Learning to stop (and then forgetting how to stop!)

OK so I went skiing for the first time in January and I had an instructor for about an hour on day one which was very helpful. I learned the plough and I managed a couple of successful hockey stops. I was almost turning by the end of my few days but I was not able to stop anymore. The plough didn't work any more no matter how much I tried. It slowed me down but didn't stop me like it did on the first day. I even tried leaning more forwards and I still couldn't stop.

I decided to leave the plough altogether and just concentrate on the hockey stop as I did manage this a few times although it's obviously a lot more difficult. A friend advised me to just try it a hundred times and I would eventually get it....I think I gave up at the 25th attempt. From what I remember, the instructions were: get some good speed and then (to stop, skis facing left) put sudden down pressure on the right ski. I seemed to to this very well about three times and then failed miserably every other time.

I'm due to go skiing again soon and I need something to rely on to stop once I am out there - it appears this is is skill number one for skiers so without it I'm not in a good position to even put my skis on. I would prefer to use the hockey stop if I can recreate those couple of times that I managed it.

Should I stick to the plough as it will at least slow me down or should I put the time into the hockey stop and as my friend suggested, try it a hundred odd times? Is there anything I can practice at home or in the hotel to help me before I put my skis on?

The reason you are struggling with the hockey stop is most likely because you have learned to turn using a braking snowplough. It will also slow down your progress to good parallel skiing. Try to find places with ski schools that teach direct to parallel, or a modified form of D to P that uses a slight wedge. You'll save a lot of money later if you don't have to struggle learning to ski parallel.

Sounds like you need more lessons did you just have 1 lesson ? You need to have at least 4 2 hour lessons otherwise you will pick up bad habits and take years to master it! Learning the basics are really important and snowplough is one of them as there will be times later on you will need to use it when a piste is narrow and you have a lot if traffic on it ! Learn to do both and you need to bend your knees lean forward and get low in snowplough ! With hockey stops use the width of the mountain and on your turns even going back uphill to slow yourself down remember this and you will always be safer ! Keep practicing !

I suspect the answer to your problem lies in your own first statement:

"I went skiing for the first time in January and I had an instructor for about an hour on day one" :)

billip1 wrote:I suspect the answer to your problem lies in your own first statement:

"I went skiing for the first time in January and I had an instructor for about an hour on day one" :)

Correct

Lessons please.

Thanks all for the replies and I take your point about the lessons. I definitely intend to have daily lessons on the next trip. I just found it strange that I was able to do the stop very well and then I wasn't anymore. As with most skills I have learned in life, once I could do it then I could always replicate it but not with this. I also figured that I should master the first skills that were taught to me before moving ahead with more lessons but perhaps I didn't learn them properly in the first place :/

That's the trouble with skiing you could be good one day then bad the next ! Only way is lessons though enough to be competent about getting yourself out of trouble and safety around others !

Am afraid all of above is correct. Skied for 20 years, live in resort and still have regular lessons. Is only way to avoid falling into bad habits which are eventually found out as terrain/snow conditions etc get more challenging.

Muscle memory is key part of skiing consistently well. This does not come from 1hr with an instructor.