Going to Flachau in Feb and I'm a bag of nerves

I am new to this forum and in desperate need for advice.

My OH and I are off to Flachau in Austria on Feb 23rd and I am not looking forward to it one bit. Paul has skied for many years and is full of confidence but I am a nervous wreck. I have been in ski schools twice, the first time in Obertaurn in 2011 and the second in Alpes d'huez last year. I also had 3 private lessons. The instructors tell me that they can see I understand the theory and know what I have to do, I just lack the nerve to do it.

I read about a lady that produces a Hypnosis CD for nervous skiers and I have read a lot of promising reviews about it on Amazon and wondered if anyone had tried it. I so much want to enjoy skiing but I am seriously considering letting OH go on his own in future rather than ruin his holiday. The CD is available on confidentskier.com
Any thoughts would be much appreciated
Bex

Hi Bewks,
I'm sorry to hear you haven't been enjoying your ski holidays :(

Which part of ski-ing scares you? I mean, I know some people are scared of chair lifts, or icy patches, or moguls, or really steep slopes.

Presumably you've tried going to a totally non scary type of resort, with gentle slopes, to see if you're any better there.

I haven't tried any CD's for hypnosis but I have a friend who listened to one with subliminal messages (which you couldn't consciously hear) to promote confidence and reduce anxiety etc. and she found it very good. So it might help.

Hi

I'm was exactly the same I spent the 1st 5 years on greens, had no confidence at all, was scared of lifts, ice, going too fast!! I had numerous lessons and on ocassions ended up in tears, but persevered because I love being in the mountains and I'm bloody stubborn.

I had a phone session (book is also good) with Kay Gill - Skiing with confidence (she has a website) and over the following 3 seasons my confidence has grown and I now happily ski reds, Can ski blacks but not my idea of fun. I' m not the fastest skier, but I enjoy it, and can't wait to get back on my ski's, and I can now keep up with the OH!

I also had some excellent private lessons, with instructors who understood I was nervous, and we're very patient.

Jja wrote:
I also had some excellent private lessons, with instructors who understood I was nervous, and we're very patient.

Top Tip!
But finding the right instructor is not always easy.
If you are with a tour operator local knowledge may help you with choice of instructor but I am not convinced that just saying you are nervous and need a skilled instructor will necessarily get you one.

Totally correct, had some instructors who thought the best approach was to shout at me. The best instruction I have had has been in Soldeu, Andorra.

Private lessons are definitely the way to go, but getting the right instructor could be a bit of a lottery. I certainly wouldn't put up with being shouted at. That's inexcusable and guaranteed to put you off skiing for life! I still don't like going too fast and am afraid of steep slopes, so you're not alone there. I persevere because I love the mountains and want to improve my skiing. I hope you find a way through.

Asking for advice is the first step, because you obviously want to get through this. I agree with the others, the right instructor is key. I was a very nervous skier, some days I could do it and others it all went to pieces. My OH was very frustrated because he knew I was capable, it was all in my head. A few one to one lessons with an instructor who saw my limitations and just got me to follow him, so I understood how to deal with it, was enough to overcome my fear of icy slopes (that was my weakness). Haven't looked back since. If you persevere suddenly you will have that eureka moment and it all becomes clearer. You are still not brilliant but you understand the mechanics and are not so scared anymore. It is about finding a way to deal with the terrain that you know you can handle, we are not all going to be experts or particularly stylish! I have my limitations, speed is not my bag but I do love skiing and can get down most things now. I like feeling safe, that doesn't mean I can't take the black home. :-)

Don't make the mistake of trying to ski with your partner or friends if they are a better ability. They wont have fun waiting for you and you will have less fun trying to keep up. just run your own race so to speak and get some lessons in the morning and then ski with your partner or friends in the afternoon after they have tired themselves out. you will progress much faster if you don't feel under pressure to keep up or ski runs beyond your ability.