So, I'm not sure, what do I have to do to leave this comfort zone?
Errrr..............try all of the above on a snowboard (assuming you only ski)?
Good point. NOW I am scared witless
I agree with this, I have just finished my first week skiing after 20+ years snowboarding and the redefining of your "comfort zone" quite a strange experience. I think I progressed quite well and had a couple of excellent 2hr private lessons and was thus able to push my boundaries further than I expected to in my first week.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:
So, I'm not sure, what do I have to do to leave this comfort zone?
Off-piste, freestyle, tele plus just doing the same stuff in better style.
For me, there's no such thing as a good skier/snowboarder who "doesn't do off-piste". The variability of the snow is what separates the good from the confident...
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?
kitenski wrote:
andyrew wrote:
So, I'm not sure, what do I have to do to leave this comfort zone?
Take yourself to the top of the steepest, iciest black run you know, with rock hard marbles and moguls on it.
Take one ski off and give it to a mate who skis to the bottom with it
and spending money. It's just been suggested to me that the real way to get me out of my comfort zone is to get me to spend anywhere near £1000 for a skiing holiday... Or in fact to get me to spend much at all.
yes, that looks fun, I don't know if I will ever do it, I would think I need to be a bit fitter for that. I have a small confession though, its going to take quite a bit to worry me about the height thing, the view when you're just entering a spin in an aeroplane is something I'm fairly familiar with.
So, I'm not sure, what do I have to do to leave this comfort zone?
Off-piste, freestyle, tele plus just doing the same stuff in better style.
For me, there's no such thing as a good skier/snowboarder who "doesn't do off-piste". The variability of the snow is what separates the good from the confident...
You miss the point. This is not to do with whether I'm any good at skiing or not, just whether I'd get scared witless standing at the top of something. I think its a shame for some skiers if they do (and they're capable enough) because its so limiting.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
andyrew, I agree, it's unlikely to scare you witless, in fact, it might even make you a little excited, as it does me. But it will probably be outside your comfort zone, which is a good feeling every now and then. Outside comfort zone and scared witless are two different things.
After all it is free
After all it is free
I've never been "scared witless" but I have certainly felt concerned at times - for example before doing La Grave in January (and I wouldn't have done that without an instructor in whom I had complete trust). I've also felt uncomfortable in poor visibility and in nasty snow conditions (and in some situations sailing) and sometimes had to cope on my own, sometimes with instruction/guidance.
I enjoy a challenge with the right support and within reason and will continue to have lessons and try new things. But whilst I recognise how much fun more capable skiers have with challenging off piste, throwing themselves down couloirs, I also recognise that both my physical limitations (old age, a dodgy knee) and my personal liking for being only a tad "outside my comfort zone" will mean I am unlikely to join them.
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rob@rar, said
"Part of that is to show they already have the necessary skills, then helping them find the confidence to tackle slopes they previously wouldn't have. That might well be a stiff blue, an icy red, black pistes they have a phobia of, or wind blown off piste followed by lumpy variable snow."
I totally agree. For reasons unknown I had got nervous about skiing anything steeper than a blue. Don't know why. I asked my instructor which reds in resort were easier. He said that I was perfectly capable of skiing any of them...and I was (not too badly either). My smaller daughter had a private lesson and the instructor took one look at her skiing, asked why daughter had only been skiing greens and blues and said "we'll go down the black...you'll be fine". And she was. OK, is was not a black black. More a reddish one to give the resort a selection of black runs. But it still opened up a whole lot of the resort we hadn't skied before.
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I don't recall ever feeling nervous about skiing, but I don't ski off piste (not insured).
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Quote:
and spending money. It's just been suggested to me that the real way to get me out of my comfort zone is to get me to spend anywhere near £1000 for a skiing holiday... Or in fact to get me to spend much at all.
Lift pass a whole £11.50 on Saturday. That's not much at all
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.
loved that nevis video - looks excellent
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
andyrew,
you find it bizarre that people can get "scared witless" piste skiing.
I find it bizarre that someone who finds "difficult" pistes very comfortable isn't that bothered about off piste. The fact that your skis are skiiny is no kind of explanation. Nor is cost. I worked a season back in 1993/4 in Courchevel and spent most of the time teaching myself to ski offpiste on 2m slalom skis without spending anything beyond a liftpass...
As soon as you start skiing offpiste it is easy to find challenges.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
queen bodecia wrote:
I don't recall ever feeling nervous about skiing, but I don't ski off piste (not insured).
Was slightly unnerved last season when I lost the piste entirely in cloud and falling snow and all I could see was white, up, down and sideways, with nobody else around at all. Something that had never happened before in many years of skiing. I relocated the piste using the sound of a lift but I could also have retraced my tracks, so no real issue.
I've never been frightened by steepness but I've been apprehensive on "Santons" surrounded by hordes of other barely in control skiers in close proximity.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Hi, I was wondering what level you would put me at? Personally I would say I am an 8 but when I'm not skiing very well a level 7. I know I still have some bad habits occasionally sitting back etc, I have been skiing 3 weeks and a bit on the dry slope too. In the video I am trying to carve, however sadly I could not get any decent footage that shows my ability on moguls or in powder. I do use a pole plant to initiate my turn, however in these videos i was trying to focus on my carving. I can ski moguls comfortably but on icy blacks I find it more difficult and lose my style. I was wondering whether I should be pole planting when doing carve turns?
Very nice indeed for 3 weeks. I've been skiing around 10 times that and I suspect there isn't a whole lot between us I usually claim 7.5...Are you a teenager by any chance? Only kids learn that fast ime
FWIW You don't look to me like you are carving the start of the turn, I can see a distinct step with the inside ski going on, I think it might be the pole plant throwing you off though as that will make it hard to be smooth at high speed, long radius, and you do clearly have a good feel for your edges.
On the witless sub-thread, it's just a mind/vocab thing right? I don't get scared witless, I get nervous or angry or grumpy or focused. Even doing something like a high zipline (I've got a fairly serious fear of heights going on) I wouldn't say scared witless, for me the fear feels like a physical weakness around the knees/breathing, but not in my mind which is more going "dammit get a grip woman, you chose to come up here, it looks easiest that way, go do that". I'd bet it's a very similar same state someone else might call scared witless and someone else might call excitement...
aj xx
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Thanks! Yes, I'm 14.
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?
a.j., so what do you think my next stage of progression is?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I wish I could have some videos of moguls and powder!
After all it is free
After all it is free
I am EuanFrasers' brother- we are quite competitive so I guess that helps a bit- and we ski with quite a strong group of skiers so that probably pushes us a bit too! He reckons we ski quite similarly but I am not sure. Just out of interest where would you put me? I similarly think I am probably an eight on a good day and seven on a bad. I have a couple of videos, but I didn't ski them hugely well- partially because later I out that my boots where in walk mode Just a similar question, should I be pole planting when trying carving turns- Our dad told us we shouldn't really but I am not sure. I have a bit of a problem, like Euan, if occasionally sitting back which isn't ideal. Rob on here has given some really good tips to improve which I will be attempting at the dry slope asap!
Here is my link haha http://youtube.com/v/qBaeOMk-19A&feature=youtu.be
Jack
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Bloody kids...................................
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Like I said, you can go off some folks quite easily
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Oh, yes, and where on earth do you find pistes that are that empty!!!?
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.
Megamum, the pistes were more often than not as empty as that in the Dolomites last week....
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
dode, lovely! I think my skiing would improve on pistes that empty!!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
We were in the Porte du solei area. Those clips were from prodains
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Would you say that my brother and I were the same level then?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
EuanFraser, I haven't seen the clips but he is better than you. Fraternal fight!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
very similar - think you are getting slightly more angulation and achieving slightly more complete rounded carves (arcs) but not much in it
On pole planting - not strictly necessary with carved turns. I tend to use a light pole plant (more touch really) to help with timing when carving shorter turns but don't on big fast GS turns. In your vids you are skiing sort of "in between" radius (using moderate angulation on what I suspect are quite short radius skis) - don't actually NEED pole plants for those though you're Dad may be sensible in suggesting you practice planting on thsoe turns too.
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?
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
I usually claim 7.5...Are you a teenager by any chance? Only kids learn that fast ime 
Just a similar question, should I be pole planting when trying carving turns- Our dad told us we shouldn't really but I am not sure. I have a bit of a problem, like Euan, if occasionally sitting back which isn't ideal. Rob on here has given some really good tips to improve which I will be attempting at the dry slope asap!
