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Am I too old for lessons?

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
At 51 I know I'm not going to make any huge inprovements to my skiing even if I manage to up the number of weeks that I go (from an average of one to two weeks probably). However I like the idea of skiing powder and bumps etc even though I am equally happy cruising blues & reds. I've been thinking of a private lesson in Pas de la Casa this year if the snow is powderish. Should I bother or should I just be happy enjoying what I do and not striving to go further?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Michael B, before Easiski jumps in, I'll say it. You're never too old to have lessons. (or too good, or too experienced, etc etc).
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 brian
brian
Guest
Michael B, totally up to you how you feel but if you want to make huge improvements, age is no barrier.

Getting your basic technique sorted will be the first step to your ideas anyway, so don't let a lack of powder put you off.
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No, no, no.

Go for it!

I took up sailing this summer, with lessons, (I'm not quite your age Very Happy), and I'm looking forward to further instruction and practice. I have 18 ski lessons per year on average, and get a lot of satisfaction out of steadily improving my capabilities.

You're never to old! Very Happy
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Michael B,
Surley it's better to strive to improve, rather than just stagnate. Even if the improvements are in small steps, it's got to be better than no improvements at all.
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Never to old to get better. We regularly have over 50s (and over 60s and the odd (very odd) over 70) for our club coaching sessions.

Never to young either Toofy Grin : youngest regular coachee is 4 - but he has been coming for 3 years Little Angel
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Definitely not too old.

Do it!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
laundryman, glad to read that a fellow snowhead has taken up the sport that occupies most of my time during the summer....

Let me know if you need any advice as my sailing is far, far better than my skiing!!!
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Roger C, I might take you up on that. Thanks! Very Happy
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Lessons help iron out faults and give you stuff to work on as well as helping with confidence. I ultimately think that mileage under the feet is the main thing to bring on your skiing. Really focussing on improvement when free skiing is vital. Lots of people on their 2 wk hol in Meribel cruise about in their comfort zone between meals often with a hangover. Nothing wrong with that if thats what they want from their time away from the office but it does mean they won't get better all that quickly.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Sold. Now the question is can I get the rest of the family to do it as well. The kids have been in school until this year but made me promise not to send them again (I had my fingers crossed when I agreed). Personally I used to really enjoy ski school but if I went now my wife would not come skiing with me. She doesn't like school but is happy cruising around with me.
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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.
Michael B, I took lessons from easiski, last season, at age 60. Me, not easiski. Brilliant improvement in technique, and confidence on steep slopes. Go for it.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
achilles, I was quite tempted to try Easiski. Not skied LDA either so 2 for the price of one. Maybe if I get that 2nd trip in next March
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
My Grandfather didn't even start skiing until age 67....and that was in the 1940's with leather boots, wooden skis etc.

So you are too late at 51 ??

NEXT QUESTION PLEASE!
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Michael B, you're never too old to learn. Unfortunately a lot of people are to stubborn to learn.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Michael B, Go for it!.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Michael B, I know of someone who's recently hung up his ski boots age mid-80's, but only because his very slightly younger wife (early 80's) was beginning to find the cold a bit tough. They've taken up windsurfing instead.....you are never too old!!!
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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?
Michael B, GOOD GRIEF! You're barely middle aged, it's never too late to improve at anything. It may take more effort and maybe longer to master but it's a dam sight better than just withering away on the sofa with a bag of chips and one of the Sky porn channels as far too many our age want to do.

It's NEVER too late to have an early childhood. get off yer butt and spend a week with Easyski and don't whinge that it's too hard ya'wus we've a level of disreputable behaviour to maintain Evil or Very Mad
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Michael B, er, do you WANT to strive to go further? If not, I'll join you for a cup of Horlicks once you've finished your blue run, but only AFTER I've had my lessons to learn to ski bumps.... snowHead
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Michael B, Definately not too old, my SO is your age and he had lessons this year, and is also going on Phil Smiths All Terrain course this year, and we only learnt to ski 6 years ago Very Happy
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Masque, Dont beat about the bush. Just tell me.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Michael B, don't think anyone can accuse me of subtlety wink but seriously our real limitations are the ones we place on ourselves.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
There is another problem. IF I get more lessons who will I ski with? All the people I go with are not quite as good/fast/competant as I am (many may think that is not saying much) but at least we can all ski together without major struggle. IF I became the mogul/powderhound (as if) I would be all alone. Crying or Very sad
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Michael B, Maybe you would inspire them by demonstrating how it is possible to improve.
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Michael B, unless your personal habits are worse than mine, you'll always find people to ski with, also what's the prob with the rest of your group updating skills?

Caveat: If you wear a one-piece and spend all social time telling every-one of the wonderful benefits of joining the SCGB . . . well . . . just get used to solo skiing.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Michael B, we're the same age but I never use the 'O' word.
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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.
Michael B, We all skied in a group, and our friend was always far better than us as he had learnt to ski earlier and picked it up quicker, so he always lead the group and gave us some tips along the way. Since then we have had more skiing holidays than he has and have now probably caught up with him. I think you're trying to find excuses not to have lessons Laughing Is this a man thing, my SO thinks that he is beyond improving any further?
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Michael B,

I am 60 however I have been skiing for years so my circumstances are probably different to yours.

In principle I would always encourage older people to seek improvement but with the one major caveat, that you must be fit. Obviously you should be fit at any age but it does become more important as you get older. I am not a ski instructor however in my view, with all due respect to the more mature members (and obviously I am one of them) if you are overweight, have poor flexibility or lack of stamina, you will find it difficult to improve generally let alone cope with the physical demands of off piste skiing.

If you are in good shape - then go for it!

You should never really ski off piste by yourself for safety reasons however, most ski schools in resorts which have reasonable off piste slopes, will offer guiding services where you can just pay to join a group, which is something I have done in the past. Although you will not be skiing with your old friends, I think you will find that you will make some additional friends very quickly.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Michael B wrote:
There is another problem. IF I get more lessons who will I ski with? All the people I go with are not quite as good/fast/competant as I am (many may think that is not saying much) but at least we can all ski together without major struggle. IF I became the mogul/powderhound (as if) I would be all alone. Crying or Very sad


Hmm. Disclaimers first of all. I am NOT under any commission from easiski! I have no commercial kickback on this advice!

I got in touch with easiski an talked about some lessons in low season (the coming January) with her. Said I would like to ski with a small group - quite apart from cost, I thought just me in the class would be too intense. She could not have been more helpful. She suggested I join with a group of 3 that were already forming up for lessons of my standard. More than that, she suggested accommodation, which was excellent, and was very helpful with travel advice. The group were great - I'd love to ski with them again - and I think easiski is as good as it gets for instructing recreational skiers. It could not have worked out better.

If you decide to get in touch with her, to see if something similar could be arranged, do be dead honest about what your standard of skiing is, and what your aims are. And I'd go along with richjp's advice about fitness.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Michael B

not too old... I started skiing at nearly 40.... I have just recently started learning to surf - despite being slated heavily by a friend because "it was TOO hard, I was TOO old, and I had a disability to boot" I love my surf lessons as much as my ski ones....

If you want a medical type reason to do it.... there is some suggestion that continual learning (challenging brain by doing NEW things) may protect against some dementia.... So having lessons and learning new movement patterns may well be good for your health! (this was my Fitball instructors theory on why I should persist.... he says I'm the stubbornest student he has seen - I just keep on practising until I start t improve)


will back richjp up on the fit bit though - you don't have to be able to run a marathon but some basic fitness does help us "less young" folk a bit.... I'd back the pilates (or tai chi or yoga) and some leg strength is handy ofr all "older" folk anyway as lack of leg strength puts you at risk of falls - so bodyweight or light weight lunges/squats are useful for all round health and will help skiing also
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Michael B, I'm 52, learnt when I was 50. Have had lessons at least every other day that I've been on the slopes since. Will not stop having them until I can't ski any more.
Not necessarily good advice (ask easiski for that ) but it is what I do.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Michael B, Just got of the phone with my Mum. I won't say how old she is, but she has had a bus pass for a long time. She just booked a weeks Powder Skiing tuition with the Southern Counties Gas Board.

You are never too old snowHead snowHead snowHead snowHead
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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?
No! No! No! You've all got it wrong. I'd go into ski school tomorrow if I could (see comment re Mrs B). I really enjoyed it and I met people that we skied with in the pm etc etc. However I'm at the age and ability where I can go most places and enjoy myself. As I only go 1 or 2 weeks max should I just stick with that or should I be constantly striving to improve? Jake, said that mileage helps and I do a lot of mileage (at least my knees say I do) I always try to improve my technique but should I try to do things I really could live without?
I've already been convinced to take a lesson by the comments above but does there come a time when enough is enough? Do some of our more "expert" skiers still take lessons or are they happy enough with what they know and can do?
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Michael B, I always want to do more. I'd be bored doing the same sort of stuff in the same sort of way. Even on runs that you feel quite comfortable with, you get noticeably better once you've been taken a few percent out of your comfort zone for a while and taught some new tricks.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Michael B, I don't count myself as an 'expert' - other than in getting up again.

Do I still have lessons ? Yes. It's always worthwhile to get an independant, objective person to have a look at what I'm doing.

Do I still want to imrove - yes ! faster, steeper or deeper, I always want to to better than last time, and one of the ways to help achieve that is to have lessons.

By lessons, I mean either private lessons, or clinics with the likes of Phil Smith, etc
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Michael B,

Like you, I'm over 50. Like you, I've reached the stage where I can pootle around most places and enjoy myself....


BUT...

I'm far from being an expert. There are lots of places I can't ski and enjoy myself (and bein vain, and having seen myself on video, I realise that even my pootling around isn't particularly aesthetically pleasing).

SO...

I take lessons. Always. (Maybe it's something to do with living in Yorkshire: I've paid for a lift ticket that covers the whole mountain, I'm bloody well going to try and ski the whole mountain).
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Michael B, I am certainly not an expert, but ski reasonably on a fair variety of terrain, with my fitness being the limiting factor (and I am working on that) rather than technique. I am about 5 years younger than you and done about 50 weeks.

I would say yes - go for it - but make sure you get in a small group with an instructor you get on with. Improvements in technique make you feel better, look better and use less energy. My (far from brilliant) technique also keeps me going when the fitness is beginning to tell.

In virtually every sport, the champions have people who coach them physically and mentally throughout their career. Why should skiing be any different? Why should age make a difference?

On the other hand, I have skied with fit people who haven't had a lesson for 10 years, who have no desire to look/ski better and whose style is... agricultural. They can keep going all day doing the same cr@ppy turns. I really don't know why they bother. I suppose it depends on whether you ski just to get from A to B, or ski to ski?
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
A friend of our started to ski last winter at the age of 60, I know some instructors have had much older pupils than that. My Mum would still like to try it, and I'm trying to work out how to get her out to the Alps this winter, so she can do just that. I know she'll ache for days afterwards, but if she wants to try it, she can.
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stoatsbrother wrote:
[b]Michael B[/b
In virtually every sport, the champions have people who coach them physically and mentally throughout their career. Why should skiing be any different?



I think that's a good analogy. Lazy and bad habits can creep into your technique and ski technology continually changes meaning that the best way to use your skis changes.

I am no champion however as I said earlier I am 60 and I have already booked a one week instruction course with Snoworks for December.
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Michael B, Snowblades on the bottom of your zimmer will definitely require lessons.
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