Dear O Dear...
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Just worry about all those old ladies !
Trencher
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Started by JulietP in Ski Chatter 10-Jan-2008 - 13 Replies
Ellistine
reply to 'Dear O Dear...' posted Jan-2008
If he's a propper man then the novelty will wear off soon so you won't have to worry about it anyway :P
Jan I Stenmark
reply to 'Dear O Dear...' posted Jan-2008
Hi Juliet,
My 16 yr old son started working as a ski instructor this year in Austria. He took a 10 day course with the Austrian Ski School training body which included a practical skiing assessment, teaching demonstration, written theory paper as well as basic first aid and an awareness of mountain safety. The course cost EUR 500 and has given him the chance to work on snow with beginners. That was in Mid December.
It is worth noting that on the course he took about 40% of the trainees were dropped due to lack of basic ski ability – without a refund!
I should point out that we live in Austria (Niederau) and he has been skiing since he was about 4.
He has now been working in the local ski school since 18th Dec. As you would expect (hope) he has had to spend significant time shadowing experienced instructors as well as attending weekly instructor training sessions. As is right and proper he has only been allowed to work in the “Kinder” area with tots aged 4-5 yrs (actually, this week he even got to put his skis on!). This despite being able to ski the hind leg off 99.9% of other instructors here! Is this the life you partner aspires to?
If your other half is actually serious about becoming a ski instructor why not go to your local ski slope in the UK and find out about it there. Most slopes are only too keen to increase instructor numbers.
Just as a point of interest, being a ski instructor is at best maybe 10% about being able to ski and demo perfectly (which is an absolute necessity regardless of the ability being taught) the rest is about class management, customer satisfaction skills, patience, observational ability, language skills not to mention being a natural entertainer whilst conveying an experienced based understanding of the sport.
I have to say that if your partner has a lifetime experience of 6 days skiing, I don’t mind how natural he is he will be wasting his time trying to be a ski instructor in the next year or two. I’d recommend you both have a fabulous time skiing and enjoying the sport. Get some miles under your boots, read everything you can about the sport and have a review in a few years.
I hope you will forgive me if my rather blunt reply conflicts with your partners aspirations but I just thought you (he) might like to have the opportunity of a reality check …
Jan
My 16 yr old son started working as a ski instructor this year in Austria. He took a 10 day course with the Austrian Ski School training body which included a practical skiing assessment, teaching demonstration, written theory paper as well as basic first aid and an awareness of mountain safety. The course cost EUR 500 and has given him the chance to work on snow with beginners. That was in Mid December.
It is worth noting that on the course he took about 40% of the trainees were dropped due to lack of basic ski ability – without a refund!
I should point out that we live in Austria (Niederau) and he has been skiing since he was about 4.
He has now been working in the local ski school since 18th Dec. As you would expect (hope) he has had to spend significant time shadowing experienced instructors as well as attending weekly instructor training sessions. As is right and proper he has only been allowed to work in the “Kinder” area with tots aged 4-5 yrs (actually, this week he even got to put his skis on!). This despite being able to ski the hind leg off 99.9% of other instructors here! Is this the life you partner aspires to?
If your other half is actually serious about becoming a ski instructor why not go to your local ski slope in the UK and find out about it there. Most slopes are only too keen to increase instructor numbers.
Just as a point of interest, being a ski instructor is at best maybe 10% about being able to ski and demo perfectly (which is an absolute necessity regardless of the ability being taught) the rest is about class management, customer satisfaction skills, patience, observational ability, language skills not to mention being a natural entertainer whilst conveying an experienced based understanding of the sport.
I have to say that if your partner has a lifetime experience of 6 days skiing, I don’t mind how natural he is he will be wasting his time trying to be a ski instructor in the next year or two. I’d recommend you both have a fabulous time skiing and enjoying the sport. Get some miles under your boots, read everything you can about the sport and have a review in a few years.
I hope you will forgive me if my rather blunt reply conflicts with your partners aspirations but I just thought you (he) might like to have the opportunity of a reality check …
Jan
Freezywater
reply to 'Dear O Dear...' posted Jan-2008
KEEEEEEERRRRRAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH
the sound of egos being broken everywhere :mrgreen: You're such a realist Jan :lol:
How's the snow :?:
the sound of egos being broken everywhere :mrgreen: You're such a realist Jan :lol:
How's the snow :?:
I would have got away with it if it wasn't for those pesky kids!
Pavelski
reply to 'Dear O Dear...' posted Jan-2008
A have a story that will inspire you and your husband!
This is a true story, like all Pavel's stories, even if they do sound strange, too old for some and unique!
15 years ago, I had a wonderful mail man who always had a smile and a positive comment! One Autumn while I was raking my leaves with my ski boots on ( I did warn you that my stories are,,,,a bit strange) he politely asked what cause I was supporting by wearing these ski boots in September!
That is how he discovered my passion!
That was when he for the first time allowed someone to know his secret passion! He always wanted to learn to ski, but everyone told him; it is too dangerous, you are too old, it was too expensive,,etc.....
We established an agreement! Since he was a top level National Tennis Champion, he would teach my wife tennis three times a week!You see she loved competitive tennis! I would teach him skiing!
I had one condition however. Whenever I called him,,,in 45 minutes he was to be at my house to go skiing! No excuses! No buts....
He was fit, very fit and had the "natural" stance! His tennis experience "displaced" well to skiing! The first year he was terrible since he wanted too much to progress! He wanted to get to the "big" runs! I insisted he stay in the beginner runs, practicing all basic techniques! Over and over we practiced basic moves!
The second year he was cruising in the intermediates and took a two week ski holiday to Utah with me!
The third year I announced to him that our goal was for him to be ski instructor the following year! He did not believe me so I had him ski with three instructors that were on "holiday"! He had no idea they were instructors! At the end of the week I told him that he had kept up with all three! It was possible to "aspire" to this goal!
We worked and worked! He enrolled in skiing workshops and clinics! He enrolled in 1997 for the level 1 ski instructor's certification ! I had to "justify" his application since he was 50!
He passed! He is now teaching in a major ski resort and all the "older" ladies demand to have him only! The ski school director keeps calling me to ask if I have any other "older" potential ski instructors like him! He can not answer all the client demand!
So you see Juliet, it is possible but your husband must have the following;
1. Fitness well above the average adult
2, Desire to ski ( desire from the heart)
3. Ability to observe and learn fast
4. 100% commitement to this goal
5. A role model or friend who will run him to the ground by skiing skiing and more skiing!
6. Finally a wife who will support him to the end!
Then Juliet, you will have a fulfilled man, a happy marriage and a great life! It will not be easy, but it is possible!
Is heaven easy to attain?
This is a true story, like all Pavel's stories, even if they do sound strange, too old for some and unique!
15 years ago, I had a wonderful mail man who always had a smile and a positive comment! One Autumn while I was raking my leaves with my ski boots on ( I did warn you that my stories are,,,,a bit strange) he politely asked what cause I was supporting by wearing these ski boots in September!
That is how he discovered my passion!
That was when he for the first time allowed someone to know his secret passion! He always wanted to learn to ski, but everyone told him; it is too dangerous, you are too old, it was too expensive,,etc.....
We established an agreement! Since he was a top level National Tennis Champion, he would teach my wife tennis three times a week!You see she loved competitive tennis! I would teach him skiing!
I had one condition however. Whenever I called him,,,in 45 minutes he was to be at my house to go skiing! No excuses! No buts....
He was fit, very fit and had the "natural" stance! His tennis experience "displaced" well to skiing! The first year he was terrible since he wanted too much to progress! He wanted to get to the "big" runs! I insisted he stay in the beginner runs, practicing all basic techniques! Over and over we practiced basic moves!
The second year he was cruising in the intermediates and took a two week ski holiday to Utah with me!
The third year I announced to him that our goal was for him to be ski instructor the following year! He did not believe me so I had him ski with three instructors that were on "holiday"! He had no idea they were instructors! At the end of the week I told him that he had kept up with all three! It was possible to "aspire" to this goal!
We worked and worked! He enrolled in skiing workshops and clinics! He enrolled in 1997 for the level 1 ski instructor's certification ! I had to "justify" his application since he was 50!
He passed! He is now teaching in a major ski resort and all the "older" ladies demand to have him only! The ski school director keeps calling me to ask if I have any other "older" potential ski instructors like him! He can not answer all the client demand!
So you see Juliet, it is possible but your husband must have the following;
1. Fitness well above the average adult
2, Desire to ski ( desire from the heart)
3. Ability to observe and learn fast
4. 100% commitement to this goal
5. A role model or friend who will run him to the ground by skiing skiing and more skiing!
6. Finally a wife who will support him to the end!
Then Juliet, you will have a fulfilled man, a happy marriage and a great life! It will not be easy, but it is possible!
Is heaven easy to attain?
Trencher
reply to 'Dear O Dear...' posted Jan-2008
pavelski wrote:Then Juliet, you will have a fulfilled man, a happy marriage and a great life! It will not be easy, but it is possible!
Just worry about all those old ladies !
Trencher
because I'm so inclined .....
Pavelski
reply to 'Dear O Dear...' posted Jan-2008
Trencher,
I do not know your age, however based on your mature messages I think you will appreciate this!
My older ski instructor often invites me to ski with him now ( just to show me how he has progressed and has surpassed his mentor). He does ski every day!
Seems men die off earlier than women so there is a greater percentage of "mature" women skiers around! Seems he has an active social life besides his long long ski instruction waiting list!
I am preparing an article for "mature" male skiers for a ski publications! In essence it will "warn" free male skiers of the many "techniques " used by the "weaker" side! Very very dangerous territory!
You are warned Trencher!
Tell me, do you have an "over the hill gang" in your area! I though motorcycle gangs were dangerous!!! Wait till you ski with these fellows!
I do not know your age, however based on your mature messages I think you will appreciate this!
My older ski instructor often invites me to ski with him now ( just to show me how he has progressed and has surpassed his mentor). He does ski every day!
Seems men die off earlier than women so there is a greater percentage of "mature" women skiers around! Seems he has an active social life besides his long long ski instruction waiting list!
I am preparing an article for "mature" male skiers for a ski publications! In essence it will "warn" free male skiers of the many "techniques " used by the "weaker" side! Very very dangerous territory!
You are warned Trencher!
Tell me, do you have an "over the hill gang" in your area! I though motorcycle gangs were dangerous!!! Wait till you ski with these fellows!
Topic last updated on 12-January-2008 at 13:15