 Poster: A snowHead
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So we visited Bansko earlier in the year for a weeks skiing.. which I struggled with.
It was my first week away having learnt at the snowdome but skiing with 3 other people that were much better than me, and in a resort which didnt have many runs I could actually comfortably do I felt the pressure!
That said we have re booked to go to Andorra next year, staying at Sport Village Hotel.
We visited Hemel Hempstead yesterday so my Other half could try out his new ski boots, and despite feeling anxious to start I improved a great amount in the 2 hours we spent there. I am by no means a good skiier but I was starting to be able to get down the slope slightly quicker than a snail, doing turns closer together and keeping my skii's parallel (kind of) ... I have a long way to go but I feel I improved. No snow plough in sight!!
I am planning on having a few lessons in Andorra but my main question is.. is there a formula to being able to ski properly that an instructor can tell you or is it just practice practice practice? I want to get that balance between having fun and practising but also not just getting more and more confident but skiing like a loon (to other people when I think I look fine)...
But also not constantly thinking about my technique.. I am never going to be an amazing skiier, we dont go enough, I dont care to push myself to the point of not feeling comfortable & to be honest I just want to enjoy it while being in control. My goal for Andorra is to get down a number of greens and blues happily and in control... the blues I did in Bansko were just terrifying in all honesty!
Would you say to split your time with lessons and practice or just go along, have fun and when I want to fine tune then look at more lessons?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Em1986, I split my time between lessons and free skiing. the free skiing element can be considered practice but I don't spend all afternoon doing drills and stuff, just trying to put into practice what I have learned while skiing around..... and no, there isn't a formula!
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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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Thanks.. I think alot of it just gaining experience I guess... keeping your balance when you hit bumps.. getting out the way quickly of people swerving.. things I have not had to deal with before not being an experienced skiier 
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Em1986, it was lovely to have such an empty slope. It isn't always like that!
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Hmmm we are booked to go 9am Sat July 5th after they sent us an email with an offer on when we left..... I am guessing it will be much busier?!
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Yes, it probably will be busier.
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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 think Andorra is a great place to go for a 2nd week skier. There is lots of manageable terrain, you'll be on the reds in no time (to me there didn't seem a huge amount of difference in the piste grading).
A combination of lessons and free skiing is perfect. If you are looking at private lessons aim for a couple of hours around lunchtime for a few days, that way you can ski a bit in the morning to get find your legs, have your lesson, then ski all afternoon trying out some of the things you did in your lesson. It doesn't take too long to get around the Grandvallira so you can still see pretty much everywhere too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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My advice for what it's worth is, don't try to run before you can walk. Don't let other people pressure you into skiing where you are not comfortable. People learn at different rates, if you're slow don't worry. Find a couple of runs you like, and repeat them over and over. Confidence is key.
If you go enough, and are honest with yourself, you will eventually be your own best teacher, but it will take a long time! In the meantime, have lessons with someone you like and can understand. Don't be afraid to can an instructor who isn't working for you.
Don't worry too much how you think you look, which will be different from how you actually look anyway. People ski with different techniques. The way I learned to ski 25+ years ago isn't really even taught now, because the equipment has changed. That said, if you can get someone to video you you may well pick up more in ten minutes of seeing your own mistakes than in an hour of lessons.
Concentrate on all the stuff like facing downhill etc, it will make a big difference, but remember that it's mostly about having fun. It's not a job.
re Austria have a look at Zell - the neary Kitzsteinhorn has the easiest, widest, blue runs (would be green in France) I've seen anywhere.
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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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northernsoulboy, I found Zell am See and Kitz to be far too busy for the low intermediate we had with us (who was actually pretty good on his second week but the folk whizzing by were offputting). Fine for the lessons but for free skiing just too many people, and that was a low season week.
Em1986, never been to Ellmau, but do a search on here and you will probably see that people would think it suitable for you.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Em1986 wrote: |
My whole 'fear' started on day 2 when I was pushed into going down a steep blue that was icy, packed and full of people - I was skiing with 3 others that were just way ahead of me in terms of ability and I felt like a let down so I agreed.. big mistake as I spent the rest of the week trying to re build my confidence!! Not fun!
I am a slow learner in terms of confidence, I need to feel in control and comfortable to enjoy myself and my OH needs to feel on the edge and going at the speed of light to enjoy himself so we differ there...
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People are different. My wife is still a cautious skier after many years, and still has the occasional wobble on anything a bit steeper than she would like. I usually end up making things worse by getting frustrated with her. I'm the idiot, not her.
Nothing to be ashamed of, most people have been scared on skis at some point, and it's a healthy fear if you like your collarbone and shoulders the way they are. I'm sure we could take your other half to a few places where he'd soon dissolve into a gibbering wreck, too!
If you find a couple of blues you like, with a caff at the bottom for the occasional vin chaud or hot chocolate, stick on them. Arrange to meet your OH for lunch there. If you spend a week going up and down the same slopes working on technique and how you feel in boots and skis, you'll be a better skier for it. You may never end up straightlining La Face, but i) few do and ii) who cares?
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Just my 2p worth but if you can afford it get some private tuition in resort. I found this was a great help and improved my skiing considerably.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Em1986 wrote: |
After gettning some of the responses I have had I am actually much more excited about it all  |
That's the spirit. It's supposed to be fun!
Mike-H's point about one-to-one tuition is a good one, too.
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FAQ
) while attempting one of the instructor's evil drills. 
That was around lunchtime.
