We’ve all seen it, the first-time skier on day one of their holiday collecting their ski equipment from the hire shop. What size boots do I need? What length ski? What type of ski? What length poles? How do I get these boots on? Should I be wearing two pairs of socks?
Once you’ve got all of your equipment, there’s the challenge of carrying it. Skis and boots everywhere – surely it shouldn’t be this difficult.
Next, you’re faced with your first ski lesson. Once you’ve mastered the simple task of standing up with your skis on, you have to go through all the exercises just to do some very basic sliding on the nursery slope with all the little tots flying past you.
By day three of your one week holiday you’re starting to go higher up the mountain where you start to understand what skiing is all about – the scenery, the mountain air and the exhilaration of letting your skis go.
By this stage your legs are starting to ache and you wonder what on earth you are doing or how you’re going to get through the rest of the week.
Imagine a different scenario…
A couple of months before your holiday is due to start, you have some ski lessons at your local dry slope. In your first lesson you are given your equipment and you are shown how to put your boots on. You start off gently on a nursery slope and do the basic exercises learning how to balance on the skis at your own pace. In lesson two, you will start to do some turning and use the ski lift. Lesson three, you improve your technique moving higher up the slope.
After a few lessons you will have learnt about the ski equipment, how to put your boots on, how to balance on skis, how to use the lift and how to turn.
By having regular weekly lessons before you go away, you will save yourself three days of your holiday. Your fitness will be better, you will see more of the mountain and you will enjoy your holiday so much more.
What if I can already ski?
You have been skiing for years so why would you need lessons? Unless you’re lucky enough to be able to ski for many weeks in a season, the chances are that when you go on your ski holiday you spend the first couple of days just getting back to being able to ski like you did last year.
The number of times that I have heard clients say that their children are better than them, they’re not very confident or their partner is always waiting for them. This just does not have to be the case.
Have you ever sat on a chair lift and watched others skiing down the mountain? We all do it – there are those that adopt a strange posture like some kind of crazy eagle, the ones that have the biggest snowplough ever, the ones with their skis glued together. But the ones that really stand out are the good skiers – the ones that we point out to our friends and the ones that we want to look like. These good skiers have had training – that’s what makes them better than the others. There is no reason why you shouldn’t be one of the good skiers on the mountain. You’d be surprised what a difference a few coaching sessions will make to your technique and you will feel more confident skiing more of the mountain.
So, if you want to get the most out of your ski holiday, or simply want to keep up with your family, then get some coaching before you go.
Book onto one of our coaching sessions to improve your confidence and ability. We keep the group sizes small so that you get the best possible personalised coaching and feedback.
Terry Jeynes is a Snowsport England Alpine Development Coach Level 4 IVSI. He is based at Gloucester Ski & Snowboard Centre and has years of experience working with all levels of skier ranging from novice through to instructors.
For more information, please visit his website - www.tjskicoaching.co.uk or phone 07413 240925