 Poster: A snowHead
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Going to France with friends including female (49) complete beginner. She is nervous and thinking going private for 3 days,2hrs per day. She thinks being in a group at her age she may struggle keeping up as her fitness level isn't great. Husband has offered the pvt lessons as Xmas pressie, I just wonder if she will miss out the fun bit,lets all fall over together, any thoughts ?? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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She'll probably progress quicker with 1 on 1 tuition, but as you say, will have more fun as part of a group..... And that's the point of the holiday surely?
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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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Speaking as an older learner, I highly recommend private lessons. My first ever lesson was a group and I had exactly the problems she fears - learning with much younger people at our age is not encouraging! She might feel better doing a group lesson after a couple of days. I was lucky enough to be treated to private lessons for 3 days and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and made good progress - all my weaknesses accounted for! I did have a lovely instructor (but then I've rarely had a bad one!).
If the rest of you are very experienced skiers then she will need to feel a little bit confident if you want to do a bit of easy skiing together - if she has made little progress she might feel bad holding you up or making you ski on easy slopes. I would imagine an ideal scenario would be private lesson in the morning, rest at lunch with (some of)your group, little bit of skiing with the most tolerant and kind members of your group in the afternoon to show her progress and have some cameraderie, then early home to get those startled muscles into a warm bath before the rest of you get back and use all the hot water!
Also make sure she brings heat rub - I recommend Balsamka as absolute best. And Ibuprofen!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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PS I am now on black runs...
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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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As an adult beginner,I was 39, I took group lessons on first two trips and really enjoyed it.
However, I did take lessons here first and cant recommend that highly enough.
A complete beginner will struggle to be able to ski with you in the afternoons and may not enjoy the holiday so much.
Saying that, at 49, she may have had enough by lunchtime
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thank you.Violette, I think you are spot on there, very good advice. Being my best friend we have been talking for years about her coming with us and she will have her 50th on the piste. Any recommendations for private instructors in Chatel?
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Yes it also depends a lot on her average fitness now - if she runs or cycles she should be better off. I wasn't very fit when I started but now cycle a bit which has improved my leg muscles appreciably. When I started skiing I had a lot of trouble with one leg being much weaker than the other which really limited what I did and I didn't do much afternoon skiing at all. The group I went with used to have quite late lunches though! And I did push myself a bit and not stop for lots of coffees.
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Sorry I don't know Chatel - my OH has skiied there but only with friends. I will ask the friends! - but have a feeling they don't take lessons these days.
Mine was a lovely Frenchman about my age, suited me!
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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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Neville, yea I agree tired legs definitely
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If she can have a couple of group lessons in the UK on an indoor slope that might get her started. It's a really good way of building confidence in a friendly environment and is fun too. Then private lessons in the resort. I do think the quality of the instructor in Chatel may be a really important element. You could have a really good group instructor and a poor private one, or vice versa. I must admit though, I favour the private lesson option with good research into who might be the best instructor. You can also ask the instructor to get her to an accessible on mountain lunch or coffee spot at the end of the lesson (maybe not the first) from which he/she considers she may be able to ski afterwards.
No idea of good instructors in Chatel. I suggest you start another post with that in the title!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Having started learning to ski when I was 58, I would recommend private lessons or a very small group, with a good instructor. As an anxious beginner, I had an extended group lesson in a snowdome prior to my first ski holiday. Not a success (and probably not the best way to start), and if the holiday hadn't already been booked I would probably have given up then and there!
I subsequently went on holiday for a week to Whistler and had three lessons with my husband and one other learner. My husband and I practised our skiing together during the rest of the day and I came back absolutely hooked! 
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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 would definately recomend doing a "learn to ski" course at a snow dome before you first trip to the mountains. A few years ago now, I did "learn to Ski in a day" at Manchester and it was the best thing I did. Plenty of "older" people in the group as well.
It gets you through the dull frustraiting early steps of learning how to put your skis on, snowploughing straight down the mountain and then simple snowplough turns. I.e. the stuff that you need about 20ft of hill to learn and needs to be done before you even see a ski lift. (But remember this is the dull, frustriating bit and don't be put off as it will be much better in the mountains)
That way rather than spending the first day or two of your private lessons (and the afternoons afterwards) on the nursery slopes away from your friends, you can use your 3 days of private lessons to move on from greens to blues and have a chance of joining people on the rest of the mountain towards the end of the week.
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Flet©h, I like the sound of that. I have passed on all your thoughts and she is feeling much more confident already !! 
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You know it makes sense.
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Kiters, Private..she'll learn so much more one- to-one.
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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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Swissie,
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Kiters, Private..she'll learn so much more one- to-one.
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True, but it's not just about learning. She will probably have more fun with a group and, more importantly, feel far better about her progress as she will be learning with people of the same ability/inability.
Personally, I'd recommend a bit of both. A few days of group lessons and then some private.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I was also a late learner (erm, still am!) at the age of 40-odd, when I was lucky to land a job within striking distance of a small ski resort. So, I was on the €1 bus from Nice to Isola 2000 at the first opportunity for some low key, pressure-free learning.
My first lesson, with one equally novice pal, was a frustrating and complete waste of time and money, to be honest. It involved falling over a hundred times - usually whilst standing still - struggling to get back up, and almost giving up. I did, however, get to use my extensive list of then-new French swearwords.
So, when a couple of other pals came up to have a go the next day, we spent the first couple of hours simply teaching them to fall over and stand back up, reattaching their skis, walking a few steps in them, all of the really basic stuff, not even going near to a lift. Once they were happy being able to 'do the Bambi' but also being able to get back up, it was time for their first lesson. And that's where the fun really began... small group lessons with a bunch of equally useless mates, one of whom is still referred to as 'The Crab' after his curious ability to make more progress sidewards than forwards.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A few years ago now, I did "learn to Ski in a day" at Manchester and it was the best thing I did. Plenty of "older" people in the group as well.
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Hmm. I did a "learn to snowboard" in a day a few years ago, when I was about 58. I enjoyed it, and decided to carry on and do a bit of boarding when conditions were perfect, but I would NOT recommend one of those days to somebody who is unfit and inactive. I was neither - though I was certainly no athlete - and I found it absolutely knackering. Could scarcely move 48 hours later though some of my stiffness was to do with the sort of huge smashing crash (caught an edge) which beginners on skis don't have. A lot of "older" beginners on a learn to ski day will be pretty active people who do stuff like hill walking and cycling. If she really is a couch potato she might struggle on an all day course.
My primary recommendation would be to get her started NOW, today, on some exercise to improve her level of fitness. Strenuous walking, preferably with hills, cycling if she has a bike, some squats and lunges. Any local authority leisure centre will have somebody who could give her a gym induction and some ideas about what to do, if that didn't seem to scary a prospect (it wouldn't be at all scary in the execution, there are plenty of unfit, overweight, older women in most gyms, IME and the atmosphere is generally friendly).
When are you going? she could make a big difference in a month.
As for lessons, I think it depends on the resort and on the ski schools available. And for private lessons, which might be good, do get a personal recommendation for an instructor.
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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 did a "learn to snowboard" in a day a few years ago, when I was about 58. I enjoyed it, and decided to carry on and do a bit of boarding when conditions were perfect, but I would NOT recommend one of those days to somebody who is unfit and inactive.
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I'd agree on them being hard work if you aren't active at all but the skiing one is a lot less strenuous than snowboarding. The skiiers do a lot less falling over, a lot less sitting on their back bottom, a lot less undoing and doing up of bindings and it is generally a longer but less steep learning curve.
On the day I did it there was a group of boarders at the same time and they all looked like a load of beaten, sweaty, messes by lunch, whereas the skiiers were a bit achy but generally fresh.
But I'd also agree on the other best thing to do is get fit. Skiing is infinitely more enjoyable if you are a little bit fit.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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A friend of mine did learn to ski in a day last year and thought he was ready to go. He got a big surprise in resort when due to conditions he could not even manage the nursery slopes. Once he got over that 1-1 he was fine & skiing reds after 2 days. Indoor slopes are great to start off but do not prepare you for real terrain. For a 49 year old first timer I would think about a couple of private lessons in a snowdome then follow up with short private lessons in resort.
I agree with pam w, get some excersise started asap!
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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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they all looked like a load of beaten, sweaty, messes by lunch,
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 yes, that describes me at the time!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Having done and then taught Learn to Ski in a day, I would definately recommend NOT doing one, but split each stage up into separate lessons (at SnoZone there are 4 beginners levels that take you to a "recreational" level competent to ski plough turns safely from the top of the main slope). Many older adults are exhausted towards the second half and are simply too tired to take in much learning in the second half.
But as others have said would strongly recommend getting some good lessons over here first to get the basics in.
With regards to instructors in Chatel: Helen Trayfoot-Waugh (http://www.puresnowsports.co.uk/) and BASS Chatel are the two that spring to mind.
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It my be my prejudice, but the idea of approaching the pistes without a GOOD level of fitness is asking for disappointment at least.
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Yep learn in a day is hard work! (I've done beginners ski, ski carving and beginners snowboard like that) but most (maybe all) the domes also offer the same course as either 2 half days or 3 or 4 2hr sessions. If nothing else it will avoid the really boring sidestep up a few steps then slither down bit of the start of everyone ski career. And given your friend isn't as fit as she could be it should be the motivation she needs to do something about that so she can enjoy the holiday!
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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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I would suggest the learn to ski course split over tqwo sessions. Doing it in one days is mega intense for someone who hasn't ever been skiing and is unfit. Agree this might be the kick-start to get a bit fitter before her holiday too.
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I agree with abd's recommendation to split the beginner lessons over several sessions - I did the ski in a day and was OK, being relatively fit as I run/cycle regularly, but remember some in my group being very tired at the end. It's also worth booking these lessons at a quiet time, i.e. not at a weekend (as I did!) - your friend will then have more chance of being in a smaller group and the slope will be less busy. As Flet©h says above, I'm sure she will appreciate getting to grips with the basics before she goes away, rather than wasting time learning these things when away - I was really glad I'd done so. Agree with all the recommendations to improve fitness too.
As an adult beginner myself, my personal preference is either small group lessons (which I had during my first holiday last season - 3 in a group) or private lessons, rather than large group lessons. But I've never not enjoyed a ski lesson yet, so I'm sure she'll have a great time whatever she chooses.
I hope this is the start of much happiness for your friend during her discovery of skiing
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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 thanks for all your thoughts and I know she will step up her fitness routine as I am in the gym with her now!!
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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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A few people have recommended group lessons as they'd be more fun, maybe but there's no guarantee of that. Me and my friends did group lessons on our first trip for exactly that reason. Unfortunately we were split into different groups and my group were as dull as dishwater (luckily the instructors were great fun and we spent quite a few nights socialising with them).
Also, once we'd learned basic technique, it felt like only the weakest skiers were getting any tuition (i.e those falling over all the time - just because I'm not falling over doesn't mean my technique isn't rubbish, which it was!).
If I had my time again I'd do 2 things differently..
1) have more lessons before going - getting to the point where I could do linked slow plough turns.
2) in resort have 3 days of 2hr private lessons, instead of 5 days of 3 hr group lessons. I'd have learned more, and I'd had more time (and my legs would have been fresher) to ski with my friends and practice what I'd learnt.
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I'd recommend private lessons with someone who is used to teaching older first timers (she's not quite a Senior in our terms). There can be a very different mind-set for people over about 30, especially if they have kids.
While working on fitness levels, don't forget the core - skiing involves a lot of balance, and a strong core is essential, more so than strong legs.
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You know it makes sense.
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Hi again - I think Handy Turnip's advice is good, as is everyone's on here really. I have asked my friend for some ski instructor recommends, will message you about this when I work out how...
V
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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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1) have more lessons before going - getting to the point where I could do linked slow plough turns.
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Yep - I'd suggest that this is the minium standard that everyone should try to achive before their first trip to the mountains if the have the time and access to a dome. It makes such a difference to that first trip as after your first morning of lessons you are imediately at the stage where you can travel arround the greens and maybe even an easy blue, take a chairlift, your (more patient) friends can ski with you a bit and within a day or so you will be starting to get the skis parallel. All this makes the first week a joy where, although you can't explore the whole mountain, you get what a skiing holiday really is rather than spending a miserable couple of days sidestepping up a nursery slope (or standing on a mgic carpet if you are lucky).
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Poster: A snowHead
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The snowdome bit is essential to learn how to put on skis and how to stand up on skis and deal with the frustrations of these crazy long feet you get. Means your first day in the Alps isn't spent learning how to put your skis on.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Kiters, If she is not that fit/active then as others have said; Ski-in-a-day might be a bit too much for her; I do a few at Hemel and the drop out rate is quite high due to exhaustion.
Better to start with some Private 1-2-1 lessons to get her going and then when she feels ready she might wish to join group lessons as she gets better. If she is driving a fair distance; most places should be able to arrange 2 lessons with the same instructor day on the same with a lunch break between them (go during the week is she can, weekends are getting busy).
I'd advise her to start as soon as possible. If she comes to Hemel; tell her to ask for Simon L
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