 Poster: A snowHead
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| Yellow Snow wrote: |
We all have off days.
Even in a group I like to have a chilled ski on my own on terrain I want to pick.
Some days putting on all the kit seems like a royal pain in the arrse.
Some days I ski ragged with all the prowess of a first timer and it doesn't quite fit together.
It is human nature.
Then there are the good days - where it is the most rewarding pastime in the world and even a seat on the terrace watching the world and the magical scenery go by is the greatest thing.
The best points above are all advising to remember it is a holiday - if it all seems a bit overwhelming have a day off skis and chill, or have the ubiquitous and quite empowering "greens and blues day". Some days, no matter your ability, you just want to diddle about and smile and breathe in the air |
This nails it for me.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If self catering in France then going for breakfast croissants is a great start to the day for me - if it's a decent boulangerie (hell, they all are), get to use my limited French and that aroma is just lovely. Probably get some chausson aux pommes for later. Back to apartment, breakfast coffee with warm milk, the French way. Who cares about the first lift 
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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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| Bigtipper wrote: |
I think if you are questioning whether you enjoy skiing, it is clear it may not be for you! |
I agree with that. 
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@Kilm, my suggestion would be give it another chance.
Book yourself on the EoSB. Ski on your own or in groups, have lunch, socialise a bit, have some lessons and see if you still feel the same.
The groups are all fairly fluid and easy going with people joining and leaving as they feel like. Lessons are available with really good Brit instructors. Social life is anything from from full on party's to chilled chats over dinner.
See how you feel after that and if you've not enjoyed it then... you're weird and should look for something else
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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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Just as there are two classes of travel - First Class and With Children - there are two sorts of holidays. Unless you are filthy rich and can just pay others to do it all, taking kids away is hard work. Sometimes very hard work. All this "remember it's a holiday" advice can ring a bit hollow........ Ours were fine once we got to the teenage stage, when they went off skiing with their cousins, or other kids they'd met. We enjoyed skiing with them when they were little, and sometimes when they were bigger they would ski with us a bit, and indulge our slower and more cautious approach without too obvious a show of impatience. But I'm surprised at the number of Snowhead parents who seem to insist on accompanying their kids until they reach the age of majority - do they do the same at home, when the kids go off by bike, or by bus, to do stuff with friends?
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I think probably everyone has suffered your thoughts at sometime and I do think that some people forget it's actually a holiday. Different people get different things from skiing and personally i'd rather work on decent technique than see how fast i can go. The Ski-Tracks app seems to be marmite, it's got some great features mapping, mileage etc but what I can't stand is the 'what was your top speed today' question. I've skied with varying groups and it's usually the least proficient skiers asking the question and trying the hardest ( normally motorcyclists too). We have one member who can't even carve a turn and goes down the hill in a precarious semi snow plough, semi parallel fashion bragging about going over 50 mph.He can never stop is frankly lethal to the point that he's now been excluded from trips. The answer is get your fitness up, do what you enjoy doing, ski the runs you like in the fashion you want and get what you want from skiing, it should be fun. Personally for me School holidays are a no no as trying to get down blue links with out of control kids , skiing too fast and with no awareness of consequences is not fun.Don't get pushed into doing want you hate. The Mountains are a great place to spend time and there's a damn sight more to skiing than fastest, furthest, steepest and gnarliest.
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"I'm not sure I actually enjoy skiing!"
I've asked myself that question many a time when the visabilty is so poor I cannot see the next piste marker, it's raining, my gloves are sodden wet, my knees are throbbing, I'm lost. And in these case the answer is a big "yes", but then back in the apartment after a hot bath, a glass of vin chaud, with all the gear steaming away I forget the pain and simply remember the good times and vow to come back earlier before it gets too bad (and never do)
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If you have to ask, it's time to pack in
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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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| Whitegoldsbrother wrote: |
| If you have to ask, it's time to pack in |
So nuanced. Not.
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| Hurtle wrote: |
| Whitegoldsbrother wrote: |
| If you have to ask, it's time to pack in |
So nuanced. Not. |
Maybe - 'if you have to ask, it's time to pack it in ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY'
The black and white thinking of 'you should enjoy it all the time otherwise you should stop forever' seems a bit extreme (I wonder if people apply this to jobs, marriages, walking the dog...). What if it snows a foot tomorrow and I don't have a hangover (see the other thread on handy excuses for skiing badly...  )?
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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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A few years ago I was considering whether the hassle outweighed the enjoyment from skiing. We are all different, but I would suggest that the solution for me was to mix things up a bit. Different groups, different resorts, different types of accommodation etc. I have also concluded that for me sometimes you have to step back and take in the joy of being in the mountains, rather than be obsessed with the “sport” and getting down the hill in the fastest manner.
This year I enjoyed a cheap as chips week with a mate with SCGB in Zell am See, and I have just returned from a very high end week with friends in the 3 Valleys. Both were very enjoyable for different reasons.
My love for skiing returned a few years back by attending a residential introduction to off piste week, now if I get a chance and the conditions are ok, then I hire a guide or instructor to go off piste for a day, it breaks up the week, and a day away from the crowds and away from the pistes is life enhancing.
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I was skiing with a friend today who is 80 and he was saying the hassle is no longer worth it to him. But that makes total sense from his perspective. His wife has dementia and no longer comes with him and he has to arrange care for her while he is gone. He lives on the East Coast in the US, with only a regional airport, and it takes him 14 hours to get here, only counting the time from that airport. Carrying all his gear around alone (at 80!) is a lot of work. He does stay right on the slopes, but just getting out the door and over to the lift is tiring. Anyway, he is thinking of giving it all up and switching to scuba diving! (Like, aren't scuba tanks heavier than skis?)
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You know it makes sense.
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@sibhusky, This year, I met someone quite similar in our hotel. He was 78 and a bit of an old curmudgeon - and was part of a splendid group (in a different hotel just up the road) who weren't that far away in age.
He had lost his wife and had a son that was seriously ill....and he just felt that the effort of getting up the mountain and battling his aches and pains was just not worth it. He had another holiday booked later on, but was thinking of cancelling.
We had a couple of good days skiing with his group.....and if you are out there - Thank you Captain Kev for your hospitality.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Thu 9-03-23 23:40; edited 1 time in total
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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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@sibhusky,
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he is thinking of giving it all up and switching to scuba diving!
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I'm 76 and it's getting to the slopes that I find the most hassle. I get a cab to and from the airport in London, which generally costs more than my air fare, but for me (I prefer to take my own skis) it's well worth it. Once I'm in resort, so long as there's not too much of a walk to the first lift (especially uphill and/or on an icy road) I'm OK.
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Poster: A snowHead
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A ski bike/trike always look fun. Not accepted at every resort, but the the OAP’s ive seen (Austria domintes this!) on them seem to be having a blast!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Interpreting Yellow Snow’s post; one of the points made by the Groundhog Day film is, once you realize exactly what’s coming, you can then choose how to deal with it. And people will sometimes be in a good mood when they welcome it and react positively, and people will sometimes be in a bad mood when they hate it.
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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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Really enjoyed reading this thread. We've been in the SkiWelt this week and having similar feelings some (not all) days. We thought yesterday would be awful (raining!) but had the best skiing of the week!
There were a few days though, when we had to keep reminding ourselves as we quit the bumps and slush early afternoon that it's not a competition to keep going until the last lift... It's knowing when to stop when we're not enjoying the conditions or our legs are feeling like they'll drop off!
We've always liked this area and love Austria, but have decided that we'd rather go somewhere quieter (less people hurtling around), smaller (not bothered about racking up miles anymore/being a slave to the piste map) and with the runs we enjoy doing (cruise blues and reds). Recommendations gratefully received!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Les Saisies!
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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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Lovely thread, and actually really reassuring.
We're relatively new skiers, in fact thus thread was started on the day we had our very first lesson on our very first ski holiday.
Christmas just gone was our second week on snow, and it was there that we've started to figure our what works for us. My husband is definitely less into skiing than the restof us and is happy to only do half days, particularly ones where he can sleep in and then meet us for lunch. I appreciated the value of having an afternoon of relaxing by the pool or in a comfy chair with my book.
The key for us has been flexibility and being happy for everyone to do their own thing. Often on holiday, it can feel that you must spend lots of time together because before you know it you're back at work or school. But actually, having time for yourself is so very important.
It took me a long time to fully appreciate that. I remember feeling very resentful on early family holidays that I was up with the kids, taking them out to burn off energy, whilst my husband slept in, even though I'm a lark anyway. So I'd wake him up because if I was up, he had to be. Only he's not a morning person, so was grumpy and not good company anyway.
Our holidays improved significantly when I just left him to it and he could rise around 1030. He was always very happy to take the parenting reins, just later in the day.
Now the kids are older, it's even less of an issue. I'm generally up first. On ski holidays, I get them ready for ski school and drop them off. Some days hubby joins me after drop off, most times I ski alone in the morning and he meets us at lunch.
We have lots of stops whilst skiing and generally just take it easy. We're of the slow and steady brigade. Neither of us enjoy busy, chopped up pistes. We like wide, cruisey blues and nobody about.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Just as there are two classes of travel - First Class and With Children - there are two sorts of holidays. Unless you are filthy rich and can just pay others to do it all, taking kids away is hard work. Sometimes very hard work. All this "remember it's a holiday" advice can ring a bit hollow........ Ours were fine once we got to the teenage stage, when they went off skiing with their cousins, or other kids they'd met. We enjoyed skiing with them when they were little, and sometimes when they were bigger they would ski with us a bit, and indulge our slower and more cautious approach without too obvious a show of impatience. But I'm surprised at the number of Snowhead parents who seem to insist on accompanying their kids until they reach the age of majority - do they do the same at home, when the kids go off by bike, or by bus, to do stuff with friends? |
Wow. I actually enjoy the company of my children, and they mostly enjoy my company too. We all ski together, most of the time. There is no insistence to it, and it's very strange of you to use that term. Please don't assume that because some families like spending time together, or do things differently from how you might have chosen to, that there is something amiss. Mine are now 18, 16, 14,12 and most of the time on the last holiday we all skied together. Sometimes one or two would go off and do something different or ski a run faster. But mostly we were together, and always enjoyed lunch together. And yes, we spend quite a bunt of time together at home too. I fish with the boys quite a bit, we go out for dinner as a family every Friday and normally a long walk at the weekend. What is so wrong with that and why are you being so judgemental about it?
For what it is worth I didn't find it all that stressful when they were smaller either. Just accepted there would be a bit less skiing for me, but had great times messing about ion the smnao when they were small.
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There is no insistence to it, and it's very strange of you to use that term.
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No it's not strange at all and your judgement that I don't enjoy my children's company is irritating and unwarranted. But they became better skiers than their father and me. I use that term because people DO insist that their kids ski with them, because they are worried about them going off on their own. My kids as teenagers were better skiers than their parents, and had far more stamina. They also wanted to do different stuff sometimes. One chalet hotel holiday in Valmeinier/Valloire they spent a lot of time with their cousins and other kids from the hotel yomping round snowy ditches on snowblades. Not for me, thanks. And they got bored with long drink and lunch stops - they wanted to spend the maximum time out on skis. You are obviously a hugely expert skier who can show your teenagers a thing or two. Well, bully for you. But families who spend some time skiing together, and sometimes skiing separately, can also be fine and don't necessarily hate each other. I was a stronger skier than my husband and we sometimes split up too - skiing with different friends. Oddly, the marriage survived.
I do find parents are sometimes very reluctant to let kids do things under their own steam these days, and I think it's very sad. My daughter encountered some snide comments when she allowed her two girls, aged about 8 and 10, to walk the safe urban mile to my house alone.
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@zikomo, I think the judgement is where it is a forced situation i.e. parents feel obliged to do stuff to keep up with the teenage kids or kids reluctantly dragged out of bed early because the family is going out. My brother and I were immensely grateful that our parents took us skiing but we'd likely have been mortified if we'd had to mosey along with them at a pedestrian pace all the time as teens rather than skiing with the rep or getting into our own sorts of trouble. We always made meet up points on time and could navigate a lift system so....
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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 @pam w, hit the nail on the head here with
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I do find parents are sometimes very reluctant to let kids do things under their own steam these days,
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I used to live in the country but next door to a couple with two kids, over the road was the woods with footpaths, bridleways, streams and a whole bunch of fun. But the son just wasn't allowed to play in the woods or even cycle on the bridleways on his own at any age. Their school was a mile or so away along a footpath that went past the farm at the back, again they just weren't allowed to walk to school at all. Over protective parents, so sad.
At least I think that is what @pam w, was getting at!
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At least I think that is what @pam w, was getting at!
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Yes, I was. When our daughter was about 14-15 she flew from Gatwick up to Scotland to visit a great friend from the time she'd been in school near Ayr. We put her on the train to Gatwick (at her request, she thought she'd be too nervous saying goodbye to us at the airport) and though full of trepidation she did it.
Some people thought we were mad. Not that the journey posed the slightest danger. But I don't recall anybody suggesting it was because we didn't enjoy each other's company. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Horses for courses and each to their own. Don't think anyone means any disrespect here.
Personally, being from Italian descendence, family is everything. And I love skiing with the kids (15 and 14). This year they tolerated my cautiousness and lack of daredevil speed. The trade off is me being static, filming their thrills and spills on various snowparks or watching the ESF teacher picking out jumps by the side of the piste and then pointing them out to the kids as though my knowledge of any ski resort is genius.
Long may it last, but I think if we were skiing with other friends with kids, they might want more independence.
I don't judge others in the same respect as not wanting to be judged.
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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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@kettonskimum,
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I don't judge others in the same respect as not wanting to be judged.
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Absolutely. This can be a very judgmental place sometimes.
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You know it makes sense.
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@boarder2020, it's noticeable in family resorts in France how many "three generational" families are around. Probably true in Italy too. We took a non-skiing granny to Austria, and I've often been not only a skiing granny but an airport-transfer granny and chalet-maid granny too. And shall be doing it again a bit in France in April, on holiday with my three kids, their spouses and 8 grandchildren. We share the work - nobody is being exploited. The grandchildren all seem to enjoy each other's company, though they range from 2 - 18. My daughter and family do "home exchange" holidays because they are affordable. But they do find that the kids miss the sort of playmates they tend to pick up on camping holidays, or when they go on holiday with their cousins.
We could never afford the sort of ski holiday where other people take the kids to ski lessons - but there were certainly times I would have welcomed some assistance with that!
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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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We could never afford the sort of ski holiday where other people take the kids to ski lessons - but there were certainly times I would have welcomed some assistance with that!
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I am not suggesting grandparents are being exploited, I'm sure it's good for all involved. I completely understand why people would want some time away from their kids. There is a reason I wouldn't chose to have any 
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Poster: A snowHead
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One of our favourite parts of out ski holidays is the flexibility to spend time in a variety of ways.
We like that the kids go to ski school as it allows husband and I the opportunity to have some quality time together. I also find that I'm in a much better headspace for the kids as they are desperate to show me everything they've learned, and I'm enthusiastic and able to give them my full attention because I haven't been drained by 'mummy, mummy, mummy, mummy' all day. They get a better version of me.
We've had limited ski together time because of all day ski school, so I'm actually really looking forward to them only having morning lessons at Easter, so we can have time to ski together afterwards. Though, Austria has already shown me that my 11 year old is faster and far more skilled than I already, so I'll have a job keeping up.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
I'll have a job keeping up
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You're not supposed to keep up, you're supposed to lag behind and admire.....
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| zikomo wrote: |
| For what it is worth I didn't find it all that stressful when they were smaller either. Just accepted there would be a bit less skiing for me, but had great times messing about ion the smnao when they were small. |
I do. Getting them breakfasted and ready for ski club.
Breakfast at 7.30 ski club meet at 9.30 up the mountain. 2 hours may sound a lot but that time soon dwindles.
An average morning for us goes...........
A long lift line, parking space is a distance away from the long lift line. Youngest has an imaginary lump in her ski boot liner again and again and again, her socks are itching, other ones helmet is too tight, now it's too loose. Ones goggles are steamed up, ones goggle aren't right. The steamy googles is adamant she not going to wear her goggles now. I've took my sunglasses out my pocket dad and left them at the hotel. I've left my glove in the car, I've lost my lunch money. she's nicked my lip balm,no mines the cherry one she had the apple one and it goes on and on.
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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 haven't enjoyed skiing as much this year, that might be a good thing, my obsession with skiing certainly contributed to the failure of my marriage and I have resented spending time doing other things when I could be skiing or earning money to go skiing
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
my obsession with skiing certainly contributed to the failure of my marriage
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 Another strikingly honest contribution to this valuable thread, @tangowaggon.
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@tangowaggon, is that because of poor snow?
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| pam w wrote: |
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There is no insistence to it, and it's very strange of you to use that term.
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No it's not strange at all and your judgement that I don't enjoy my children's company is irritating and unwarranted. But they became better skiers than their father and me. I use that term because people DO insist that their kids ski with them, because they are worried about them going off on their own. My kids as teenagers were better skiers than their parents, and had far more stamina. They also wanted to do different stuff sometimes. One chalet hotel holiday in Valmeinier/Valloire they spent a lot of time with their cousins and other kids from the hotel yomping round snowy ditches on snowblades. Not for me, thanks. And they got bored with long drink and lunch stops - they wanted to spend the maximum time out on skis. You are obviously a hugely expert skier who can show your teenagers a thing or two. Well, bully for you. But families who spend some time skiing together, and sometimes skiing separately, can also be fine and don't necessarily hate each other. I was a stronger skier than my husband and we sometimes split up too - skiing with different friends. Oddly, the marriage survived.
I do find parents are sometimes very reluctant to let kids do things under their own steam these days, and I think it's very sad. My daughter encountered some snide comments when she allowed her two girls, aged about 8 and 10, to walk the safe urban mile to my house alone. |
Now this is very strange. You used quite a pejorative term ("insistence"), and made quite a big deal about how great you were at letting your children go and do their own thing. You clearly were making an assumption that the only reason we would ski most of the time with our is because I insist they don't leave my sight. Otherwise they would not be with us, as like yours they would want to ne off skiing on their own with friends etc. Nothing could be further from the truth actually,.we are very liberal in that regard, but that is beside the point. Perhaps it was just a a poor choice of words and phrasing and that is not what you meant, but that is how it came across to me. That those who ski all or mostly of their time with their children must be "insisting" on it.
To them complain that somehow I have made the judgement that you don't enjoy the company of your children is the weird part. I made so such assertion. Or even suggestion. But I do wholeheartedly apologise for making you feel that I did. I certainly would never want to make that judgement of another parent.
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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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You still going on about that? Some people won't let their kids ski alone (in which case the word "insist" is entirely apt). Some teenagers choose to ski with their parents, some like to do their own thing with mates. Many will probably do a bit of both. End of story and I CBA to reply further. If you find it strange, that's your inference.
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@pam w, Well I rather think I was more generous in accepting it might have been a poor choice of words on your part. And making sure you know I did not make any judgement about you enjoying the company of your children. And further apologised if I inadvertently made you feel I did.
I often appreciate and agree with your inputs in general here and you are clearly popular. You do seem a bit "prickly" at times though, and I think somewhat judgemental on how others choose to parent their children. Something I think it wise to avoid.
I think the contrast in our responses says it all tbh.
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FAQ
