 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi guys, I'm 17 and I'm not a cocky person at all (quite the opposite actually) but skiing is the only thing I can brag about. I've skied since I was three and I have rarely found someone better than me when it comes to technique, balance, skills, and all around skiing unless they're professionals. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or ideas on how to push my skills further? I've kind of hit a wall, I'm not sure how to improve more. Should I just keep skiing as much as I can and skiing different types of pistes?
Also, what is the possibility of me becoming a professional skier, either freestyle or racing?
Thanks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Got Video?
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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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Not currently, sorry.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Viljar, I don't know if this would work, but in your place (assuming I had no other way, through personal connections, of getting in touch with and seeking the advice of a top level coach) I would contact the Norwegian Ski Federation to see if you could book a session with one of the national coaches through them. The coach would then - for a fee? - see you ski, assess and advise you. In any event, I should have thought that the best person to advise you would surely be a top level coach, it's just a question of finding one. But I'm no expert, least of all in the Norwegian skiing scene, I'm afraid.
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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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Okay, thank you, I'll see what I can do about getting a coach.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Compete (in whatever discipline you're best at), then you will rapidly see how you measure up and whether being a pro is a possibility.
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Viljar, find a local ski club, join in some competitive racing/freestyle or look into what qualifications you can get
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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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Viljar - as kitenski suggests, find a ski club in Norway. There are plenty of them as it is the second most popular organised sport in Norway (after football). Take part in the local club sessions and races and you'll quickly find out where you stand.
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Viljar, you are 17... Are you riding park, groomers, or bc?
Also, where are you located? If you are in Oslo, let me know as I know alot of the instructors, and some pros who live in/around Oslo...
lykke til!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Viljar, when you say that the people who have been better than you have been professionals, do you just mean instructors? Or professional racers or sponsored riders?
I'd find the most senior and experienced instructor you can, and ask them to be brutal and realistic about your chances of making it as a racer or similar. Then ask hem if they can help with finding a group of peers who will be better than you who you can learn from.
At 17, if you have no experience of racing, I would have thought you've got a huge amount of work to do to catch up with the kids who have been racing since they were 10. But if you are a naturally gifted skiier who wants to do a load of work to try and make it, and you have the means to be able to commit to that, then anything is possible.
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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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I guess it depends on whether you particularly want to just improve further (as your OP suggests), or have you considered alternative directions? Is improving your skiing the only way forwards and do you think you want to continue improving for the goal of doing so (in which case the others have come up with suggestions), or do you think you want to keep improving to alleviate boredom? If you are getting bored, would some other ideas help? Maybe you have good interpersonal skills too - have you thought about instructor training - you might end up making someone a good coach. Or maybe a slightly different discipline would give you something to focus on - telemark, ski touring, or dare I suggest even snow-boarding!!
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| Viljar wrote: |
| ........I've skied since I was three and I have rarely found someone better than me when it comes to technique, balance, skills, and all around skiing unless they're professionals........Should I just keep skiing as much as I can and skiing different types of pistes? |
If you're that good, shouldn't you be shredding the off piste or doing rad / sick stuff in the park??
| Mistress Panda wrote: |
| Viljar, At 17, if you have no experience of racing, I would have thought you've got a huge amount of work to do to catch up with the kids who have been racing since they were 10. |
This ^^
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You know it makes sense.
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Lilledonmarco: I'm riding everything, I've done park, groomers, bc, heli skiing, all of it. Unfortunately I'm moving around a bit, I'm living in the UK now, I'll let you know if I'm in Oslo though. Tusen takk!
Mistress Panda: I mean in general, so yes professional and sponsored riders as well as some instructors. Yeah that's what I was thinking, I'm a bit behind. Which is why I'm looking into freestyle as it doesn't require as early a start as racing does and I already have some experience with it.
Megamum: I'm not aiming to improve solely out of boredom, I would love to be paid to ski which is why I'm trying to figure out how realistic it really is for me. And don't worry haha, I snowboard as well, for about 4 years now.
Red Leon: I am doing all that, what I meant was if I should continue with all varieties rather than focusing on one objective or style. And yes I realize that about racing, which is why I asked about freestyle as well.
Thank you all for responding as well, I really do appreciate all the help!
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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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Joining the race club won't hurt even that becoming a successful racer can be a very difficult task with many kids starting racing at 7. But in any case skiing gates with speed will expand and improve your skills. Lot of professional riders who are paid to ski for movies etc. would have some sort of racing background. As for freestyle - how are your backflips? Maybe it's time to start learning those... Without skis first, on a diving board or on a trampoline. There must be sports clubs with this sort of facilities offering coaching. Lot of freestyle is trained and practiced off the snow.
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Poster: A snowHead
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As you are probably getting a bit old to now specialize enough to become a competitive skier what about instructing. This way you will go through a coaching and training process to improve your skills and the odds of being employed are a far higher than those of getting sponsored etc.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Wow, depressing thread, are people really telling this kid that they are too old at 17!?
Viljar, You won't know unless you try and no one has seen you ski so no one is in a position to tell you what you are or are not able to achieve.
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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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I can't advise too much here as I didn't put ski's on till I was in my 20's - but what I would say is that you won't improve much being UK based - I assume you have been subsidised by your family so far and you may still be living with them
At 17 you are still young but you are old enough to make your own way in life - if your family are wealthy ask them to sponsor you for a year - if not you will need to work to support the lifestyle
Use the internet to get up to speed with the discipline you most want to concentrate in and try getting work in a resort which supports that discipline
Your only 17 - take a year out doing this - if it doesnt work - go back to school and study - at least you will know that you gave it your best shot
I honestly wish you the best of luck
Johnor
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FAQ
