Disastrous ski-ing lesson - help!

Going skiing in April so decided to take some dry slope lessons. Duly booked 2 x 3 hour beginner sessions at the local ski centre. First night (Tuesday) went OK and we ended up making one slight snowplough turn, which I just about managed.
Last night we worked on tighter turns and linking but I just couldn't do it. Instructor kept on at me about my posture, but problem I had was that standing up straight, pushing forward and bending from the middle, my heels raised up in the (hired) boots and I seemed to have no control of the skis.
I have thin legs/feet so getting boots really snug a problem (even on tightest settings). To make things worse, I fell over and hurt my wrist!
Are my issues likely to be purely poor technique, or are the boots really be an issue, cos if so I might have to bite the bullet and go buy some.
Thanks in advance! :cry:

The first few lessons are always really hard work. Dry slope is also quite difficult to ski on. Do you not live near a snow dome? It might help to have a lesson on snow and it will help to build your confidence as well. Don't be disheartened and keep at it.

It sounds like the boots were a contributory factor. You may also need some stance corrections (maybe for limited ankle flex), which are made to the footbed inside the boot. You need to acquire a little knowledge about skis boots, and their fitting before you go out and buy some. Ski boots are the most important part of the equipment. If they don't fit, or don't work as they are supposed to, you will not have the best experience. Here are a couple of searches that would be worth looking through.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=lly&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&as_q=boot+fitting&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.j2ski.com&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images

http://www.google.com/search?q=ski+boot+fitting&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Trencher

It always feels when you're learning that your boots should be tighter, I'm not sure it really makes much difference. The key thing is to feel your shins really pushing up against the front of your boots. It doesn't feel a natural stance, but snow ploughing is not the most economical of techniques, it just makes sense to be the first one to learn.

There are so many things to learn at once. Ski lessons, especially with an intolerant instructor can be very tough. Try spending some time on your own practicing simple techniques - getting up (skis parallel to the fall line), traversing on a very gentle slope (weight on downhill ski), making snow plough stops on a very gentle slope (varying pressure on inside edges), things where you just need to concentrate on one technique at a time to build up your conficence and feel.

PS When you get on the proper slopes you'll realize skiing is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Hang in there!

Stay with it, it will get easier 8)

Marshian,stick at it is the right advice. I like yourself had never had skis on my feet until last Nov when I had a full day lesson at the Chill factor. To say I was a slow learner is generous !! I was hopeless couldnt turn and got very frustrated. We have recently returned from our first proper ski holiday with a weeks ski school while we were there. I can now ski Reds and the snow plough has given way to parallel skiing. I probably dont have the best style in the world but when all the learning starts to fall into place the satisfaction and thrill of the slopes is all that counts. YOU WILL get there with a little patience and a lot of practice. Get yourself to a snow dome and enjoy the holiday then like the rest of us you WILL be hooked.Best of luck and enjoy the learning its fun and very worth it.

Ditto all the others.....stick at it.
One moment it will all click into place, just like that moment you first rode a two wheeled bike.
Turning will soon become natural without any real thought going into it.

Thanks for the encouragement