Getting excited for ski trip!!

A snowHead

So this is basically a bit of a self indulgent post - but would quite like you thoughts/opinions! (If you've time to read it - just realised how long it is!!!)

I'm off on what will be my 3rd ski trip at the beginning of Feb and I'm beginning to get excited Very Happy

I'm off to Les Deux Alpes with 3 others and I've been reading through this site to get an idea of people's opinions of the resort. From what I've read it looks like this should be a fun trip! My only concern is, that although I'm getting excited about it now, I worry that I'll be less enthusiastic when I get there...

Before my very first ski trip (about 4 years ago now) I thought it would be a good idea to have a few lessons before I went - and I loved it! I seemed to pick it up reasonably quickly and couldn't wait to get on the slopes! And when we got there (Serre Chevalier), the first mornings lesson went well, I put myself in the total beginners group as I didn't want to rush myself and hadn't skied on proper snow before. It was a little slow and we stayed on the nursery slopes, but I was expecting that the first day or so. However the next day, we went halfway up a beginners run (green) and I just froze, I was properly terrified. Crying and refusing to move terrified. I had to get down the slope with a combination of walking, and scooting down on my backside! This is a totally irrational response (it was a little steep for a green, but nice and wide). I tried to pick up my confidence on the nursery slopes that afternoon, ready to try again the next day. But the same thing happened. Although this time I forced myself to follow the instructor down the slope, he was very good and chatted to me the whole way and the distraction seemed to work, I was still scared but before I knew it I was at the bottom of the slope Very Happy

For the whole holiday this is pretty much the only run I went on, gradually moving further up it. But by the end of the holiday I still couldn't ski it on my own and had to have one of my friends ski in front of me all the way down. I ended that holiday hating skiing.

But my boyfriend and friends love it so I figured we may as well book a holiday for the following year as otherwise I'd just keep putting it off and the fear would just get worse and worse!! So the next time we went to Alpe d'huez and this seemed to be a much nicer resort although I was still terrified! I had to keep muttering to myself during the lessons not to be a baby and if everyone else could do it then I could too! And that was still only on the green runs!! So I ended that holiday feeling a bit more positive!

Now we've booked to go away again, and for some reason I'm genuinely excited! I had some ski lessons in the summer on the slope at Milton Keynes to give me a practice on real snow again, and I enjoyed it - although I did start to feel pangs of fear again when I was going down the slope on my own with no one to follow and all the really good skiers there whizzing past and cutting in front etc!

Anyway, after all that, does anyone have any suggestions for ski schools in Les Deux Alpes that can help someone who is nervous, I was thinking of The European Ski School, I've looked over their website and they seem a friendly bunch! And can anyone give me any advice for getting over a fear of slopes?! I say slopes as I'm fine with heights, and I've fallen over enough to not be bothered too much about it. I think some of it might be the fear of not always being in control (people skiing into you etc) but I've tried to limit this as much as possible by having lessons focusing on my technique and can ski using parallel turns most of the time, can control my speed and stop when I want to, so would class myself as a competent beginner - but I want to be a confident beginner! My big aim is to ski a blue run this trip, but I would be over the moon if I could even just start to enjoy myself when skiing on the greens and not have this lingering feeling of terror!

Sorry for the extremely long post, but I really do like skiing, I just hate feeling terrified all the time, I want to be able to relax a bit and enjoy myself!

A snowHead

Previous recommendation in that resort have been with Charlotte Swift. Although have't used her myself from what I have read from others she will be what you need

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

BTW it might seem rather random that I know that, I am going to L2A in April and have been reading up on peoples posts there. I was planning on booking with her but my knee issues mean I haven't done so as I don't know if I will even be able to ski when I get there, and if I can how much.

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Haha - it was a very quick response! I'd seen her name crop up in a few of the posts here, so will definitely give her some thought! Hope your knee lets you ski Very Happy

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

NooNoo, I've had lessons with Charlotte (Easiski), she gave me my first drills off piste and on. She is also something of a specialist with nervous skiers, and also does pensioner groups. I have heard quite a few very nervous beginners over the years sing her praises for helping them to overcome their fears.

It sounds as if you have a combination of getting the bug for skiing whilst at the same time developing a learned fear response (or at least a rapid escalation from initial nervousness) to the slope steepness. There are quite a few drills and tricks that you can do to overcome this, almost like a systematic desensitisation program.

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NickyJ, Good luck.

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After all it is free

Thanks Avalanche Poodle. It does seem to be the steepness, and any change in it that scares me. Good to know there are things I can do to help, will try and get in touch with Charlotte.

NooNoo, I would strongly recommend charlotte but i suspect she might be fully booked. If so she might be able to suggest somebody else suitable. I think you're very brave to keep at it. snowHead

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NooNoo, please don't take this the wrong way... but have you considered skiing simply isn't the sport/activity for you? Going skiing is a big commitment both in time and finance and IMHO you know pretty quick if it's for you. I've known several sporty/determined/hardy people that just couldn't do it / didn't get it. Some of them had a few lessons in a fridge, some did a week in the mountains but I believe quite rightly they decided there were things they were more suited and would enjoy more. Maybe you are not as timid and nervous as I am reading and can become a happy skier through good instruction but it just sounds to me like you will struggle to really enjoy it.

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NooNoo, I found that sometimes it can be useful to find a very short steep section with only about 20 foot of drop and practice just going straight down knowing that the long flat afterwards will slow you. This is more for a fear of speed though, and there are not many places that are suitable.
Just don't try to rush things, it may take a while but you can go pretty quickly even on a green slope with a good technique. Have fun, that's the main thing.

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Another "vote" for Charlotte (Easiski). Not from personal experience, but from hearing many positive reports about the impact she has had on skiers.

There are plenty of skiers who are happy pottering gently about on the mountains enjoying a few turns and being amidst the scenery and atmosphere. Not for everyone is speed, bumps, off-piste, parks etc. good luck NooNoo, keep at it Smile

NickyJ, good luck with the recovery/rehab.

You know it makes sense.

NooNoo, Do you take part in any other sports such as mountain biking, horse riding etc which may have elements of steepness to them?

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

Welcome to snowheads NooNoo, can recommend charlotte but as other say, likely busy by now. I'm sure she would be able to recommend alternatives though.

LDA's nursery slopes are lovely, very calming and lightly used with no 'through route' so no-one screaming past you at mach9. The slight problem for the nervous is that the transition up to the 'big slopes' on the mountain is a bit abrupt and there is no easy way back down (the green is horribly busy, don't do it, get the gondola down). Given that don't leave the nursery slopes until you are on a lesson, please snowHead

My boyfriend has only just forgiven me for forcing him up there on his second day on skis (it was 15 years ago!)

With some lessons to show you where to go I'm sure you'll have a great time though, it's a nice compact area so ought to be easy to catchup with your friends for lunch etc.

Enjoy and don't forget to report back!

A snowHead

p.s. For next time get a copy of wheretoskiandsnowboard - some great recommendations for where to go for all experience levels in there - was my go to guide for years while I sorted out my confidence issues!.

A snowHead

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

NooNoo, Good luck, and do persevere. A lot of skiers you see whooshing confidently down black runs and off-piste have felt terror and frozen. I well recall freezing in a lesson in week 3 and the instructor having to come back to rescue me. I also used to be irrationally terrified of narrow paths. But all that is in the past now. Just take it easy, step by step, and develop good technique in which your confidence will grow.

PS - a small (repeat SMALL) dose of Dutch courage can help too. Smile

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NooNoo, I was going to suggest nordic skiing, snow shoeing extra. Trust me, I really have to hold back from telling people how fantastic (downhill) skiing is, otherwise I will become the party bore. And it's quite alien for me to discourage someone to do it. Indeed I don't even want to do that. I just want to make sure that because you love the mountains and because your friends do it that you don't force yourself to 'suffer' the experience. But with that I'll let people get on with recommending ski schools/instructors and I hope it's a great trip Smile

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

NooNoo, I was similar with climbing, on bigger walls I get quite gripped, but yet the individual moves would be easy if only 5 feet off the deck lol

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NooNoo, Try vodka. It helps!

After all it is free

The nursery slopes next to the town are excellent, as are the blue runs right at the top of the glacier - these are not v steep and are very wide so you can traverse to your heart's content. Petit Crete just above the town would also be a good run - it's a green slope but is only served by a v. slow magic carpet lift which runs on this piste. Once you have got things more sorted, try Crete - this is next to Crete and apart from steeper starting section, it's v good. Also, Signal is a lovely piste (once you have got things more sorted). avoid the road back to resort and get some lessons

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NooNoo, stick with it - I was someone who was terrified at times but loved it from day 1. On my second trip and first week of group lessons I had a shot of rum every morning Embarassed

That wore off half way through the lesson but by then I was committed Toofy Grin

Still have occasional moments (last week lost it on a very busy and icy red run) possibly more after an accident a couple of years ago.

Charlotte Swift comes highly recommended. Try and book with her - much more beneficial than rum.

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Good luck NooNoo, it's wonderful once you get the hang of it, and I agree - so much of it is in the mind.

I still get scared and have the occasional flounceo on steep black slopes, and my technique goes to pot - and I've probably done about 50 weeks' skiing!

Hope you have a lovely holiday and it all comes together.

I've had experience of supporting my wife and two kids through there early skiing experiences. Here are some random bits and pieces to add to the excellent advice already given above. They are generally on the theme of making sure you remove as many distractions as possible, so you can concentrate on beating the wobbles.

1) Do some general fitness before you go, you may well be more prone to 'episodes' when you are tired?
2) Go easy on the booze the night before, especially on the first couple of days - everythings worse with a hangover
3) Allow plenty of time for the hire shop, lift passes and getting to your first lesson - rushing or being late just raises the adrenalin and increases stress
4) Check your kit now - if you are warm and comfortable your lessons will be better and finding out you've lost a glove in resort is annoying
5) Do not let your boyfriend convince you to go skiing anywhere that you do not want to go - I was guilty of this and caused what is know in our household as the "Ski Pole Javelin Incident"

You know it makes sense.

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

NooNoo, dont know if this will help but if I get nervous one of the tips I Was giving was to sing to myself, this is to stop you locking your jaw and fully tensing up, always worth a go Happy

A snowHead

A snowHead

Find I still do it now as it became a habit (hopefully quietly enough so people don't notice).

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

I'm sure someone more qualified will correct this if I'm wrong but another tip we found useful is to put some thought into where and when you are going to stop on the piste. My other half found that stopping a bit less often meant she built up a bit more rhythm and her confidence grew rapidly.

Also, if you are getting anxious it is quite normal to stop straight away, but that often means you are on the steepest part of a slope, maybe facing the piste egde and maybe somewhere with people whizzing passed you. This can make it very intimidating to get going again, especially if you know you have to make an immediate turn. Coach yourself to only stop on the side of wide pistes, somewhere less steep and immediately after a turn so that you are facing the right way to start off again.

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did my first ski holiday to L2A and the nursery slopes are large and not to steep. I was then taken up to Les Cretes by my very competent skiied all her life girlfriend and found the green terrifying at the top as it was the steepest i had seen. I spent two days skiing up and down this run which brought me on loads. Once i got over this i went on a cruise the blues where i got even more terrified as some of the blues in L2A are described by some as dark blues as they have some very steep sections on them. The previously mentioned Signal run is an awesome slope to work on technique. massively wide and long you should work on your big turns here and build your confidence. do not ski down the horrible green track it is awful get the white eggs back down. I left this holiday loving skiing but stated i would never in my life manage a black and set myself the challenge of doing a red last year. I did a black the second day in Austria and am now over my steepness fear cause i know i can control myself at my own pace and get down anything. I think everyone gets a fear of the steep but stick at it and you will get over it.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Thanks for that! Makes me feel much better having people who were beginners at L2A describe the runs - my idea of steep and an experienced skiers idea of steep can be very different! I'm really looking forward to this holiday. I think part of it is that I've not planned to have lessons every day, so it feels more relaxed and less expectations - I can choose to have a day where I don't ski if I wanted to, or try a different type of skiing Very Happy

Thanks again for all the advice everyone, feeling very positive, no dread at all!

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Read this this morning:
http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/07/michael-bays-ces-autocue-fail-why-are-we-so-afraid-of-stage-fright-4253059/

I think it's a similar thing to what we are discussing here. Key points being don't try to "calm down" but instead embrace and understand the fear, accept it. Be prepared for it to happen and mentally rehearse and practice how to deal with it. Being able to side slip, a standing flip turn, knowing the procedure for stopping yourself in a fall can all help. Never to be too embarrassed to snowplough and of course just lots more skiing on comfortable terrain.

Some quotes from the article:

"The main way to counteract stage fright – any actor will tell you, any musician will tell you, any sportsman will tell you – is rehearse. Because you get it out of the working memory and right down deep into the unconscious, and then you can do anything. "

"It's like a racing driver,’ she said. ‘If the car skids, it’s no good beating yourself up that you’re skidding – what you’ve got to do is get yourself back on track and deal with what’s happening. If you start panicking about what’s happening, you’re toast.’"

Ask yourself this... "what is the worse that can happen?"

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It's a good article. I like the idea of not trying to 'calm down' and just accepting it. I think that's kind of what's happening now, I know I'm probably going to feel scared at some point on the trip, but like you say, if I prepare enough, I should be able to push through it! On that note does anyone know the best (quietest) times to visit a snow dome? I went last in August, to Milton Keynes on a weekend evening and it was reasonably quiet - Am I right to think at this time of year it will be pack all weekend, even the evenings? If so, I think I'd probably take a day off work, but what day/time would be quietest?

After all it is free

i was at braehead last night with my two kids and partner and it was really quiet with no more than twenty on the slope from 6 until 10 and that includes those that were race training. depending on when you work during the week i would go in the mornings as it is freshly pisted and dead quiet cause all the kids are at school either that or go straight from work. Milton Keynes may be totally different though as a lot of skiiers and boarders in scotland are now getting the real stuff up north as we have a lot of snow.

NooNoo, give MK dome a call. Enjoy LDA. Nursery slopes near the resort are good because there are lots of them and a couple have some ever so slightly steeper sections which are good prep for slopes up the hill.

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NooNoo, I've only been skiing a few years so can remember well that feeling of getting to the top of a slope and panicing! You're right, it's nothing to do with heights - it's about control. Once you get to a stage that you're 100% confident you can stop and slow down at any time on a particular slope, it's amazing how that slope suddenly doesn't look steep or scary at all. I remember having the panic at the top of greens, then it was blues, now it's the steep parts of reds (but I'm aiming to conquer that this season!). Private lessons with Charlotte sound like the way forward, they might cost a bit more but they'll be worth it!

I think you'll conquer quite a few blues by the end of your holiday (while having a ball on the greens!). And remember to give yourself a big pat on the back when you do!

And don't forget to report back on how you got on Smile

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Getting excited for ski trip!!

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