Totally discouraged after dry ski slope lessons - advice sought

Hi I think the Technique you were refering to harks back to the old days when skis were dependent on your height and the theory was to start you on much shorter skis almost blades and then gradually increase the size as you progressed although this is a distant memory so i could be wrong.

I would definatly advise using New Generation if they are available over the ESF form Experience the ESF can be a little bit of a lottery on who you get.

I also wouldnt be to worried about your progression as peole have mentioned before there are many factors that can affect how you lean and you may find a different instructor different group,Snow as opposed to plastic and better hire equipment will all play a part.

I have always believed that skiing is 20% technique and 80% confidence :) so if you are able to approach it with an open mind and optimisim this will help you progress much faster.
Good luck and I really hope you enjoy your trip.

I read that article, thanks, and what I noticed was that he said he was much fitter the second time around (as well as being on very short skis). I think how fit (and flexible) one is makes a big difference. I've seen total beginners fall over and not be able to get back up again on their own, and in fact I had this problem myself when I started ski-ing again. And struggling to get up like this is really exhausting and demoralizing.

Also, he said to start with he was better than the others, because he'd done it before, so I suppose he had more confidence, and that definitely makes an enormous difference.

And they do start beginners off with shorter skis now - somewhere up to about your chin, I think, and generally most skis are much shorter than they used to be.

Ally

I have taken all your advice - and to give you an update, after day 1 I feel much more confident than I ever felt on the dry ski slope. The slopes are much less steep for us beginners, and the snow is much nicer to snow on. I can jsut about do a snowplough now - 100% better than before.


On the minus side I have had my skis taken ( stolen?) as no one told me to collect my skis from the bottom of the chair lift and LOCK THEM AWAY! I am the only English speaker in the group and an awful lot of the teaching goes on in French - hardly any translation for my benefit. So I had no idea about the chair lift protocol. And now they want to charge me 300 Euros for a replacement......

Silverflora - I'm a great believer in complaining if I'm not happy with a service I'm paying for. If you feel you're missing out because the instructor won't translate for your benefit, holler at someone. After all, you're a paying customer. Maybe they could move you into a group with an English-speaking instructor?

Re the theft of your skis, check your hire agreement, as some kind of insurance might have been included. Or your travel insurance - ours included cover for the theft of hired equipment. Bear in mind that you might need a police report or something. I certainly wouldn't hand over 300 Euros without a fight!

Please keep up the skiing. I know it's hard at first, but you'll get the hang of it. My OH and I are probably the slowest learners ever, and if we can do it, anyone can.

Good luck,
Allie

ESF I rest my case. We should boycott them. :)

No way I would pay up 300 euros for a pair of Hire skis at the end of the season.
Def get a Police report because you will need that if you claim off your insurance.
I had my own skis stolen new year so know how annoying it is.

jonah690 wrote:ESF I rest my case. We should boycott them. :)

No way I would pay up 300 euros for a pair of Hire skis at the end of the season.
Def get a Police report because you will need that if you claim off your insurance.
I had my own skis stolen new year so know how annoying it is.

With all due respect guys a little common sense is required here are you saying you left your hire skis at the chair lift all night ???
If so surly common sense would tell you that if you leave things out they stand more of a chance of getting stolen !!!!!
Was you offered Insurance which is the Norm in France always worth taking out ??
I grant you €300 for hire skis is extreme, but If you left them out overnight you only have yourself to blame.

Tony_H wrote:Agreed, Ian.
I have to say for someone going on a first trip, who has hardly posted on this forum, to come on after day 1 to tell us how they are getting on, and that their skis have been stolen....well, call me a cynic but I smell a rat.

I don't think so.

If you are on your own, with no other English speakers in a group, first time at a ski resort, overwhelmed with a new environment, I can easily see how you might leave your skis in the wrong place. I've done it and I have none of those excuses (Other than swapping through a few pairs of skis)

Trencher wrote:

Tony_H wrote:Agreed, Ian.
I have to say for someone going on a first trip, who has hardly posted on this forum, to come on after day 1 to tell us how they are getting on, and that their skis have been stolen....well, call me a cynic but I smell a rat.

I don't think so.

If you are on your own, with no other English speakers in a group, first time at a ski resort, overwhelmed with a new environment, I can easily see how you might leave your skis in the wrong place. I've done it and I have none of those excuses (Other than swapping through a few pairs of skis)

Trencher ...... A touch of common sense goes a long way