Why was my post (another skiing noob) locked?

PCthug - you are a nutter - complete and utter - but we love that on here! Just glad you survived to tell us your tale!!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Well, had my second outing today.

Went to a slightly longer and steeper hill.

This had loads of fearless kids flinging them selves down it on sledges and anything that looked remotely slippy enough to use.
Then there was me, pidgeon toed (or ski'd), gingerly going down with arms flaily wildly whilst trying to regain balance until the inevitable happened. I looked dead cool and pro... not!
Still, was great fun. Didnt hurt myself at all. My skis unclipped once or twice, showing that they were set to break prior to my ankle.

I have learnt a little more, and felt quite comfortable. Still had trouble keeping the snow plough on, and stopping, but getting there.
The wife actually said i looked like an amature and not a learner (not sure what she meant, but sounded good).

Fell over into something brown, and i dont 'think' it was mud, but didnt dare investigate it more.

Well done for sticking it out. I hope you learn to ski properly before the snow all melts :wink:

Ally

PCthug wrote:The wife actually said i looked like an amature and not a learner (not sure what she meant, but sounded good)

Awww......... :wink:

This is excellent!

They are not too different from my skis, discussed several times here, which were 30 pounds in Oxfam. Now in the third year of learning by trying (with no paid lesson, but advice from friends) I replaced the boots which were giving me blisters, but still have the skis and hopelessly bent old poles.

Yesterday I bought a single ticket up the Olymiabahn to the cafe at Axamer Lizum (Austria), drank a mulled wine, then got down a steep and icy red piste on the same ancient skis, without a single fall, to compliments on my style (undserved, I feel, but sincere) from the three more experienced skiers who were with me. :D

Not to detract from the advice that skiing on unpisted mountains, as a beginner, sounds risky. It is good to have a friend nearby to keep an eye.

Why not take the skis to a resort somewhere? It need not be a major investment, these days it always possible to get a cheap flight for the weekend to Innsbruck, book into B&B, and the free bus ride to a local resort such as Axamer Lizum or Kuhtai. At Kuhtai they have a kind of moving belt (which is free) to take beginners up the easy slope, no need to buy a lift pass for that

KevinC wrote:Along with Silksworth, there might even be an indoor artificial slope built in Sunderland next year next to the swimming pool. Fingers crossed - currently undergoing public consultation.

wow Kevin, that would be fantastic if that happened.

I know the snow has now all but melted in the town up here in Durjham, although I know higher up like Consett way still has quite alot of snow but have you considered a trip to Northumberland? They have a few slopes near Allenheads and since you have your own skis it may be worth a look.
http://www.snowlion.freeuk.com/allenheads.html

As other people have said, the skis that are used "nowadays" are much shorter and are much easier to manouvre. This year was my first time skiing on the modern skis as opposed to the longer pointy ended skis of yesteryear and they are so much easier.

As well as Silksworth there is also Whickham Thorns Centre which has a dry slope (this is almost opposite the metrocentre on the other side of the road (in between Dunston and Swalwell) This is not as big as Silksworth. I think you need some sort of certificate first from them to say you can snowplough and turn ok beore you can use it on a regular basis, so you would probably need to take a few lessons (we did a family one last year and for 2 adults and 2 kids for 1 hour tuition it was about £10 each).

Just another "safety tip", when you are going out to this "field" to "have a go", are you taking someone with you? ie what would you do if you broke your leg and you are in a field on your own? I know you have your mobile, but what is to say you take a hard fall, land on your mobile and break your leg. now what? anyway dont want to sound too condescending, just concerned. Also I am sure I have seen some sort of tow rope when passing through Consett, or maybe I am mistaken.

Good luck with it, may it be the start of an addiction, a very healthy expensive addiction lol

I am already looking for some carver skis, so already got the bug. Shame its only a few weeks in the year (if we are lucky).
I will look out for the one near the Metro, as its got to be worth a lesson or 2.
I took the wife and dog with me (the wife can use the phone, the dog cant) in case something happened. The hill was also full of kids and their parents, so i am sure i wouldnt have boon stuck for long.

Thanks for your help to far people.

I am looking out for more modern skis. Though I enjoy my old skis' stability, they are hard to turn, there are times I've been a bit despairing about progress. They are called ProCarve but I have not yet got them to carve.

Last night there was a documentary about ski teachers, one guy for the show was demonstrating old wooden skis & retro clothing. Somehow I feel if you call yourself a skier you should know you *could* manage on them if you had to...

OTH hand newer (5 year old or less) skis on ebay seem expensive, considering you have to factor in some risk about condition.

Can anyone tell me, do ebay ski prices fall much in summer?

Going under a hundred pounds the skis ssem to be 10 years old. It is hard to know how to upgrade, and how much to spend (considering a top flight new outfit will go obsolete fast enough and could be stolen at a resort).