:DHello Kimmer, welcome to the forum,
You will find lots of good advice on the site with a very friendly helpfull bunch of fellow mountain lovers.
Congrats for choosing skiing as a holiday choice :thumbup: there is almost no-one i know or have heard of going skiing for the first time who hasn't caught the bug big time and now goes every year....if you are a nutter like me I haven't sen a beach since my first trip many,many moons ago :D.
The best advice I can give (as with some of the previous replies) is choose a good reputable company,who offers beginners holidays,and look at resorts that have mainly blue/green slopes with some reds and skiing from 1600 mtetres up to and over 2800metres as this will ensure(in most cases) good snow.
Apart from the usual suspects in france etc, Austria and Switzerland have good resorts that aren't packed out in high season,and Switzerland is good value at the minute compared to the Eurozone resorts.
The main thing is to have fun and enjoy the surroundings and wherever you decide to go I bet money you will have a smile on your face,and will make it a regular feature each year.
All the best and happy skiing.
jon. :D
Shy Newbie!
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Hey, The guys and gals on here are awesome! Picked a great sport. Skiing is a great cure for depression and or anxiety. it worked for me. Where do you hail from? If you don't want to go train hopping fly and bus, or drive. Make yourself familiar with the area via the ski area's websites, stuff like a piste map. Most importantly have fun.
Thats a great idea to go and get some pre hols experience it will save you plenty of time when you get to resort, unfortunately most Tour operators offer a basic service but they will get you to resort safely, look for a resort where the beginners area is above 1300 meters and north facing as you will normally find good snow cover above this height, Decide on a country where you fancy going then a resort which caters well for your level of ability, grab a handful of brochures and spend an evening searching for a resort you like, Andorra has a great reputation for English speaking ski schools so might be an option for you. Have a great time and let us know how you get on .
There's also some useful info on their website http://www.wtss.co.uk/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=900
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Started by Kimmer in Beginning Skiing 12-Oct-2009 - 31 Replies
IceGhost
reply to 'Shy Newbie!' posted Oct-2009
Kimmer wrote:Hello
I'm a total newbie to Skiing, after beating depression and overcoming social phobia I am now making the most of my life & want to take my first holiday in years and decided I'd love to take up skiing :)
Planning on doing a "learn to ski in a day" course at one of the indoor snow domes before embarking on a holiday, most probably by snow train (not overcome the flying phobia just yet :?
I will be going with my sister (also beginner) we are both in the later half of our 20's, not that that really matters!
I guess I am looking for advice on where to go, what tour operators are best to use for a "smoothly" run trip (don't want to be left stranded on a train station somewhere - que anxiety!) and any other hints & tips I should know before embarking on skiing holiday.
:mrgreen:
Hey, The guys and gals on here are awesome! Picked a great sport. Skiing is a great cure for depression and or anxiety. it worked for me. Where do you hail from? If you don't want to go train hopping fly and bus, or drive. Make yourself familiar with the area via the ski area's websites, stuff like a piste map. Most importantly have fun.
Edited 1 time. Last update at 13-Oct-2009
Ian Wickham
reply to 'Shy Newbie!' posted Oct-2009
Kimmer wrote:Hello
I'm a total newbie to Skiing, after beating depression and overcoming social phobia I am now making the most of my life & want to take my first holiday in years and decided I'd love to take up skiing :)
Planning on doing a "learn to ski in a day" course at one of the indoor snow domes before embarking on a holiday, most probably by snow train (not overcome the flying phobia just yet :?
I will be going with my sister (also beginner) we are both in the later half of our 20's, not that that really matters!
I guess I am looking for advice on where to go, what tour operators are best to use for a "smoothly" run trip (don't want to be left stranded on a train station somewhere - que anxiety!) and any other hints & tips I should know before embarking on skiing holiday.
:mrgreen:
Thats a great idea to go and get some pre hols experience it will save you plenty of time when you get to resort, unfortunately most Tour operators offer a basic service but they will get you to resort safely, look for a resort where the beginners area is above 1300 meters and north facing as you will normally find good snow cover above this height, Decide on a country where you fancy going then a resort which caters well for your level of ability, grab a handful of brochures and spend an evening searching for a resort you like, Andorra has a great reputation for English speaking ski schools so might be an option for you. Have a great time and let us know how you get on .
Jastem
reply to 'Shy Newbie!' posted Oct-2009
Kimmer - I would like to echo what everyone else has said and wish you well for your forthcoming adventures. I was 39/40 ish when I first went skiing and the one thing I wish I had known before I went was how to put ski boots on/walk in them/know whether they fitted correctly/how they attached to skis,etc. I felt as though I was trying to ice skate and carry an elephant at the same time the first time I had to walk to a gondola from the hotel )
I hope you enjoy the whole experience and become as hooked as the rest of us. Having been on the ski train to Moutiers, I found it an enjoyable experience without all the hassle of an airport bunfight. I would recommend the fear of flying course however - my son-in-law did it last year and it has made such a difference to his attitude to flying.
I also look forward to hearing how you get on )
I hope you enjoy the whole experience and become as hooked as the rest of us. Having been on the ski train to Moutiers, I found it an enjoyable experience without all the hassle of an airport bunfight. I would recommend the fear of flying course however - my son-in-law did it last year and it has made such a difference to his attitude to flying.
I also look forward to hearing how you get on )
Tony_H
reply to 'Shy Newbie!' posted Oct-2009
I can only back up what others have said. I learned to ski when I was in my early 30's, and wished I had done it years before. However, I would really have developed more in my first week and enjoyedf it more had I learned how to put on my boots and skis, what boots were meant to feel like, how to stand up when I fell over, how to get on/off a lift, and generally just the basics that I totally take for granted now I have been 10 or so times since. Therefore your idea of a "crash" course is a good one as you will feel more relaxed and natural when you hit the snow first time in resort.
As for somewhere to go, thats really got to be down to you. I strongly recommend you get hold of a copy of WHERE TO SKI AND SNOWBOARD which gives superb information and tips on whats best for different types of skiers.
Generally, France offers good skiing and is most popular with Brits, and it easiest to drive to or get to by train. However, the resorts can be dull, unslghtly or quiet in some places.
Switzerland has a better exchange rate at present, and has some wonderfully beautiful scenery and traditional villages, picture postcard stuff. The trains in Switzerland are top drawer too.
Austria often has more of a fun atmosphere, in many resorts anyway with apres ski bars open from mid afternoon until as late as you want. The accommodation in Austria is generally better in terms of style, comfort and size than anywhere else, but there are always exceptions to the rule.
Italy is regarded as better value for money as food and drink are often cheaper. Some parts really are stunning, especially in the Dolomites, if you are looking for dramatic scnerey as well as a good experience on the slopes. It certainly makes a difference when you become more experienced, although in week 1 you tend to concentrate on what you are doing rather than the mountain you are skiing underneath!
You might also want to consider Andorra, but it has got quite expensive compared to what it used to be, and snowfalls are more erratic than the alps. I'd avoid Bulgaria personally, again more erratic snow and you have to remember it is not a developed country in comparison and therefore some things suffer as a result. Some people have also found Norway or Finland to their liking, but beware of very high additional costs for food, drink, rental equipment etc.
The choice, as they say, is yours. Let us know what you decide. Oh, and honestly - if I can help with the fear of flying, drop me a PM. I cured myself 5 years ago and havent looked back since.
Best of luck.
As for somewhere to go, thats really got to be down to you. I strongly recommend you get hold of a copy of WHERE TO SKI AND SNOWBOARD which gives superb information and tips on whats best for different types of skiers.
Generally, France offers good skiing and is most popular with Brits, and it easiest to drive to or get to by train. However, the resorts can be dull, unslghtly or quiet in some places.
Switzerland has a better exchange rate at present, and has some wonderfully beautiful scenery and traditional villages, picture postcard stuff. The trains in Switzerland are top drawer too.
Austria often has more of a fun atmosphere, in many resorts anyway with apres ski bars open from mid afternoon until as late as you want. The accommodation in Austria is generally better in terms of style, comfort and size than anywhere else, but there are always exceptions to the rule.
Italy is regarded as better value for money as food and drink are often cheaper. Some parts really are stunning, especially in the Dolomites, if you are looking for dramatic scnerey as well as a good experience on the slopes. It certainly makes a difference when you become more experienced, although in week 1 you tend to concentrate on what you are doing rather than the mountain you are skiing underneath!
You might also want to consider Andorra, but it has got quite expensive compared to what it used to be, and snowfalls are more erratic than the alps. I'd avoid Bulgaria personally, again more erratic snow and you have to remember it is not a developed country in comparison and therefore some things suffer as a result. Some people have also found Norway or Finland to their liking, but beware of very high additional costs for food, drink, rental equipment etc.
The choice, as they say, is yours. Let us know what you decide. Oh, and honestly - if I can help with the fear of flying, drop me a PM. I cured myself 5 years ago and havent looked back since.
Best of luck.
www
New and improved me
NellyPS
reply to 'Shy Newbie!' posted Oct-2009
Tony_H wrote:
As for somewhere to go, thats really got to be down to you. I strongly recommend you get hold of a copy of WHERE TO SKI AND SNOWBOARD which gives superb information and tips on whats best for different types of skiers.
There's also some useful info on their website http://www.wtss.co.uk/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=900
Kimmer
reply to 'Shy Newbie!' posted Oct-2009
Thank you for the warm welcome & all the advice, I really appreciate it :)
Re the flying - I've always been a nervous flyer but after being on a plane where the engines failed I now prefer to keep my feet on the floor. For this time I think flying will be a step too far and I don't want to overshadow the holiday worrying about the trip home :S
Anyway I'm going to do some more research and check out the links (thanks!) and see if I can narrow done the selection.
Re the flying - I've always been a nervous flyer but after being on a plane where the engines failed I now prefer to keep my feet on the floor. For this time I think flying will be a step too far and I don't want to overshadow the holiday worrying about the trip home :S
Anyway I'm going to do some more research and check out the links (thanks!) and see if I can narrow done the selection.
Topic last updated on 10-September-2010 at 14:23