Hi
I think you should most certainly go into ski school, it is not only great fun but will build on what you have already learnt in UK. You feel safe with the instructor because although you may learn basic skiing in UK you do not learn how to get about a mountain, and if conditions are not good the instructor will always know which slopes to use. Last year some of our guests who were complete beginners did learn snow plow as it is most important to be able to stop, but they were quickly moved on from snow plough turns, and by the 3rd day it was parallel turning using a very short ski, maybe 140cm. Enjoy your holiday.
Need advice for ski lessons before we go on first ski holiday!
Login
Newbie to this forum!
I had a ski trip in St Anton as a beginner about 4 years ago. We opted for ski school which was fun(morning, lunch then another hour or two) but you can get the feeling of having to wait for the slower members of the group, we did not go up any lifts even though other beginner groups did. Since then I've private lessons elsewhere which, imho, accelerate the learning alot - with private lessons you can also pick your times. If memory serves it was about £100 for a three hour lesson (depends on location etc) but between three of you it might be a better option than ski school?
The Krazy Kangaroo is awesome btw, I went on my first night. Got a taxi there, opted to go back to the chalet by being dragged by my mate down the mountain, holding on to the bottom of his poles. Got a taxi back on the other nights....
Vin
You get taught all the snowplough stuff so that you can stop, slow down, control yourself and go round corners. Once you have learned how to master all that (or not in my case when I learned for the first time) you can step up to parallel turns. Thats when, for me, skiing actually began. Up until then it was painful, boring, hard work, slow, cold, irritating, and frustrating. Once we started parallel turning, it was like riding a bike and felt much more natural. I reckon I have probably used a snowplough a maximum of a dozen times since then, coming up to busy lift queues or going down a narrow track for example, but you need to know how to control your speed and ski slowly and carefully before anything.
I would keep practising until your instructor is happy that you are comfortable with snowplough turns, but then you will develop quicker and really feel like you are skiing once you parallel turn. It SHOULD feel more natural to you.
As for lessons, I would book up with the tour operator and get yourself onto a weeks worth now, as the prices in the brochures in £ will probably be at a better rate to the euro than you can and will get now or in January, but check it out first. What you will find is that when you get to your lessons, and they work out what level everyone is at, you should be moved up fairly quickly, miss out on all the newbie stuff, and actually have a weeks worth of valuable skiing development.
Hopefully, that means we can have a beer in the KK, and ski off the mountain together one night )
Yes. Practise drinking hard, and make sure you work on building up your quads over the next couple of weeks. That'll see you right )
Tony
Can you remind me what the exchange rate was when you wrote those wise words back in October? :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
I'm so glad that I live in the Eurozone and don't have to face those type of currency fluctuations any more :wink:. Just hoping the Irish economy doesn't implode completely at the moment :twisted:
To Create or Answer a Topic
Started by Chrisn_28 in Beginning Skiing 23-Oct-2008 - 46 Replies
Nadia race
reply to 'Need advice for ski lessons before we go on first ski holiday!' posted Oct-2008
www
Ferienhaus Sonnrain Leogang
Ian Wickham
reply to 'Need advice for ski lessons before we go on first ski holiday!' posted Oct-2008
Having lesson on the dry slope before you go will save you a couple days on the snow that beginners always go thorough side slipping and the basic balance and snow plough turns. Ski lessons are a must and stick with them and you will see your skiing improve greatly during the week, and yes it is easier to ski on snow.
VinnieKalcut
reply to 'Need advice for ski lessons before we go on first ski holiday!' posted Oct-2008
Newbie to this forum!
I had a ski trip in St Anton as a beginner about 4 years ago. We opted for ski school which was fun(morning, lunch then another hour or two) but you can get the feeling of having to wait for the slower members of the group, we did not go up any lifts even though other beginner groups did. Since then I've private lessons elsewhere which, imho, accelerate the learning alot - with private lessons you can also pick your times. If memory serves it was about £100 for a three hour lesson (depends on location etc) but between three of you it might be a better option than ski school?
The Krazy Kangaroo is awesome btw, I went on my first night. Got a taxi there, opted to go back to the chalet by being dragged by my mate down the mountain, holding on to the bottom of his poles. Got a taxi back on the other nights....
Vin
Chrisn_28
reply to 'Need advice for ski lessons before we go on first ski holiday!' posted Nov-2008
Thankyou for the advice! We've just got past our beginner course, we're now trying to develop our snow plough turns. My question is this, do we keep practising this, and how hard and different is it to do parallel turns?? Plus do we book our places on a ski school now or when we get there???
Tony_H
reply to 'Need advice for ski lessons before we go on first ski holiday!' posted Nov-2008
chrisn_28 wrote:Thankyou for the advice! We've just got past our beginner course, we're now trying to develop our snow plough turns. My question is this, do we keep practising this, and how hard and different is it to do parallel turns?? Plus do we book our places on a ski school now or when we get there???
You get taught all the snowplough stuff so that you can stop, slow down, control yourself and go round corners. Once you have learned how to master all that (or not in my case when I learned for the first time) you can step up to parallel turns. Thats when, for me, skiing actually began. Up until then it was painful, boring, hard work, slow, cold, irritating, and frustrating. Once we started parallel turning, it was like riding a bike and felt much more natural. I reckon I have probably used a snowplough a maximum of a dozen times since then, coming up to busy lift queues or going down a narrow track for example, but you need to know how to control your speed and ski slowly and carefully before anything.
I would keep practising until your instructor is happy that you are comfortable with snowplough turns, but then you will develop quicker and really feel like you are skiing once you parallel turn. It SHOULD feel more natural to you.
As for lessons, I would book up with the tour operator and get yourself onto a weeks worth now, as the prices in the brochures in £ will probably be at a better rate to the euro than you can and will get now or in January, but check it out first. What you will find is that when you get to your lessons, and they work out what level everyone is at, you should be moved up fairly quickly, miss out on all the newbie stuff, and actually have a weeks worth of valuable skiing development.
Hopefully, that means we can have a beer in the KK, and ski off the mountain together one night )
www
New and improved me
Chrisn_28
reply to 'Need advice for ski lessons before we go on first ski holiday!' posted Dec-2008
Well only 3 weeks to go and im more than excited now! We've decided to let the company we're going with organise our ski hire and we're going to do at least a 3 day ski school out there! Have to admit i could not be more excited now!!!!
Tony im definately looking forward to sharing a few jars in the crazy kangarah!!! apparently you make so many new mates out there!!! Any last minute advice???
Tony im definately looking forward to sharing a few jars in the crazy kangarah!!! apparently you make so many new mates out there!!! Any last minute advice???
Tony_H
reply to 'Need advice for ski lessons before we go on first ski holiday!' posted Dec-2008
chrisn_28 wrote:Any last minute advice???
Yes. Practise drinking hard, and make sure you work on building up your quads over the next couple of weeks. That'll see you right )
www
New and improved me
Wanderer
reply to 'Need advice for ski lessons before we go on first ski holiday!' posted Dec-2008
Tony_H wrote:the Euro HAS to weaken against the pound, so I'd wait and get it in resort to be honest.
Tony
Can you remind me what the exchange rate was when you wrote those wise words back in October? :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
I'm so glad that I live in the Eurozone and don't have to face those type of currency fluctuations any more :wink:. Just hoping the Irish economy doesn't implode completely at the moment :twisted:
Topic last updated on 21-January-2009 at 10:16