Skiers with no confidence

ryanh1418 wrote:

From the replies so far it would seem one way or another lessons is what has/will bring about self-belief and confidence and the will to keep trying.

That, and fun hours on the snow. People can spend all their time in lessons, and progress very slowly. Breakthroughs often come when skills learned in a lesson are allowed to become natural movements. Those breakthroughs often come at times when we can relax, and just have fun

Just thought I'd share my experience as a terrified skiier :-D

I'll try to keep it as short as poss...

First ski hol 2 seasons ago. No fear at first. Joyo. Then after a couple of days I had a very small fall which twisted my knee. Not badly, I could still ski etc, but I do have numerous old injuries from previous sports which are waiting like gremlins to be reawakened! Also on the same hol, before we'd progressed to the top of the (blue) slope, I got off the button a little higher than we had with the instructor and encountered some contours I wasn't expecting. Freaked out and froze. Friends somehow managed to get me on a red before we left, which almost reduced me to tears, although I got down it (eventually) without incident.

Following year, Kitzbuhel. New boots not adjusted quite right which made my leg muscles kill. Within the week my confidence suffered so badly that I wasn't able to get down an easy blue which I had done relatively comfortably earlier in the week. Went down more runs on my backside than on my skis much to everyone's amusement (which was a relief).

I was becoming really really frustrated and dying to just relax and enjoy skiing.

Booked a second hol last year back to our first resort. Got 4 x 1hour private lessons with a cracking instructor. He realised quickly that it was a confidence issue and reassured me that he would prefer to stay on easier slops longer than to move to steeper slopes too quickly ("veeery important"). I built up a lot of trust in him, and by the end of the week was disappointed that the snow was not good enough for him to take me down a short black. BUT also by the end of the week I was using the red which nearly reduced me to tears on the previous year, for warming up on, by myself. I should point out that I was far more relaxed with him than without him, and still got the eeby jeebies on runs which I KNEW I could do, but was on my own.

For context, I did gymnastics for many years and rode a motorbike also for a good few years, so you can imagine how humiliating it is to be paralysed by fear. Can't explain it.

One good instructor is making the difference for me. So much so that I'm planning more lessons with him this year (fingers crossed he's available).

BTW through all this my OH was fearless. Technique not as good as mine (according to the inst), he fell often but still totally fearless. Natch. :evil:

Make of it all what you will.... :lol:

For many people its a confidence/psychological issue. I agree with the one to one private lessons but this may be assisted with a book such as "Inner Skiing" which has helped many people to break through this mental barrier and become very good skiers. :)

Hey thanks Alistair. I've just found that book. Looks like just the ticket! Am going to order it now. :D

Thanks Alistair. I've ordered it too. Not sure I will need it but it can't hurt :-)

I hope it helps, its not an easy read but if you dip into the chapters and take what you want or are looking for from it. I know people who swear by it and read it every season prior to their skiing trip. Good luck its worth a try. :)

Hi guys, long time no talk to. Just getting back to the forum now and in work full time once again. Just got promoted to the Ski center manager, so i'm in here all the time.

I get this with children and adults alike, every day. Due to the way the slopes work here, i can get up close and personal. But no matter how you look at it, if they don't feel like they are in control or comfortable then they will progress slowly or not at all. You have to keep them in there comfort spot, yet progress them at the same time. Not easy, but it can be done if you have patience.
I totally agree with P2P, as another person in the BASI organization. Though i would love to be level 4 one day :)

Just a quick update on that book you recommended Alistair...

Got it on Saturday and am more than half way through. It's making an awful lot of sense. :D Plenty of time before first ski of the season to get through it a couple more times too.

I'm 'two thumbs happy'! :lol: