Moral support needed!

A snowHead

Echo most of the views here, and also plug for Courchevel 1850, finest network of long, undulating mellow pistes in the world. Stay in Le Praz, take the bubble up and down to C1850. Or La Tania (depending on how extreme the nervousness is). Les Arcs is also a good shout, the blues tend to be gentle access roads and cat tracks that go on for miles. But never trust the map, I hate piste grading designed to show a blue route to make a mountain seem more accessible than it really is. (Yes, I really like France/Vallais Razz

)

But a note on vertigo. I've spent €1000s on private instruction with my wife for the past 10 years, multiple days per trip with the same instructors (male/female, individual/groups, psychology backgrounds, you name it). I recce every slope she's could conceivably encounter and spend a lot of time finding and testing out bail-out download routings and side-piste alternatives. While my snowboarding experiment gave me some really good perspective on just how scary some notionally blue pistes are, we've come to conclusion that, notwithstanding her technically proficient form, her increasing vertigo (something which runs in the women in her family as they get older) has put a very, very low ceiling to her skiing. The issue she has is that when the ground dips below the bottom of her horizontal field of vision, she simply freezes up and cannot point her skis downhill. For years she said she fantasised about a snowsports career-ending injury, and I'm finally listening: end result is that going forward we'll be staying in much nicer villages, possibly in C1850 proper/Zermatt/etc.

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While it is valid that the OP might want to go somewhere new for their next holiday, I'm not sure the expensive mega resorts are really going to offer them value for money (though tbh, I don't know how a week in Seefeld compares cost-wise). There is an implication in some of the previous posts, that somehow the OP was “conned” into booking an unsuitable resort, when in reality Seefeld is about as beginner-friendly as it is possible to get.

For those unfamiliar, there are 5 small areas, accessible by bus from the town. The biggest of these is Rosshütte – I often ski there where the avi risk is high, because it is incredibly mellow and safe, with nothing of concern above, and nothing to fall off (okay, there is one slightly sketchy bit, but it is very off piste, and there is no way to end up there without intending to). The second biggest is Gschwandtkopf, which is basically one lift up the centre of a blue piste, with a few short drag lifts off the top. It tops out below 1500m (from 1200m), so will largely be man-made snow. You can see drone footage of it at the top of the page here: https://www.seefeld.com/de/gschwandtkopf-seefeld.html There is no way that run could be classed as anything other than a blue, there is no misinformation here, simply a requirement for lessons.

And if the OP didn't manage to ski any of the other areas yet, they are not at all going to make use of 400-600km of connected mega-resort.

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You are over the first hurdle in that you seem to really enjoy the prospect of skiing, being in the mountains etc which is so important and is a motivator.
The issue seems to be confidence in your ability and getting over that will mean hard work. You will have to get fit - and that takes determination.
As others have said, take lessons, don’t be afraid to try a different instructor if you’re not gelling with someone and if you have got yourself fit, the lessons won’t be exhausting.
It is hard work, but as you improve your confidence will grow and you’ll be able to stand at the top of any slope knowing that you can tackle it.
I started at 40, could only turn left for the first two days but then I got a good instructor and the sport was transformed. I’ll be 75 shortly, will be skiing for a month, starting in a couple of weeks time and have been training since the middle of October so for an old bug I am pretty happy with my fitness and I know that I can ski any piste and that confidence is half the battle. Yes, I’ve had accidents in the past but these days I’m sensible and don’t ski on crappy days and don’t ski off piste but hopefully I can keep going for a few more years because it’s simply the best pastime so please don’t give up.

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Many keep suggesting on mountain lessons to the OP. But that seems to be ignored in favour of picking the right resort. I don't think there is much point in that when what is required is a week of lessons.

After all it is free

My thoughts from reading this is that it's a headspace issue, and that by going to a skill the OP has some history with would help (the, frankly, supernatural levels of steez are merely coincidental).

Instruction can help a lot but until you can address the process which is affecting you its not going to gel. I have the same thing with swimming, I unravel pretty quickly in deep (as in can't stand up in) water.

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The "headspace" thing about drops, or apparent drops, is important. There was a long, winding, 5 km blue run down to our apartment. A bit narrow in places. Yes, there was a "drop off" and (lovely) views down to the valley but I just enjoyed it. My brother in law really struggled with it. He wasn't a good skier, but he was quite good enough for that run, it was the sight of all that "air" which bothered him. I was sympathetic and patient but really didn't get it. Then I went down it as a beginner snowboarder...... whole different experience. I was so freaked by having to turn onto my heelside towards the "drop" that I was paralysed - had to take off the board and walk, though dropping off the piste would just have landed me in some deep snow, nothing terrible (happened to me on skis in a complete white out one day) Same thing happened on a winter cliff walk in Cornwall. Having never had any kind of vertigo, I had to sit with my back right against the cliff edge for a few minutes and talk sternly to myself. More recently that happened on a really not scary cliff path in S Wales - I opted to turn back.

It's partly old age - our balance does deteriorate, no doubt about it. But it's a combination of feeling (rightly or wrongly) lacking in skills and that visual "out there" which can be very disconcerting. My daughter has it - felt it very much right up the top in Pila but did it anyway (I sat in a restaurant and waited for her). She's a perfectly competent skier, been skiing since she was 4. It's something about a lack of nearby reference points.

The combination of being aware that you're just a beginner skier AND that swimming "vertigo" feeling, which is not in any way related to the real danger, must be pretty horrible. Definitely lessons will help, but some resorts will be much less scary in that regard than others. Need wide slopes and preferably trees! And don't push or berate yourself. It's not a competition. And it's meant to be enjoyable.

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Some decent posts on here, fitness and lessons are the key. I don't mind admitting I've bottled the odd run, steep, narrow and busy can throw you, particularly at the start of a first try out on any run or on the home run with crowds and fatigue setting in.

Auntie Rico has a steadier ski technique and we generally ski the same pistes with a preference for wide reds allowing (me) a reset/'get out of jail' turn. To build confidence and improve, we've taken to a couple of private lessons on recent trips, typically on Days 2 and 4, it works wonders.

A shout out to Illetas, I was a 50 year old starter now with 15 years and thirty odd weeks under my belt "enjoying the prospect of skiing, being in the mountains" is surely what we are all here for? Some find it quicker than others and if I can pick my days and pistes, then another 10 years would be fantastic.

As Illetas says, "it's simply the best pastime so please don't give up".

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Doesn't matter which country you go to, nor probably which resort, nearly all resorts will be fine for you.

But by far the most important thing imo is to book some one to one lessons, the more the merrier as budget allows (if you are going for Courchevel then you may not be constrained), but you could just go for two or three mornings. Use the afternoons to practice, on the runs that your instructor took you to.

Learning to sideslip is a very useful tool, since it is then possible to get down almost any piste, whist on on style, at least in control, and as your confidence grows you can do less side slipping and more stylish turns.

It really doesn't matter how good you are, the important thing is that you enjoy yourself. After two or three lessons I am sure that you will be better than many on the many on the mountain.

When you have worked out where you are going, I am sure that Snowheads will be able to come up with some suitable ski school recommendations.

And one final thought, there is no shame in down lifting, I consider myself a reasonably competent and confident skier by UK standards, and if the run going home looks like it is not going to be fun, or safe, I will opt to get a lift home.

@DavidYacht, Makes a very good point. We often download at the end of the day. Busy and slushy/cut-up slopes with lots of people at the edge of their ability (and some also drink) is not fun in my view. I don't get why so many see the download option as weak or an indication of poor technique. It is not. I am an instructor, my wife is an ex-racer, two of the kids were pretty decent racers and the other two can ski anything. We choose to download when conditions, or our mood, makes it the more attractive option.

But I repeat that until and unless this OP is willing to commit to lessons there is not much hope. 121 is always a good option, but as @Origen, says don't discount group lessons as they actually work better for some people. It seems to be that the OP is not interested in taking that advice and continues to think they just have to "crack it", which from the description they give I do not think it going to happen.

You know it makes sense.

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

@Sim75, I did not see you respond at all regarding on mountain lessons. But you haver responded several times about location. Sorry if I misinterpreted that.

Frankly getting a week of on mountain lessons under your belt is order of magnitudes more important that where those lessons are.

A snowHead

A snowHead

One thing I would emphasise to the OP is why lessons are useful in the resort.
Skiing outside in natural conditions is different from skiing indoors. Most runs in most resort also vary in gradient and width.

Snow conditions tend to vary far more the variation is from place to place on the same run from day to day and over the course of the day as skiers churn runs ,scrape them they get affected by the sun they freeze and become icy etc etc.

Good instruction will help with technique to cope but also and just as importantly will demonstrate tactics to minimise the difficulties so you can find the easier bits of snow to ski on take the slopes at an appropriate angle to minimise the intimidation of the steeper bits of slope etc. This is a vital bit of skiing and can only really be learned outdoors.

If you are going to Courchevel planning to solely ski easy green runs by yourself. You are essentially just going on very large nursery slopes and not learning these important tactics.

There is nothing wrong with seeking out slopes that do not intimidate you and plenty right with it but a half decent instructor will help you find these slopes and also help you negotiate slightly more challenging slopes so you find them less intimidating.

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Yep agree, although muscle memory and confidence will come from skiing longer, easier pistes. But as time goes on then yes, 100 agree. Even at a nursery level, you really notice the difference from one day to the next and the time of day. I just need the least intimidating resort to try next... with lessons Laughing

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I just don't believe even a short bit at 40º on a blue. Even a short pitch at 35º makes an automatic black. The steepest parts of indoor ski slopes are around 15º (Ignoring the flat at top and bottom, Hemel has 15º top half and 10º bottom half).

As for older people skiing: sure its harder to stay fit after 60, but I'm 76 and do no other sport and I can still ski fast off piste on steep slopes.

(how do you put a video onto Snowhead by the way)

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Lessons in resort as said above.
Plus — don’t beat yourself up about the T bars. Plenty of people who can ski just fine don’t like them either!

After all it is free

Just checked.
It was using 'Measure' on an iPhone, and it says 40 Degrees. My bad for using %.
Not professing it to be scientific by any measure, just an indication.
Rest of the slope was an easy 15, on par with the likes of Hemel, but it has several steep drops - by beginner standards anyway.

Seefeld is a beautiful resort btw - and kicking myself for not trying Rochütte earlier. Intimidation had taken hold by then!

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@Sim75, I think, given the quantity of mountain slope time and instruction you have experienced, you are pretty much par for the course on where you should be. With more instruction and experience you will keep improving greatly.

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Thanks dude

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You know it makes sense.

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

A snowHead

A snowHead

I agree with all of those who’ve said that instruction, rather than resort, is the critical part. For sure, there are more beginner/intermediate friendly resorts and I’d suggest sticking with those … but there are lots of them so I wouldn’t recommend any particular one.

However, the thing with instruction is that it will still take time for your body to really ‘feel’ what you’re being told. As skiing is so highly technical very small changes in timing, pressure, body position etc etc result in big differences in outcome.

As such, I think the ideal is to have 1-2-1 lessons BUT spread over a longer period. Perhaps 3 hours instruction followed by 1.5 - 2.5 days practising what you’ve been taught. And, secondly, if at all possible take a longer period … two weeks as a minimum and three to four way better to really see a big change.

Appreciate that it can be quite hard to find the time or funds for this but I do think this is ideal.

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@Blackblade, Ummm maybe better for the OP to listen to advice from those who actually teach skiing.....

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@Sim75, Reading through this you are doing much better than you think so go easy on yourself Smile

If you are enjoying the ski holiday then that is what matters not how hard the runs you ski are or how objectively well you are ski.

Ignore the talk in the bar afterwards about how great everyones skiing is if this is getting you down. It's a holiday not a competition.

Everyone has the same feelings when skiing terrain that they find difficult, I know I do. It is completely fine to stay on a run you are comfortable with and only move up in difficulty at your own pace.

My advice is ski the easier stuff until you get bored with it and move on very gradually.

+1 also for private lessons, you can tell the instructor exactly what the situation is and what you want to achieve, it is then their job to help you get there in the best way. In my experience instructors are experts that take pride in their work so they will enjoy the challenge of helping you.

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After all it is free

The best private instructor I've come across in the Alps is Charlotte (Easiski officially), based in Les Deux Alpes. Calm, reassuring, good at dealing with the nervous skier. Used to be on here. May be worth trying. (I'm sure there are others I haven't met, of course),

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The OP must be wondering what he let himself in for when he posted.
Lets face it for a recreational activity that you want to improve whereas lessons are very helpful the form of lessons will depend a lot on what his other holiday needs are such as time with travelling companions , budget etc.
The quality of instruction is probably more important than the form of lesson.

Help!!

Moral support needed!

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