Hours of skiing required to become half decent

I have no hope of becoming a decent skier. Strong as an ox, with the same sense of balance.

dobby wrote:I have no hope of becoming a decent skier. Strong as an ox, with the same sense of balance.

I'm lucky there. Been climbing for years so my balance is good.

Lots of snow in chamonix right now, those first hours aren't too far off.

You will need to take lessons. A lot of them. Practicing "basic skills" won't take you very far regardless of the hours spent practicing - particularly in Chamonix. Also, practice makes permanent so if you do something wrong bad habits can be difficult to get rid of later and in skiing they will always catch you eventually. You can join ski school, group lessons are cheaper, they often take place in the mornings and you will have afternoons free. Then practice what you've learned, after you get comfortable take more lessons.

lucky you , I will be there for 6 weeks. Just remember Cham is a real skiers resort. Don't be intimidated by all the high mountain tourers ..It can be an extreme resort if you choose it to be. Build up your confidence at La Tour and the pists of Brevant and Flegere, but eventually when you are ready for a day off piste at the Grande Montets you will never look back.

Tony_H wrote:

sebmurphy wrote: It seems daft having some lessons straight away, because i will be too excited to listen properly.

When it comes to skiing with people better than me i should be ok. I live with a former olympian and a kid who has his eyes on being world champion in the next 5 years... no pressure.

I will be trying to make the most of my ski pass, so any free time will be skiing. I like the idea of focusing on technique, I want to really get the basics down and ski well, not just fast.

....may I be so bold as to say you are mistaken. Start with lessons, have 5 full days, and then go practise on your own and with friends. But you'll pick up bad habits and suffer with technique without the initial lessons.
Dont be impatient!

Wrong!

I know many, many people who only had friends helping them from the beginning and are amazing skiers now after a ski season. The more you practice the more you tend to do what 'feels natural/comfortable' When it feels like that it is usually good technique.

I will also say that I know people who have had lessons/not had lessons who have done a season and are still not able to tackle the whole mountain with confidence and ease.

A lot depends on how much the person is prepared to push themselves, and take risks. I agree with oldAndy, skiing with more experienced skiers makes a huge difference. For a start you have to keep up/tackle what they tackle, secondly they are good role models and they know where they are going and more importantly where not to go.

After many years of one/two or three separate weeks skiing per year I thought I was a competent skier - I was Wrong!!! Because I didn't feel like I feel now after two seasons. It's second nature now, I just do it, it's like driving. You can have many many weekly lessons and eventually pass the test, but it is the 'continued' experience that makes all the difference.

This is where it really helps to know how you personally learn best. This can vary from people who need to learn the details in a very linear manner, to people who need to experience the whole big picture in order to learn.

It is very difficult for either type of learner to understand the other types needs.

It can be hard for an experiential type learner in a group lesson working through a linear progression. As a beginner, they might be far better served by occasional lessons, and just skiing with others who are able to give correct technique advise as related to the whole experience.

It's always interesting to take a few test like this http://www.wright.edu/~carole.endres/learnstyles.htm

I would think if the teacher is any good most people get far more out of individual lessons. A good teacher will adjust teaching stye of course in an individual lesson. I have never had a formal ski lesson but have had many inline skate lessons and observed what is going on. (Though in the absence of ski lessons, I do like to follow the instructors down the slope and mimic

The idea that anyone will go from beginner to a highly skilled car driver on one week a year driving around, with possibly a few lessons, would be unrealistic for most of us. Driving a pair of skis fast, safely and correctly in all conditions is harder to pick up than driving a car. As Snowb4ndit implies, you probably need to spend a couple of full seasons on the slopes to get good. Starting skiing as a toddler would also be a good idea!

This is hard to hear for holiday skiiers who want to be good, but cannot give up the day job. Living and working near a ski resort and going up every weekend is a good idea, rather than packing all the skiing into a holiday. Beyond that you are not wholly out of options, you can exercise at home. This year my skiing took a leap forwards because I have had regular skate practice and numerous lessons with a top inline skate instructor in London. Not the same as skiing, but some of the skills are transferrable.