson she is carrying on on her own.
Just goes to show being injury free and starting afresh can make a big difference. Also perhaps lots of snow followed by glorious sunshine.
The only issue now is getting out of bed with an aching body and mild hangover.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@IainMcT, glad to hear it is working well.
Book a sports massage for this afternoon?
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@IainMcT, that is fab to hear. I really hope that she has a fantastic week. Which resort are you in, so other can maybe look up Alex at ESF?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I echo what others have said. Group beginners lessons are great fun, there is no pressure. Your wife may never ski at the same level as you but there is no reason not to go to resorts where there are easy skiing opportunities as well as chances for you to ski with others of your standard and with lots of nice things for your wife to do if she doesnt feel like skiing. Few ladies can resist spas, warm pools, snowshoeing, sleigh ride, lovely long delicious lunches with some pleasant drinks, it goes on, while you may not think so skiing is not everything.
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Sorry I dposted before reading the post two above. So glad it is going well, sunshine is a great help! Enjoy yourselves.
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