Where do i start?

Just got back from my first week skiing at Les Deux Alpes. I absolutely loved it!

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice before I went, i was all really useful.

By the end of the week I manage to get down a few blacks, not particularly quickly, or classily, but it was under control and I wasn't worried by them. My instructer even sent me down one on my own cos he could see I was getting really bored with waiting for the rest of my group still struggling to snowplough down blues!

I shall definitely be going again... this season if I can afford it!

Not quite so Completenovice

Completenovice,
What is the cost of happiness!

What is the cost of great memories?

What is the cost of fitness?

It all is about your priorities!

In 50 years you will look back and say, "great thing I found J2ski site and all those people" ! Now that I own this ski resort I can truly say skiing is great"!

completenovice wrote:Just got back from my first week skiing at Les Deux Alpes. I absolutely loved it!

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice before I went, i was all really useful.

By the end of the week I manage to get down a few blacks, not particularly quickly, or classily, but it was under control and I wasn't worried by them. My instructer even sent me down one on my own cos he could see I was getting really bored with waiting for the rest of my group still struggling to snowplough down blues!

I shall definitely be going again... this season if I can afford it!

Not quite so Completenovice

Nice to see you progressing. Hey, I have written some beginner's skiing tips in my blog. You might want to read those few articles in http://homeboyski.com/2007/11/30/learn-to-ski-skiing-beginners-tips-part-i

There are three articles so far and more coming. I hope it's useful for you.

For others, sorry for spamming my blog. I believe my articles could be helpful for 'completenovice'.

Great replies from those above.

My tuppence worth: think back to the time when you didn't care - didn't care about falling over, didn't care about what strangers thought, didn't care about acting your age.

We've all been there and we've all been where you are now.

In my experience, the people who just get on with the game are the ones that make the best progress.

GET BACK.....

the first time i went, i loved it soo much and was frightened that i would forget how to do it so went out a month later - on my own !! lol

Was GREAT.

:Dhi completenovice :D
all i can do is just compound the advice you already have been given,be fit,relax,dont look at the tips of you're skis when on the move,also in the event of a tumble try to fall up the slope as it is less distance to fall and also to push yourself up,and do not put your're hands through the wriststraps on the poles to start with as the natural instinct is to put you're hands out to break the fall but if when your're hands hit the snow palms down with the poles still under them it is possible to dislocate the thumb. :D
jon.
p.s- one other thing,throw away any beach towels you own as after a weeks skiing you will not want to sit on a beach again :D

Hi

I went skiing for the first time in my life yesterday up at Glenshee.

Loved it!

Had no idea what to do, and was with 3 other friends who had never done it either.

Becuase it was so busy, we didnt bother booking lessons and just tried to pick it up ourselves.

I struggled to even stand to begin with, but slowely practised at a quiet area. We then gave a tiny wee run a shot. It was a windy slow route that would take any decent skiier about 10 seocnds to do. My first go was really good, i went slow, and depsite falling over a coulple of times I felt i was improving. It must have been luck, as for the rest of the morning I was hopeless. I think i was trying to progress quicker than I could. I then had a nasty fall, and twisted my knee. Sorta got a wee shock from this, and was apprehensive about going back out after our lunch. I think it was more frustration than anything else really, as I was enjoying it.

After lunch, i tried to concentrate on stopping, and after i got the hang of that, i was able to try things like turning(lol). Both me and my mate(who was snowboarding) were getting more confident, so we though what the hell, and tried to go to the highest peak (not the steapest slope)just before we had to go home. He fell off the Ski tow(not for the first time!) half way up, jumped off to join him. We both then managed to go all the way down from half way without falling till the very end, when stopping was a wee bit harder when your going 3 times faster than normal!

Both of us loved it, and plan on going back next Saturday if the slopes are open. I was also surprised at how cheap the day cost. We were £30 for beginner passes and ski higher.

Also thinking about going on holiday and doing a week of intensive skiing in France.

Am i still probably better to get lessons? Or am i best just carrying on the way im going and learn myself?

Also, my birthdays coming up and a set of ski's would be an ideal present.

Im size 11 in shoe size, 6ft 2" and weight about 70kg

What length etc of ski's will i need to buy?

And wheres/whats the best to buy for a beginner?

Cheers