I'll be spending all season in Chamonix - spending a large chunk of my time on the slopes.
I'm hoping to get 500-600 hours of skiing done this season (weather/time permitting of course) and I was wondering if anyone could suggest how much i could improve in that time.
I know the basics of skiing, and have had a few lessons indoors, although that was about 8 years ago.
I am young and fit, and pretty damn keen.
Hours of skiing required to become half decent
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Thanks for your reply. When it comes to lessons, i will probably go for a couple in Jan. 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!
Sounds like good advice, I am most likely mistaken. Not sure i can afford 5 full days though. I can only call in so many favours with my live in ski instructor, and i don't really have much money.
Full days for me are from lift opening to closing, which is 8+ hours. I will certainly try and get a few hours a day for the first week or so - but much more than than is doing to bankrupt me.
For the first 2 days I'm going to try and do 6 hours of accompanied/taught stuff - and about the same of practicing alone.
Then i have to go back to england for all that christmas hoo hah.
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Started by Sebmurphy in Beginning Skiing 28-Nov-2012 - 38 Replies
Sebmurphy posted Nov-2012
OldAndy
reply to 'Hours of skiing required to become half decent' posted Nov-2012
No one will recognise you as a skier by the end of the season.
You will be fitter than you have probably ever been, fully aclimatised to altitude and very at home on your skis and the mountain.
Try to ski with good skiers as much as possible so you can be pushed and this will help you improve. And I would suggest that working quietly on your overall technique some of the time will pay dividends - rather than just flying around the slopes with a big grin on your face.
No idea what your finances are like but getting some professional tuition as you go along could really, really help - could be saving up for a private lesson, getting an invite to join a group or being really lucky and becoming best mates with an instructor.
Go for it :thumbup:
The best I can think of (in terms of improvement) was a mad, very fit, young Scot - who first put skis on in Tignes in the summer and by the following February was talking about joining the instructor training programme - and was good enough, no doubt!
You will be fitter than you have probably ever been, fully aclimatised to altitude and very at home on your skis and the mountain.
Try to ski with good skiers as much as possible so you can be pushed and this will help you improve. And I would suggest that working quietly on your overall technique some of the time will pay dividends - rather than just flying around the slopes with a big grin on your face.
No idea what your finances are like but getting some professional tuition as you go along could really, really help - could be saving up for a private lesson, getting an invite to join a group or being really lucky and becoming best mates with an instructor.
Go for it :thumbup:
The best I can think of (in terms of improvement) was a mad, very fit, young Scot - who first put skis on in Tignes in the summer and by the following February was talking about joining the instructor training programme - and was good enough, no doubt!
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Snow dance !!! my snow dance on youtube
Smartski
reply to 'Hours of skiing required to become half decent' posted Nov-2012
Are you just trying to make us jealous?
Half decent at what, is the question?
600 hours will be like 20 years of holidays for most, I would guess, at most 120 hours would get the average recreational skier to be half decent.
If you want to be a half-decent 'pro' then that altogether different.
Half decent at what, is the question?
600 hours will be like 20 years of holidays for most, I would guess, at most 120 hours would get the average recreational skier to be half decent.
If you want to be a half-decent 'pro' then that altogether different.
if I'm not skiing then I'm kayaking.
Edited 1 time. Last update at 28-Nov-2012
TimBen
reply to 'Hours of skiing required to become half decent' posted Nov-2012
That's all the hours you will need to become as good as you want to be and The Chamonix valley is one of the best areas in the world to spend a ski season. I am doing the same this season in The 3 Vallees. I am not so young and fit but start as a decent intermediate.
The tips above are excellent and the only thing I would add is make sure you warm up and warm down and do your stretches everyday. The last thing you want to do is to tweak a knee or pull a muscle early in your season and spoil all your plans!
Good sunglasses and goggles will be invaluable too!
You will be able to do the amazing Vallee Blanche run later in the season when it's open. A never to be forgotten experience!
Try and sign in and let us know how yr season is going and the progress you have made!
The tips above are excellent and the only thing I would add is make sure you warm up and warm down and do your stretches everyday. The last thing you want to do is to tweak a knee or pull a muscle early in your season and spoil all your plans!
Good sunglasses and goggles will be invaluable too!
You will be able to do the amazing Vallee Blanche run later in the season when it's open. A never to be forgotten experience!
Try and sign in and let us know how yr season is going and the progress you have made!
Sebmurphy
reply to 'Hours of skiing required to become half decent' posted Nov-2012
OldAndy wrote:No one will recognise you as a skier by the end of the season.
You will be fitter than you have probably ever been, fully aclimatised to altitude and very at home on your skis and the mountain.
Try to ski with good skiers as much as possible so you can be pushed and this will help you improve. And I would suggest that working quietly on your overall technique some of the time will pay dividends - rather than just flying around the slopes with a big grin on your face.
No idea what your finances are like but getting some professional tuition as you go along could really, really help - could be saving up for a private lesson, getting an invite to join a group or being really lucky and becoming best mates with an instructor.
Go for it :thumbup:
The best I can think of (in terms of improvement) was a mad, very fit, young Scot - who first put skis on in Tignes in the summer and by the following February was talking about joining the instructor training programme - and was good enough, no doubt!
Thanks for your reply. When it comes to lessons, i will probably go for a couple in Jan. 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.
Steverandomno
reply to 'Hours of skiing required to become half decent' posted Nov-2012
I would be very surprised if you manage 500 hours.
Anyway, it is possible to get from 'never ever skied' to the level of skiing required to pass CSIA level 1 within a 3 or so of months of constant training every day by a professional coach. It is possible to attain level 2 after a full season of 4-5 month. Some manage this in Banff every year. However, this is very intensive and involves professional instructors almost every day.
OldAndy is right when he says
Very experienced skiers can often have very bad habits that they find very difficult to rid themselves of because they never got professional tuition. You can spot them a mile off, doing the most advanced terrain with massive rotation or sitting way back. You are at a huge advantage to be essentially learning from scratch with so much time to practice. So make sure you get some tuition, especially during the first couple of weeks, then again for a few days a month or so in.
I'm very envious. Have a great time!
:mrgreen:
Anyway, it is possible to get from 'never ever skied' to the level of skiing required to pass CSIA level 1 within a 3 or so of months of constant training every day by a professional coach. It is possible to attain level 2 after a full season of 4-5 month. Some manage this in Banff every year. However, this is very intensive and involves professional instructors almost every day.
OldAndy is right when he says
"No idea what your finances are like but getting some professional tuition as you go along could really, really help - could be saving up for a private lesson, getting an invite to join a group or being really lucky and becoming best mates with an instructor. "
Very experienced skiers can often have very bad habits that they find very difficult to rid themselves of because they never got professional tuition. You can spot them a mile off, doing the most advanced terrain with massive rotation or sitting way back. You are at a huge advantage to be essentially learning from scratch with so much time to practice. So make sure you get some tuition, especially during the first couple of weeks, then again for a few days a month or so in.
I'm very envious. Have a great time!
:mrgreen:
Tony_H
reply to 'Hours of skiing required to become half decent' posted Nov-2012
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!
www
New and improved me
Sebmurphy
reply to 'Hours of skiing required to become half decent' posted Nov-2012
Tony_H wrote:
....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!
Sounds like good advice, I am most likely mistaken. Not sure i can afford 5 full days though. I can only call in so many favours with my live in ski instructor, and i don't really have much money.
Full days for me are from lift opening to closing, which is 8+ hours. I will certainly try and get a few hours a day for the first week or so - but much more than than is doing to bankrupt me.
For the first 2 days I'm going to try and do 6 hours of accompanied/taught stuff - and about the same of practicing alone.
Then i have to go back to england for all that christmas hoo hah.
Topic last updated on 26-December-2012 at 12:12