beginners advice please

Bandit, with all due respect you seem to have missed the point here.

You are replying to someone who is nervous about skiiing due to a negative experience on indoor slopes. I'm not saying that it is necessary or indeed always the case that lessons on the snow are geared towards the weakest in the group. What is true however is that there is a lot more flexibility in moving between groups which is not available on indoor slopes where you've booked a 1 hour lesson.

I would also add that the scenary and atmosphere of the alps (or any ski resort) does add to the experience of skiiing be you a beginner or expert.

Ruby1 wrote:Hi, we are a family of 4, our children are 10 and 8, we would like to book a ski holiday for next year. We have had 3 x 1 hour lessons at an indoor real snow ski centre. I was very nervous during the lessons and found the instructor was keen to push on to the next thing and I really wanted to spend more time practising what I had learnt in order to gain confidence. As a result of him pushing me (not literally), I ended up careering down the larger slope having not mastered turning at all and the only way I stopped myself from crashing into the wall at the bottom was to sit down, this has now made me dread the thought of going on a skiing holiday. I am really keen to go skiing but I feel I need an instructor who is patient and will work at my level or I may get put off the whole thing. Is it better to go for private lessons as a whole family? We may also be going with another family with children of the same age who are also beginners so they could make our group larger. I welcome any advice and also any recommendations of the best places to go etc. Many Thanks

The point, as I understand it, is that this group are no longer beginners. Unless the other family, have also had instruction to the same level, there will be a mismatch. If the OP views skiing lessons as a social activity for the family, that may be fine. How will the OP feel if the instructor wants to push on because she is the best in the group.

The views from either a dry slope or a snowdome, are pretty irrelevant if you are intent on learning. However, the views from many of the UK dry slopes are quite amazing. The standard of tuition is also quite high.Instructors are qualified through either BASI or ASSI. Ruby could seek out a patient dry slope instructor in this country for a couple of private lessons to get her confidence back.

Ruby 1 i would suggest you have some private lessons and learn at your own pace,That way you will learn to love skiing and not loath it.If you enjoy what your doing then you will gain confidence and progress at a much quicker pace.Good luck and stick at it.


AJ Adele

Ruby1

Please don't let one bad experience from a seemingly thoughtless instructor put you off many years of potential enjoyment!

A couple who holidayed with TonyH and I in Sauze this year had a similar experience before we went. They paid a significant amount of money for a days lesson, where from what I can gather they learnt almost nothing of use nor relevance.

The idea of private family lessons sounds a good one - you'll spread the cost, be together as a family and learn as a family whilst having loads of fun laughing at one another and celebrating your progress.

Try to find a resort with a reputable ski school (there are many) and don't worry about being pushed too far too quickly - its not in any instructor's best interests to do so.

BUT, if you feel uncomfortable at any time tell him or her and ask to be shown again or if you can repeat the previous bit, which you were happy with.

Also, one gripe of mine is that people these days seem not to want to have the necessary amount of lessons. Yes, I know they can be pricey, but they are worth it if you are in any way serious about our wonderful sport.

Go for it and have fun, because thats what its all about...

Hi Ruby1,

As mentioned by others on this thread, please don't be put off by one bad experience. The thrill of "getting it right" and feeling the wind in your face going down the mountain is just fantastic. We are also a family of 4 and have been skiing now for 5 years. Our kids have always had separste lessons to us. Our kids were 8 and 6 when we first went.It's a break for us, but more importantly (I think) it's a break for them away from us and teaches them life skills (meeting new people and interacting in groups). Yes the kids will pick it up quickly and this is another good reason to let them have sepperate lessons. We have been skiing as a group of 14 for the last two years with families we met whilst on skiing holidays. As you are going with another family (I assume you know each other pretty well and that the kds are OK together),private lessons may be an option. You will find that when a number of you book the price starts to fall and the diference in cost between group lessons and private (with four of you in each group) will be offset with the more 1:1 tuition you get.
As for skiing in this country I'd definitley recommed it. A couple that came away with us the last two years had never skied before and really benefited by haveing some slope time under their belts. As for indoor slopes there are quite a few around and NOW is the time to utilise them to the MAX. For some very odd reason they drop thier prices during the summer and it can work out substancially cheaper this time of year as a result. If the nearest "Dome" is a good distane away, make a day of it!
Bulgaria..... we went there for our first two years and as long as your not precious about skiing in the Alps it's a good cheaper option to see if you'd like to keep it up, and if you do keep it up you'll be pleasantly supprised by the extent of skiing when you do go to the Alps.
Hope this helps and remember just enjoy :D