 Poster: A snowHead
|
We are two novice skiers. Me, have skied before but only for a week on a school trip years ago, and girlfriend who has never skied before except for a single dry slope lesson, again years ago. I realise most people using this forum are no longer beginners but if you could cast your minds back it might be a great help...
We are trying to weigh up whether we should take a learn-to-ski-in-a-day lesson at MK snozone before we go or whether we should just bite the bullet and go to our week in Courchevel as complete snow virgins and save the money we might have spent (£150+ p.p.) to contribute towards a second trip later in the year to consolidate our learning from the first trip. I can see the benefits in both options and realise the proper snowheads answer is to actually to do both but real world economics dictate that we do one or the other. But which? Any views?
Also. I wondered whether my having learnt to ski years ago, albeit only to stem turn standard, will have any bearing on how quickly I pick up the basics this time, i.e. is the ability to ski like riding a bike - you never forget how to do it once the skill is learnt. Is this likely to be so? It is important to us as since will be sharing private lessons for our first week.
thanks, Neil
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
I'm not an expert! It rather depends on what kind of people you are. If you're quite sporty and fairly confident types you'll be fine - ski day at MK would only put you a day ahead, if that, and having a 2nd trip away would benefit you far more. However, f you are very nervous, I'd consider doing something before you go, but as you say MK is expensive. Have you considered Tamworth Snowdome as an alternative? It can be cheaper.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
nohat, welcome to the mental heads. I mean 
Tough call. My money would be a second trip. Good luck with whatever you choose.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
If the choice is between a day at MK or the possibility of a second trip in the season I'd say definitely the second trip. Although a day's instruction at MK will help you get off to a good start, typically you will make more progress in a week on a wider range of terrain. What ski school/instructor will you be using for your shared private lessons in Courchevel?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
just bite the bullet and go to our week in Courchevel as complete snow virgins and save the money we might have spent (£150+ p.p.) to contribute towards a second trip later in the year
|
That thing. One day in a fridge vs an extra week on a mountain? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
PS: Welcome to snowHeads nohat!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
nohat, Welcome to snowHeads
If it's a choice of one day at MK or another week, take the week.
Instead of spending 150 quid each at MK, try Tamworth or Hemel which I know only charge 55 each for a learn to ski in a day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That is Tamworth's old summer rate. It's more expensive in the Winter.
October & April £99 1st Nov - 31st March £140 1st May - 30th Sept £75
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
nohat, Welcome to 's
Nothing to add to the above other than have you considered a series of dry slope lessons which may be considrably cheaper and can add a bit of reinforcement to your learning rather than trying to cram everything into a day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Colin B, I didn't know the Tamworth rate. The Hemel Winter rate is 55 pounds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
nohat, Welcome to Yep another vote for the 2nd week!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
nohat, Welcome, Cash in your Courchevel week and go somewhere cheaper then you might be able to do both the second week and a few nights dry slope lessons (much as I dislike dry slopes, they can have a place in the learning curve)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Go with the second trip. MK lessons would help but nowhere near as much fun as learning on the mountains. My wife had dry slope lessons before going on her first trip, and to be honest the only thing she learnt was the weird feeling you get when you put on boots and skis for the first time. You have both already done that. Forget the learn to ski in day. (I'm not sure you really can learn in a day anyway). Give yoursleves some time to get fit (if your not already) then you'll be able to keep going on the first holiday, when others fall away to the bar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
nohat, Skiing is like riding a bike, and a certain amount will come back to you. You won't be as wobbly as the genuine first day skiers, either of you. Go for the second week though - much better idea. MK is waayyyy too expensive. Courcheval is about as expensive as it gets though, so look around for bargains for your second trip. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
nohat, definitely do the 2nd week. Oh, you're looking for 'informed' opinion. That would exclude me  . Seriously though, i was also a total beginner this time last year and i felt the 2nd week really consolidated what i had learnt. I would have been back to square one if i had waited a year before skiing again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
nohat, Welcome to ..never been to an artificial slope and I learnt on snow.
It took me a day to stand up, let alone learn-to-ski, I'm still working on that - and even good skiers would probably agree. If you can, possibly 'ditch' Courchevel ? ...every time I look at it it seems very expensive. Then you'll be able to have 3 week skiing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
nohat, A few dryslope lessons should be MUCH cheaper than MK and give you a head start when you get on Snow, and still allow for that second weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Dear all, thanks for your kind welcomes and advice.
I think I am swayed towards holding back for a second week later in the season. Cervinia is appealing,... skiing and italian food!
Back to the subject of our first trip. Courchevel is booked now so we can't change our destination without losing the deposit but we are staying in 1650 which I understand is not so expensive. We will be relying on ESF 1650 for our lessons, not our first choice but New Generation didn't availability that suited (we will be there over new year). To all those who suggested dry slope lessons instead of MK, I'll have another think about this. I'd previously discounted this option on account of not wanting my GF to have difficult early experiences. I seem to recall that skiing on a dry slope was fairly tricky and left me unprepared for snow in a couple of aspects. Specifically, I think it made me a bit more risk averse, who wants to fall over on a dry slope? and I don't think I learnt how enjoyable skiing could be until I hit the snow although maybe this is more to do with the learning curve rather than the diffuclties of dry-slope skiing.
Thanks again, Neil.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
nohat, 1650 is an a superb chioce for your requirements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
nohat, if NewGen in 1650 are full, Supreme in 1850 are well worth the bus trip up. When are you going?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
eng_ch, We thought about Supreme and I did ask them whether they could send someone down to us for privates alas they were too busy over that week to oblige. We're there w/b 29 December. An option for us would have been group lessons with Supreme but we were put off by the thought of having to take a bus to 1850 when we specifically chose our hotel at 1650 to be near the nursery slopes. The New Generation group lessons didn't appeal because of how they fall during the week we are there, no lesson on Sunday or tuesday and a double lesson on friday, our last day of skiing, to compensate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
nohat, depending where you're staying in 1650 the bus really is no hassle. IMO it would be well worth it to go up to 1850 for privates. The problem with 1850-based instructors coming to 1650 is that there isn't time between lessons to get from 1850 to 1650 or vice versa - whereas you teh student do have that time
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
nohat, Good teaching is ALWAYS worth it. Supreme will be more expensive than the ESF and a little more hassle, but I would expect you to learn at least twice as much. No contest - sorry - avoid ESF beginners classes like the plague.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Supreme transformed Gregory (my Son)'s skiing last Easter - he totally blew me away actually, suddenly carving so neatly.
I've always known, in principle, that he would overtake me one day but it was the first time I really got that ominous 'future echo' of him being able to out-ski me 
Kenny (one of the directors) did a good job at getting Ayesha over her nerves too.
If you can get a slot with them, I'd take it - with both hands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
nohat, lessons, lessons, lessons - I did it for five or six weeks over two years - go for the second trip - although I think you know that already - welcome by the way !!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
