 Poster: A snowHead
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Luca at Ski New Gen in 3 valleys.
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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 you are in it for the long game, can I suggest you return to the same resort & specifically the same piste for her every ski trip, may be boring for you but she will appreciate knowing what is expected at the top & what is over every crest & round every corner.
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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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Yes, trying to do exactly that at the moment... I really want to do a ski goddess course but can't make the dates work atm. It's for 2 friends, a few days in December and the focus is the lessons so we can be ready for family/ friends holiday later in the season.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| JayRo wrote: |
| alanbarry95 wrote: |
| I can't see us booking a holiday around the availability of a particular instructor. Too many other variables would take precedence. |
What I (& I think others) are recommending is that you book a holiday precisely around the availability of a suitable instructor, & make this the most important variable. |
+1
Many of the good skiers here would not hesitate to book a ski holiday to spend entirely on an instructional camp. Many probably done it multiple times. That’s no different than booking a holiday to specifically suit the availability of a desirable instructor.
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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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Dont want to be negative, but skiing is not for everyyone (same as anything esle). I have similar situation, only that my wife spent whole season with me on the slopes, ie 4 months, then couple of weeks per year, having ski school lessons every other week, and she still skis like almost absolute beginner...and this is good achevement for her I think. Now Im thinking to do as following, here is your skipass equvavlent - ie 70 EUR, you decide what to with it, go skiing or go shoppoing or walking 
What I found that skiing is quite demanding phisically and mentally, you have to be physically strong ie doing at least 3 seassions per week (running/gym etc) and also quite importantly one has to be mentally agile and somewhat 'explosive'. Some people just too "slow" for skiing
Good luck to you
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@ed48, Pretty much my point. All of the lovely advice above probably equates to a total waste of time and money and compromised holidays for her partner and others in the group. Be honest and spend your money on a different type of holiday which you genuinely love rather than have to endure.
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| mgrolf wrote: |
| An alternative thought is to try skiing in Scandinavia. In general, the mountains are not so big so perhaps less scary. And the are fewer chairlifts (cue t-bar moans - but they're really not that bad) so maybe less chance of getting a bit pysched out by a chair that goes high over difficult terrain. The Scandi resorts tend to have lots of other snow related activities too, for a bit of variety. |
+1
We skied in Geilo, Norway last season and there were plenty of mellow blues and greens. The slopes were quiet too, which always makes things easier.
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@Mollerski, thing is though, apparently it's her leading the booking etc, and she genuinely wants to do it - same as me, I'm obsessed with skiing/snow but I'm the one with the fear. So certainly the advice from me above is about finding a way through to have an enjoyable snow holiday, without it being a high pressure ski situation.
Personally, if my husband decided not to ski anymore I'd say stuff that and book on courses by myself (and have booked my own course this year to improve without the couple holiday pressure).
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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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| HilbertSpace wrote: |
| mgrolf wrote: |
| An alternative thought is to try skiing in Scandinavia. In general, the mountains are not so big so perhaps less scary. And the are fewer chairlifts (cue t-bar moans - but they're really not that bad) so maybe less chance of getting a bit pysched out by a chair that goes high over difficult terrain. The Scandi resorts tend to have lots of other snow related activities too, for a bit of variety. |
+1
We skied in Geilo, Norway last season and there were plenty of mellow blues and greens. The slopes were quiet too, which always makes things easier. |
+2, also veritgo/thin air can add to panic freeze. I prefer under 2000m.
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@ElzP, I'd say that you're an exception and that's great. I've been skiing for many years and have had nervous skiers in our groups on several occasions. I can say that after many thousands of pounds spent, not one of those nervous skiers ever genuinely conquered their fear and went on to fully enjoy the sport.
If you're having to pick resorts where the slopes are so gentle as not to induce fear, is that not saying something? Is that not selfish on some level?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I wonder if your wife is the kind of person who learns and can get her head around concepts by reading. If so there are few old books worth a try. The Inner Game of Skiing, Skiing from the Inside, Women Ski. The latter two by Sarah Ferguson (not that one). The first Mrs SL found the final one very helpful.
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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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| alanbarry95 wrote: |
| We have been to The Chillfactore and she is fine there on a 100-meter slope straight up and down., The problem is the unknown. |
Is she afraid of heights? Does she freeze up on the lift ride too?
| mgrolf wrote: |
| An alternative thought is to try skiing in Scandinavia. In general, the mountains are not so big so perhaps less scary. And the are fewer chairlifts (cue t-bar moans - but they're really not that bad) so maybe less chance of getting a bit pysched out by a chair that goes high over difficult terrain. The Scandi resorts tend to have lots of other snow related activities too, for a bit of variety. |
That might be one way around the issue. (Or to nail what the real issue is)
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Switch to crosscountry skiing.
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You know it makes sense.
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Switch to cross-stitch knitting
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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, 2 and 3 to basing the holiday around a specialist instructor (eg roddy willis in verbier if thats somewhere you fancy) and then KEEP GOING BACK to the same resort and same runs.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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 think the idea of going to the same ski area multiple times is a good one as it seems to me instinctively good (confidence wise) to know the terrain very well.
I think it's wrong to suggest an instructor should be able to sort out what is clearly a deep psychological problem.
@alanbarry95, is this fear continuous? That is to say it never goes away?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Layne wrote: |
I think it's wrong to suggest an instructor should be able to sort out what is clearly a deep psychological problem.
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I too, see that being a psychological problem. And I think that’s how the OP sees it too.
Some instructors specialize in psychological issues. Nothing “wrong” to seek one out.
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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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| abc wrote: |
| Some instructors specialize in psychological issues. Nothing “wrong” to seek one out. |
Do you mean they are psychology professionals as well as instructors or just that they are more aware/sympathetic?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I think it's next to impossible for anyone here, to (remotely) judge whether the OP's wife can be "Cured" of her fear, by the right Instructor.
It would appear that there is a strong wish to succeed - so all we can do is give our view on the best way of achieving it. Resort familiarity is very sensible - but even then, a run that one knows well can be lovely, smooth and uncrowded first thing in the morning; and bumpy, crowded and difficult by mid afternoon.....I have had more than a few battle scars over that one.
My view, based on my experience with Lady F, is that success is more likely than not......But....if some of the Instructors listed here are tried and then fail - It might be time to call it a day.
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@Mollerski, I was a nervous skier, I had an issue with accidently missing a turn and going over the edge. Learning on ice wasn't helpful either. ( the blue ice kind) anyway I kept at it, and I'm no longer nervous, so yes there are ways to combat it. I just kept telling myself that no matter how high the resort my feet were still on the ground, and never stop and look down a ledge, go over then look back up. If she really wants to ski, she will,
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| biddpyat wrote: |
| @Mollerski, I was a nervous skier, I had an issue with accidently missing a turn and going over the edge. |
That was a particular speciality of my better half.....though, in her case it was from chickening out, as a result of "Shopping for turns". This was in the era of straight skis, which needed more commitment to turn.
One minute she was there; the next minute she had vanished.....which was usually followed by "Help! I'm down here!". She was even known to unknowingly take me over the ledge with her - and then turn to me and say "You did well to get down here so quickly". 
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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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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
| I think it's next to impossible for anyone here, to (remotely) judge whether the OP's wife can be "Cured" of her fear, by the right Instructor. |
TBF the OP only asked if anyone had experience of the "Hypnosis for fear" approach not about instructors. Not that there is anything wrong with bringing instructors into the equation but the OP also seemed to intimate several instructors had been tried.
| Old Fartbag wrote: |
| Resort familiarity is very sensible - but even then, a run that one knows well can be lovely, smooth and uncrowded first thing in the morning; and bumpy, crowded and difficult by mid afternoon. |
True but the OP also did say "The problem is the unknown." If you ski an area quite a lot the factors you mention will become familiar. Would be interesting to know if the OP is going to a different place each time as I wouldn't have thought it would help in this instance.
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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
My view, based on my experience with Lady F, is that success is more likely than not......But....if some of the Instructors listed here are tried and then fail - It might be time to call it a day. |
My experience is the opposite, but if the OP's OH is determined, no doubt she'll achieve some level of progression. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@alanbarry95, I'm not making any promises here but Flachau runs a very good Ladies Week in March every year. Lots of extra stuff laid on and plenty of non-skiing things to do if it all goes wrong. Full details for 2024 aren't up yet but will be soon. Worth a look and at my Ski School we have instructors who are used to working/coaching nervous skiers. Good luck. https://www.flachau.com/dc/detail/Pauschalangebot/ladies-week-bring-a-friend/
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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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As a former part-time instructor one thing which I found very common among nervous skiers, especially adults, was that they were very poor at stopping. So rather than try to teach them how to go faster I used to put a lot of time into learning how to stop properly. Once this was achieved progress was much more rapid. I had one lesson with a similar couple where the GF was really nervous. We spent an hour of a two hour lesson just working on stopping. Then we started on carving and by the end of the second hour she was up on the edges of her skis putting down some nice turns on blues. Her BF was open-jawed and genuinely in disbelief when he met up with us at the end of the lesson. Happy skiing and happy couple. But it makes sense. If you don't feel you can stop, how can you commit to going downhill and picking up speed? So ask her on the first run to demonstrate the hocky stop. If she can't do that, there's your problem. Work on that until she can do it properly.
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| Layne wrote: |
| abc wrote: |
| Some instructors specialize in psychological issues. Nothing “wrong” to seek one out. |
Do you mean they are psychology professionals as well as instructors or just that they are more aware/sympathetic? |
I suspect both kinds exist. But even for the latter (non-psychology professional), paying more attention to the “head space” is clearly needed.
After all, instructors see a lot of different students, they may have seen the same issue prior and had some success in dealing with them. The point is to seek out the ones who pay attention to that part of the learning process. Skipping the average majority of instructors who only focus on the mechanics of skiing.
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm confused. Are we now saying that this lady needs a psychologist, a ski instructor or both? Does both in one person actually exist?
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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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@Mollerski, I believe that is the crux of the discussion. What do you think?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Mollerski wrote: |
| Does both in one person actually exist? |
Why not?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
| biddpyat wrote: |
| @Mollerski, I was a nervous skier, I had an issue with accidently missing a turn and going over the edge. |
That was a particular speciality of my better half.....though, in her case it was from chickening out, as a result of "Shopping for turns". This was in the era of straight skis, which needed more commitment to turn.
One minute she was there; the next minute she had vanished.....which was usually followed by "Help! I'm down here!". She was even known to unknowingly take me over the ledge with her - and then turn to me and say "You did well to get down here so quickly". |
Ha ha, yup that was me, had long straight skis when I learned, I remember thinking my first waisted skis were the best thing ever, lol, turning was so much easier
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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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| abc wrote: |
| Mollerski wrote: |
| Does both in one person actually exist? |
Why not? |
Well both are jobs that require quite a lot of training and commitment. To be a professional at both simultaneously would be quite unusual.
Psychology is a big part of sport these days but usually clubs/teams/individuals hire a specialist to help in this regard. Coaches have to deal with personalities but that is a different thing in my head.
Disclaimer: I am a volleyball coach.
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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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| abc wrote: |
| Mollerski wrote: |
| Does both in one person actually exist? |
Why not? |
Go find that person and good luck with it.
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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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| Mollerski wrote: |
| abc wrote: |
| Mollerski wrote: |
| Does both in one person actually exist? |
Why not? |
Go find that person and good luck with it. |
That’s why the OP is here. Just because you don’t know one doesn’t means the rest of the snowheads don’t know a few.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Layne wrote: |
| Old Fartbag wrote: |
| I think it's next to impossible for anyone here, to (remotely) judge whether the OP's wife can be "Cured" of her fear, by the right Instructor. |
TBF the OP only asked if anyone had experience of the "Hypnosis for fear" approach not about instructors. Not that there is anything wrong with bringing instructors into the equation but the OP also seemed to intimate several instructors had been tried.
| Old Fartbag wrote: |
| Resort familiarity is very sensible - but even then, a run that one knows well can be lovely, smooth and uncrowded first thing in the morning; and bumpy, crowded and difficult by mid afternoon. |
True but the OP also did say "The problem is the unknown." If you ski an area quite a lot the factors you mention will become familiar. Would be interesting to know if the OP is going to a different place each time as I wouldn't have thought it would help in this instance. |
Both reasonable points.
I do think the Instructor route is more likely to be successful than the Hypnosis one - though there is absolutely no harm in trying the latter. It is also very difficult for us to know how much worse (or not) past instructors were, compared to the recommended ones.
Just going by Lady F, her ability to ski any given run varied day by day, depending on mood. I think it was ElzP who asked if she was OK with an Instructor, but froze when skiing with the OP....That was certainly the case with my Wife. She always had the confidence to follow the Instructor anywhere....whereas the meltdowns usually happened when we skied together on our own.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Wed 13-09-23 15:46; edited 1 time in total
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| Mollerski wrote: |
| abc wrote: |
| Mollerski wrote: |
| Does both in one person actually exist? |
Why not? |
Go find that person and good luck with it. |
I would say that our very own Husky Dave is one such.
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| Layne wrote: |
| abc wrote: |
| Mollerski wrote: |
| Does both in one person actually exist? |
Why not? |
Well both are jobs that require quite a lot of training and commitment. To be a professional at both simultaneously would be quite unusual.
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Psychology, yes. Ski instructor? Hardly.
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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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@Layne, So the way to go would be to find a sports psychologist whom can ski a bit? Shell out to take him/her along on the trip and then hire an instructor that's ok with being shadowed by a shrink for the week? Any less than a full week wouldn't equate to vfm.
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| abc wrote: |
That’s why the OP is here. Just because you don’t know one doesn’t means the rest of the snowheads don’t know a few. |
A few!! Let's wait to here about one from the entire SH collective.
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FAQ
This thread is all tea and sympathy. I figured that a bit of gentle sarcasm may not sit too well. 
