Push yourself or be comfortable?

This year is going to be my second year skiing after last trip's great success at getting me addicted. I really enjoyed it last time and am very excited about going again!

I was thinking though, last year I picked it up pretty quickly and after my 2nd day I was moved up into the advance group as I was progressing very quickly. I found the first day in it pretty challenging and after the third day I was feeling pretty comfortable on reds and some black sections. The group however was quite mixed ability so I wouldn't actually call it a true advanced group, more of an intermediate to advanced.

This year though the advanced group will be a proper advanced group but I'm not sure whether to put myself down for the advanced or intermediate group. I think I'd find the advanced group quite challenging as they'll be tackling blacks from day one. In the intermediate group I don't think I'd be challenged too much but I'd be able to ski comfortably and learn at a comfortable pace.

I was just wandering what you guys would reccomend?

If you start in the Intermediate Group, then if you are too good, your teacher will move you. If you start in the Advanced Group, you will risk struggling to keep up, and may not be able to learn properly. Your teacher may move you down.

Only you can decide how you will feel about that )

:D i agree start in the intermidate group i would be suprised if you were at a proper advanced level after only i week lessons

Go into the advanced group for me and you can always drop down if need be, it will not take you long to realise your struggling. I did this and i raised my game and realised that at some things i was awful but other things slightly better than some people in the group.

Depends what type of person you are as well. I love a challange and hate giving up and love to struggle so i have to work hard. :mrgreen:

As a matter of fact i got Quincy whilst skiing (not the American Dr programme)and i was in the advanced group. I couldnt eat but could drink water and soup but even that hurt. I lost 1.5 stone and when i got home I was admitted to Hospital for 5 days on a drip and they popped the lump on my throat. I really struggled in that group but kept up.

Going outside your comfort zone is the only way you will improve.
This could simply be going faster on flat runs for 1/2 a day or going slow on steep runs etc. At least once or twice a day you need to be somewhat out of your comfort zone if you want to improve.

Have fun.

CleanCarve wrote:Going outside your comfort zone is the only way you will improve.
Have fun.

Without learning and practising the skills to use at the higher level, the time spent will simply be about survival.

"I did a black run, so that means I'm now an advanced skier"

bandit wrote:

CleanCarve wrote:Going outside your comfort zone is the only way you will improve.
Have fun.

Without learning and practising the skills to use at the higher level, the time spent will simply be about survival.

"I did a black run, so that means I'm now an advanced skier"

That wasnt you in Bulgaria doing the snowplough and crying down that black, was it?

I would agree that you should start in the intermediate class. As Bandit said if you are spending most of the time just 'surviving' then you wont learn a whole lot.
Your ski ability, anyones ski ability is not about what you do its about how you do it. If the basics are not right then there is nothing to build on. It's possible to get to a level where you can feel comfortable about skiing pretty much anything on the mountain but if you have got there without having the basic skills right then you will reach a plateau which is very dificult to move on from.
Move outside your comfort zone from time to time if that feels good but work at getting the basics right too, in the long run you will improve faster and be a much better skier and have more fun. :D