 Poster: A snowHead
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After many years of skiing I still haven't progressed beyond snow plow. I started out at Sheffield where I did a beginners course. Then off for a weeks lessons in les 2 alpes, where I gave up after 4 days of being left behind (one occation never found the group). My other half then tried to teach me on three successive holidays. My main problem is that I lack confidence to go fast enough.
In a last ditch attempt to ski (temped by boarding instead) I signed up for the development course at chill factor e. I've now completed 2 out of 3 lesson and I am going faster but there is no chance I'll be parallel skiing by the end of the next lesson.
So not sure what to do next, my goal is to enjoy and confidently ski blue and occational reds. Any suggestions?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Keep trying. I am known as the snow plough queen by friends. I enjoy being in the mountains, in ski school I was always at the back. (unless pulled to the front!) I have reached a stage where I can ski most pistes with a smile on my face, but not at speed. So I enjoy the veiw? Any problem?  Ski at your speed, take instruction and enjoy it.... it is a holiday after all
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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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Maybe try some one-to-one lessons? That way the whole session can focus on overcoming your weaknesses, and you won't have your confidence undermined by being the slowest in the group.
Also make sure you put in plenty of hours practising. When I first learnt I found it good practising on my own as I didn't then feel pressured to go at speeds/gradients I wasn't comfortable with.
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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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Nixtoo, welcome to Snowheads.  Top marks for persistence - especially after having been "taught" by the other half - so often a recipe for disaster.
If you lack confidence at skiing, I wouldn't switch to boarding. It's much scarier to start with, and you inevitably fall a fair bit - and now that you've made good progress at Chill Factor, maybe best to continue with skiing.
It does sound as though one-to-one lessons are a good bet. Why not have a chat with the people in Chill Factor after your final lesson? If you decided to have some one-to-one lessons there (or elsewhere) it would be worth coming back here for some specific recommendations for an instructor who would suit you. If you like, and have confidence in, your current instructor, continue with her/him.
There's no special magic about "skiing parallel" - it will happen, as you go a bit faster, and gain confidence, under the guidance of the right 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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Nixtoo, I'm not saying it would work for everyone, but I got to your stage and attendance at a SH's bash 'cured' me. Keep persisting I am living evidence that you can achieve it in the finish.
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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 too was snow plough queen for probably my first 6 weeks of ski hols, it was a 121 lesson when I finally had an epiphany, not because of the speed of travel across the snow but because finally the instructor explained to me WHY and HOW the skis turn! It was only once I understood why the ski's are shaped as they are that I could understand how to use the edges and get control.
As long as you are enjoying yourself and having fun your not doing anything too far wrong! Keep taking the lessons and persevering and I'm sure you'll get quicker and more confident in time probably without even noticing yourself.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Nixtoo, If you lack confidence at skiing, I wouldn't switch to boarding. It's much scarier to start with, and you inevitably fall a fair bit - and now that you've made good progress at Chill Factor, maybe best to continue with skiing. |
I think I agree with Pam here... but... If you've any experience of other board sports like skateboarding or surfing, then you may find snowboarding more natural, as you're using similar muscles and movements. If part of your nervousness is being caused by a feeling of 'too much going on too fast' then you may find boarding a bit easier, you've got fewer elements to think about.
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Nixtoo, you say your main problem is lack of confidence to go faster. But if you are stuck in a snowplough there may be another major source of the block - a lack of confidence to stand on the outside edge of the ski (the difference between snowplough and parallel is that in the snowplough you are standing on the inside/medial edge of both skis, whereas in parallel you are standing on the inside/medial edge of the outside ski and the outside/lateral edge of the inside ski). Standing on that edge is a bit of a confidence-tester as if you over-balance you don't have another edge (your other ski) to fall on to and make the correction to get you back central again - so you can too easily end up on the deck.
If this is ringing any bells, then get yourself a good 1-2-1 and they should be able to take you through a steady progression of drills to improve your basic balance (essentially developing the ability to stand and slide on one ski) and develop the confidence to work that outside edge.
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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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Keep getting lessons, keep practising. And go at your own speed on terrain you feel comfortable with - don't feel pressured to try and keep up with other people or ski on slopes that make you nervous.
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