confidence at speed

I would class myself as a fast skier but it could just be that I just dont care about falling down.

I always say that if you dont take a tumble every now and then, your not trying hard enough.

In my opinion the fear is not of speed as much as it is being able to control what speed youre doing.

Alot of people are scared of what could happen and not was is happening.

You wouldnt do 100mph in a car unless you knew the thing could stop.

I would get her to brush up more on being able to control what speed she has and she will automatically get quicker.

Dare say I will be shot down in flames for my response but its just what I think.

Well, thank you all for taking the interest to reply, and to give some very welcome advice. It would indeed be great if she can accept that she may take longer than 'normal?' to reach a particular goal, and possibly she should consider that it may take her longer to achieve a material gain in skill - after all, she is a teacher, and she is used to seeing children display the same characteristics i.e make a marked step up in achievement after stalling for some time leading up to it.

Confidence. This is one of the main jobs of an instructor. It has a lot to do with choice of terrain. But there are also lots of human factors.

This might not be what you want to hear, but you could also be having an effect on her development for different reasons. Are you always ahead of her? Do you always give her encouragement? Do you speak with her lots about her skiing. Perhaps this is actually quite intimidating to her. She may be intimidated by the constant presence of someone who she considers to be a better skier and whom she sees as falling behind. She may feel very uncomfortable about holding you back and so does not focus on her skiing.

Ideally she needs to have a lesson so that she feels she has leap-frogged your ability. She may need some one-on-one tuition with an instructor without you being there. Or she could take part in a small group lesson that is well within her ability. It is a difficult one but you have to encourage her to go and get some lessons without you in a way that does not entrench those ideas. Ideally, I would suggest a Christmas present of a private ski lesson or a few days in a good group lesson without you. Ideally you could persuade somebody else to get it for her and play down your involvement.

I think that building confidence at speed is a major hurdle for many, but the good news is that it can happen imperceptibly. Although I think of myself as a rather "slow and cautious" skier, if I compare myself now to how I was two years ago, I've improved and, yes, quickened, but without ever really trying to go faster as far as I can recall. My objective for this season is to build up speed, ski straighter, put in fewer turns, but also to accept my limitations and try and enjoy skiing within them, albeit pushing them a little wider than previously. After all, one of the benefits of being a slightly slower skier is that you spend more time on the mountain and less on the lifts :)

I think the best way to build up confidence ski-ing is to ski with someone worse than yourself - it makes you realize you're not really as bad as you thought!

I've been in loads of ski lessons and it's surprising how many people get stuck at a certain level - I know someone who's been about 10 times and still isn't happy on a red run.

For herself, as long as she's happy ski-ing and enjoying herself I don't think it matters how fast she skis or whether she prefers to stay on green/blue runs. But I can see it being a problem if you want to ski together. The only thing I can suggest is that you ski together for part of the day on easy blues and you amuse yourself by ski-ing backwards, on one ski etc. I mean it's much easier for a good skier to ski slowly on an easy slope than for a nervous slow skier to ski faster on slopes they're not happy on.

Maybe, if you try this, she'll relax and start to laugh at your ridiculous antics - trying 360's, on one leg etc. and she may even become confident enough to risk going a little faster herself :)

Good call allyg

Some people just don't like speed. Mrs Smartski is heading that way. She loves skiing, just not fast.

What happens if you go cycling, go-karting, theme parks, sailing, kayaking? With us I will always be seeking the thrill of speed, she won't.

It's taken 13 years of marriage but I just accept her for what she is now.

Certainly some of what you say strikes a chord. I do encourage her a lot - in a constructive way without being overbearing, mind. There seems to be a general theme appearing in the replies - private lessons - so if I can persuade her to give one more season of downhill a go, perhaps booking a few hours private lessons might help.