Hi,
We are heading out to the Alps early next year for our first ski holiday - we are (ahem) mid 40s & slowly getting together all the bits needed, but planning on hiring hardware when we get there.
Currently looking into booking some lessons, however unsure of the best way to do it - will it be better to get a couple of private lessons then kick on, or some group lessons for a couple of hours each day? What do people think work better?
Also googles wise. just a dark lens? Or options?
Thanks
Skiing or boarding? I would get some decent salopettes jacket and really good socks (thick and tight fitting)/ gloves as an absolute must. get a couple of pairs of gloves as theyll get soaked (unless you go goretex)
Youll progress a lot faster with private lessons but its a lot of expense.
take ibuprofen and paracetamol. 🙂
I'd be quite happy in group classes, others will no doubt disagree.
As for goggles, I haven't used any in about the last 3 years skiing, I prefer sunnies. If the conditions are foul enough to need goggles I prefer a light tint rather than too dark. If it's early in the year it won't be as bright as late season so again, not too dark.
Get fit, rollerblade, ride your bike.
group lessons a coupld of hours a day is probably best to start. if you pick it up quick they will shift you up/down a group to suit.
private lessons are better (as you get more time with the instructor) but more expensive. they also only work if you are similar levels.
you only want a dark lense if its sunny!!. if its not sunny then you`ll need to be able to see. orange/yellow i find is ok more all around.
if your boarding a helmet and arse protector is a must imo 🙂
Start now to do lots of knee and leg work ahead of time, lots of squats, and lateral/torsional work too. Skiing is tough on knees that are not used to it. Cycling is good, but it's only one plane of motion.
Someone posted a similar thread a couple of years ago that had loads of useful info if you can find it
Group lessons for a few days to see how you go.
Goggles - orange/yellow tint for adverse conditions.
Socks - thin is where you will end up if you get into it, so start there.
Don’t skimp on gloves - nothing will kill your enthusiasm quicker than cold hands. If you think you are prone to cold hands, consider mittens.
Are you close to a ski slope in the UK...? it might help you get acquainted with the sensation of wearing ski boots, binding yourself onto six foot of plank and walking around thus.
Clothing: buy second hand if you can. Vinted / eBay are good for clothing, especially this time of year. Make sure it's not so worn it's got bobbly or bald areas, look for 5000 / 5000 waterproof / breathable ratings at least if possible. Buy new gloves and helmet though, other people's sweat is minging! Like bike helmets, the cheap ones have to meet the same safety standards as the expensive ones, so a £20 Decathlon job will be fine for your first trip (and probably the same as the one you'd hire in resort for £30 a week!). Goggles, I've had Oakleys and they're lovely, but when they eventually died and I was on a tight budget I was amazed by the quality of the £30 pair I bought (and will use this coming season) on Amazon. You'll definitely need them on brighter days; I find yellow low-light lenses good for dull days. I always wear them because I wear contact lenses and my eyes water like crazy if I'm not wearing eye protection.
Lessons: you'll learn faster with individual lessons, but it is WAY more expensive. If you're not going out there with people you know, group lessons might be a good way to meet other people of similar ability; many people I know have had group lessons in the mornings and then gone out to ride / practice / fall over with new-found friends from the morning lessons. A lot of beginner lessons is practice practice practice, so a longer group lesson with an instructor around to give you tips will probably be more useful than an intensive short one-to-one.
Preparation: do lots of core exercise as soon as possible. Pilates is GREAT for this. You will work your core muscles hard, especially if you're snowboarding (and repeatedly sitting up / rolling yourself over strapped to a board). Strengthen your legs and knees, all the little muscles that help you balance - Bulgarian split squats and other one-legged stuff helps a lot here. If you have a train / underground journey, see if you can do it standing up and balancing (i.e. not holding on to a rail, but having a rail nearby to grab if you need it). Keep your back straight and bend your knees, sink down slightly and use your knees as suspension - you will spend the rest of your skiing / snowboarding life telliing yourself to Bend Ze Knees!
Don't bother renting anything other than beginner equipment if you are a beginner. One of my friends is an absolutely incredible skier, she's been doing it since she was 5 years old, and still absolutely shreds (elegantly!) on the cheapest basic beginner skis.
Wear sunscreen. I like P20 because it lasts for a long time. You may be high up and cold but the UV can be intense and your skin will suffer. Likewise, use lip balm, and use moisturiser in the evenings.
Drink water. You're exercising, you're high up, the air is dry and dehydration will make you tired, grumpy and fragile - and that first vin chaud / picon biere / whatever will hit you like a brick if you're dehydrated.
Go for a lesson in a snowdome if you can, just getting used to all the gear and using a button lift will easily save you a day of faff in resort. If you're physically fit do a full day, if you need to get fitter do 2 half days as you could be too tired by the afternoon to get good value from the lesson.
Depending on how it goes in the snowdome you'll get an idea of how you're progressing but if you are both total newbies you might as well book lessons for each morning of the trip. You might progress at different rates to your partner so a group might work better, in a private lesson if there are 2 of you the instructor will focus on the one who is progressing more slowly which can become irritating to the faster progressor.
If skiing allow plenty of time for boot fitting at the hire shop and make sure that if they aren't right you go back and tell them and change them. Ski boots shouldn't hurt, yet I've lost count of the hours on chairlifts spent listening to people moan about how their boots hurt and do nothing about it. If your boots hurt it will make the whole experience soul destroying and a complete waste of time and money.
Addendum - if you're snowboarding, you _will_ spend a lot of the first week falling over on either your bum or your front. It will be demoralising and hard and you'll probably struggle to sit up to get out of bed on the third morning because your abs are so sore. Some people recommend "impact shorts" including coccyx protection. I've always found them bulky and cumbersome. One thing I did find immensely useful was knee pads (worn under the trousers), because when you're sitting or waiting around you can just rest on your knees in the snow, and they don't get cold. Keep your knees warm.
Also, learn to fasten and get out of your bindings quickly, ideally while standing up (on a slope). You will spend So. Much. Time. Faffing. The sooner you can learn to minimise this time, the more snowboarding you get to do. Especially if you're with a group of skiers, for whom the mountains' infrastructure is way easier to use. You can rest in the smugness that your boots will be quite comfortable to walk around in, you won't be walking like Robocop and you'll be able to go up and down stairs easily.
Oh, and as others have said, wear relatively thin socks and make sure your boots fit well while wearing them (you want NO heel lift when you shift your weight over your toes). Thick socks and floppy boots will mean blisters and not feeling in control.
Re. lessons, if you're near one of the big fridges do a learn to ski programme. I think the 2 day ones are better as the 1 day is exhausting. Once done, do a few hours either in a fridge or on a dry slope to get the (very) basics dialled in. You don't want your first day in resort to be learning how to get clipped into your skis or how to do a basic snowplough.
Once at the resort I'd book a private lesson for the first 2 morning, maybe 3. It won't be cheap but you'll learn at your pace and will enjoy it much more than a group IMO.
For a first trip I would definitely suggest group lessons, you'll have fun floundering about with the rest. In the days of yore I learned using the Ski Evolutif method which I don't think is used anymore and I had 2 hours morning and afternoon over 5 days. In later years I've had small group lessons, 4 friends and one teacher, which were reasonably priced and one to one private lessons, which are brilliant but pricey.
When hiring do make sure your boots are comfy or you won't enjoy yourself much. If you find they are loose, tight, hurt, etc. get back to the shop and swap them out.
I feel your trepidation…..
Top tips.
If the weather is blizzard, don’t bother.
If the instructor is useless, change them sooner rather than later.
I hope you have a good time, but my experience was absolutely lousy.
Re. lessons, if you're near one of the big fridges do a learn to ski programme.
And if not near a fridge, look at dry slope lessons instead. Nowhere near as good, still better than going out with zero experience
we had one day of this.
and five days of this….couldn’t see a thing and the instructor thought it would be fun to go up high and steep.
Sorry to be a Debbie downer, but still, nearly two years later, I’m so frustrated with the whole trip.
It's good to get people's experiences - both good & bad - there are 8 of us going out, a couple of people not skiing, a couple boarding & 4 of us who are complete newbs
Do not let your misses buy a chic white ski jacket with a nice cinched waist and faux fur round the hood. only for Russians in Courchevalski. Invisible on the slopes in snow / fog / flat light conditions.. Be bright , Trespass gear is ok for starters . Layer up, snoods , merino is good as you do go from sweaty to motionless on a chair lift. Goggles and a lid absolutely essential imo.
You wont be able to do enough exercise before you go, One legged squats , wall sits , low bar jumps all good. Hill reps out the saddle will help abit to build cardio.
Dont overdo it on your first day
Stretch before and after skiing
The drugs do work .
Snowdome will give experience in button lifts , putting on boots , getting up after a tumble and get you into group2 at ski school
Group lessons make sense when you are new, but listen to the instructor - and lean forward, everything in your brain tells you to lean back and up-hill, the sooner you train yourself to lean forward and downhill the quicker it will work.
We learned late too (mid-30's ish), my wife hated our first teacher, she was French and had no concept of why people couldn't ski more easily, I picked things up from her quite quickly. Once my wife swapped classes she progressed quicker, her young south-american male instructor may/may not have helped with this.
As others have said, dark lenses are only useful sometimes.
You've not named your country/destination, but I also found Austria harder to learn in that France, the low resort and horrible snow conditions didn't help as well as the instructor who despite having a class of learners put us through drills on a crispy red run and wondered why most of the class failed to come on days 2 and 3. To him all slopes were 'white' - he was an older farmer who ski coached but wasn't the best.
I hated hire boots, I think after 2-3 trips I decided to buy my own and they've been so much better ever since, I did fall for it from the first trip though.
Sadly you can't plan for the weather, sometimes, you get 0 visibility, some days too much sun and warm conditions. Layers are your friend.
I really like refreshing my head with Stomp-it tutorials on you tube, some of these might be helpful if you get time to check them before going. I don't get on with indoor slopes, they are largely so short you spend more time getting up than enjoying the down.
couldn’t see a thing and the instructor thought it would be fun to go up high and steep
They have a different mentality as they are out there all the time their judgement of 'bad' conditions is different to ours. I also feel they have some degree of responsibility to teach people to ski safely in a variety of conditions. However, I understand as a learner, not being able to see the ground, not knowing where edges are and generally trying to follow a group in low visibility was probably a horrible experience, so I can see how it wasn't fun or what you wanted at all rockhopper, sorry it didn't go well remember the build up and excitement.
4 of us who are complete newbs
Having friends to learn with will be a lot of fun, for the non-skiers hopefully there's enough to do to keep them busy!
It's good to get people's experiences - both good & bad
I did my first ski trip in my late thirties, wife and her sister both keen skiers. Did ski school and private lessons. Tbh the ski school was with a bunch of kids and teens who took to it straight away and the private lessons were meh. On the second trip, a year later, more of the same, I came to the conclusion that skiing actually just sucks and I’ve never deviated from that p.o.v despite a number of winter snow holiday. Ski resorts also suck as well, especially Swiss ones. The only post exception was some light ski touring in finland last year.
From a complete novice point of view - I went with some friends years ago for a friend's 40th. We spent 5 days in Austria (Stubai Glacier - staying in Neustift).
My Wife & I had never done any skiing/snowboarding. I did a day with my brother-in-law on a snowy Welsh hill side years before, but that was it. We have a dry slope nearby so did a session of lessons there. It was better than nothing, but didn't prepare us very well for just how slippery snow is when you are trying to stand-up from a sitting position with your snowboard strapped to you. This is either hilarious or frustrating depending on your viewpoint.
We didn't bother with lessons while we were there. Mistake. We should have. Definitely have lessons
My Wife hated it. She doesn't like feeling out of control - so any slipping/sliding feels wrong to her - maybe a snowboarding holiday was not the best plan for us, but I really enjoyed it.
Do as many relevant fittness/strength things you can before you go. I am sure there will be plenty of online guides for this.
Kit - we bought pretty cheap stuff from somewhere like Mountain Warehouse. It was fine. I didn't once feel remotely cold and we didn't get wet. Gloves were Dakine which I bought online, reduced. Goggles were Bloc with an orange tint. I bought some thermal base layers - long johns & long sleeve tops which probably helped with the warmth.
Stop frequently to take in the view - assuming you have a nice one. Stop for a drink & slice of strudel. Take it all in. I found it a bit like a theme park. The days whizzed past as I was so into what I was doing & before I knew it, we were heading back down in the gondola & back to the apartment.
Here's some inspiration for prehab to get you in shape:
https://www.instagram.com/range.snowfit/
Alps are a stunning place to be sunny or not. Reading up above, don't let others' bad experiences get you down.Skiing can be tough, but perserverence is important
If there are 4 of you newbs, skiing with a private instructor could be as affordable as ski school. Private will have more time to go at your pace, and will be able to focus on each of you rather than a larger group. Just try and get all 4 of you to a similar level of fitness ahead of the trip. You don't want to be the one holding the others up cos your cardio is poor.
What's the resort - there will likely be folks here with experience of skiing there with some useful local info
Also, if your hire ski boots hurt, get them changed. Crushing your feet for hours at a time is no fun. If in doubt also ask your instructor to check how tight they need to be (common mistake is to think your clamping shut storm shutters for a hurricane). Across the toes you should be able to open and close them with your little finger.
Personally, I’d only ever go with private lessons for one or two people of a similar standard but get that this is pricey to say the least.
Also consider if you’d prefer morning or afternoon lessons. Morning the slopes will be less chopped up so easier to concentrate on technique instead of just avoiding the bumps. But pistes more likely to be set up firm (read icy) first thing unless it’s snowed or hasn’t gone through a freeze thaw cycle.
Finally, approach it with an open mind. I’ve boarded for 30 years but only skied for a decade or so and my skiing both took longer and has plateau’d. You’ll hear about people doing reds on day two and all sorts of nonsense, ignore it and progress at your own pace. At the end of it all you’ll be in the mountains which is as we all know just about the best place in the world to be. Just typing this has me itching to go back (and I’ve already got three trips booked for this coming season).
Go for a lesson in a snowdome if you can,
Is a great idea if you have never skied before
Preparation: do lots of core exercise as soon as possible.
and stretching. It can be a bit brutal on you if you aren't used to it and aren't so young any more
It's loads of fun. Individual lessons are by far the fastest way to get up to speed for a price. It there are two of you it isn't so bad. There is a lot less rest though as you aren't waiting for 10 other people to show the instructor what they can do. If you are going for group lessons then use anyone other than ESF as the quality is really random. If going private and not getting on with the teacher then just ask to change, it's your money.
I came to the conclusion that skiing actually just sucks
Whereas I'm at my happiest on a slope with blue skies and planks strapped to my feet. Last year my mate and I got onto a run just after it had been opened to the public, before that there'd been some downhill training (for teens) going on, we were also the only ones who'd noticed it was open so it was like a private perfect slope we were flying!
Can't help from a ski holiday perspective as not been skiing abroad for 25 years. Wife just can't with her hips so I've not either since school trips as both a kid and later as a teacher.
I really would like to from a physical activity perspective but there is a lot about some resorts and busy slopes that puts me off the concept and places it in the same category as cruise ships for me. I'd have to choose very carefully to find somewhere Id like to be I think.
But I do ski tour here in Scotland. And every year without fail I get caught out by thinking I'm relatively fit and I'll be good to go and every year half way into my first day I go "oh....those muscles"...and crawl out of bed the next morning thinking I've been beaten up. Don't be me and actually do some of the recommended exercises before you go - your body will thank you later.
and lean forward, everything in your brain tells you to lean back and up-hill, the sooner you train yourself to lean forward and downhill the quicker it will work.
Doesn't take too many runs leaning over the back of the skis to reprogramme you to lean forward. All gets quite exciting quite quickly... So I'm told... 😆
I was told that if you lose control, just touch your knees.
Get fit (about a million squats between now and when you go) and move your beer budget into your lesson budget
Doesn't take too many runs leaning over the back of the skis to reprogramme you to lean forward. All gets quite exciting quite quickly... So I'm told... 😆
Old rear entry boots were the best for this. Someone sitting back? Just open their boots, problem quickly rectified… after a brief moment of terror
I had a mate that did a basic snowboarding course here but sadly ended up then being held back by a couple of people in his group over in France, very frustrating but possibly he was just unlucky.
That said, if you are both starting from scratch, I'd do as many as you can over here so you get as much from your holiday as you possible. Definitely lessons over there too, group or private depending on budget.
Do not do lessons on your first holiday then no lessons for the next 9 holidays... my bad habits are now mine forever 🙂
Googles with different lenses are a great idea. If they are those new fangled magnetic ones, even better.
In most resorts theres a very good deal on skipasses bundled with lessons for beginners (half price or less). Personally a lot of the early stages is just practice so not sure 1-1 lessons are worthwhile. Lessons every morning, meet the rest of the crew for lunch, ski with them/practice in the afternoon.
Decathlon ski kit is good quality and value. When you're a beginner you exert yourself a lot and get hot - you'll need less clothing than you expect.
I've always worn dark glasses if it's bright, light goggles in low light/poor conditions.
The thing that holds most people back is a fear of losing control, so they are reluctant (consciously and sub-consciously) to point their skis straight down the hill - at some point during the turn, they must point straight down, but fear causes people to minimise the time they point downhill by rushing the turn. Just like the wheels of car if you suddenly wrench the steering round, the skis lose their grip and start skidding.
So between lessons, find a slope with not too many people and a safe run-out so that you don't need to fear it, and go straight down (the straight down direction is called the 'fall line' - nothing to do with falling over, just the direction things fall in). Get used to the feeling of speed, and also the realisation that all you need to do is put more weight on one ski and you'll turn away from the fall line.
In terms of technique, getting the skis turned downhill is the difficult part, turning uphill again is easier - psychologically it's the opposite, so get rid of the fear and then you can concentrate on learning.
Also note that to get to slopes before you're feeling confident, you walk on and walk off the bubble lifts carrying your skis which is much easier than drag lifts or chair lifts.
If theres a small group of roughly similar ability and approach to outdoor pursuits, consider private lessons, and a few in the snowdome before if possible. Might work out similar price wise to get a few private lessons rather than a week's worth of mornings.
If you're only getting one goggle lens, get low light. I'd much rather squint my may through a bright day than be effectively blind on a low light day. Even better take low light goggles and dark sunnies.
I rate the decathalon kit for good quality at a reasonable price.
And drink lots of water, you wont feel thirsty but you will get dehydrated. Having a way to force yourself to remember to drink, even better.
Start doing squats now.
Comfortable boots are essential. Take no prisoners in the hire shop if they aren’t. I prefer goggles to glasses but a couple of different lenses for different conditions is a good plan.
Don’t forget to have fun and a laugh it’s a holiday not a training course.
If the weather is blizzard, don’t bother.
Find out where the Nearest X-C resort is and spend the day there. The pistes are often lower down, in trees and believe it or not (probably not) it's great fun even just shufling along on classic skis. In the Tarentaise pronounced pay-see:
https://www.peisey-vallandry.com/le-domaine-nordique.html
Junior instructs for ESF, enjoys it and gets great feedback. Some days are easier than others: guiding down an off piste powder bowl with a competant client to picking up the 20th kid of the day who's fallen over again, soaking wet in C&A kit, unhappy and wants their mum.
Persimmon lenses are your best friend when the weather is bad. Unless you don't want to see what is coming up .
On the lessons, if you're in a predominantly French group with a French instructor (or whichever country you're visiting), you'll likely not get much of the instructor's info unless you're fluent. My wife had this one year and the lessons weren't great as a result.
I found group lessons fun on our first week, it's nice to have someone to ski with at your level. We skied with them after the lessons a few days even - don't necessarily expect to have the energy to ski in the afternoon though! We had much more fun than our friends who tried a year later to only learn in the snowdome and then wing it in the mountains - snowdome is nowhere near as steep or sustained.
Don't get cheap gear it'll just get wet and uncomfortable. Best place for trousers and jacket is vinted etc IMO then you can get nice stuff without worrying about never using it again. Also, get glove liners.
When you're a beginner you exert yourself a lot and get hot - you'll need less clothing than you expect.
Only time I've been skiing was in Spain in my late 40's, end up going down the slopes in just jeans & tee shirt 🤣 absolutely loved it but probably horrified the "to be seen on the slopes" crowd.
but fear causes people to minimise the time they point downhill by rushing the turn.
I'd say it's common sense and survival instinct - fear can be good. However good you are there will be a gradient/snow conditions/space limitations that mean you'll be minimising the time with skis pointing straight down (watch jean Marc Boivin vids of him jump turning on 50°+ slopes for proof). Being able to turn (fast) to control speed is a really useful skill. When you are confident you can do it you'll be less worried about picking up speed. Control first, speed second.
tee shirt
You were overdressed. 😉
We went through this 10 years ago, early 40s.
"learnt to ski" in the snow dome. Day course - brutal, even for someone who's reasonably fit.
The first couple of runs on real snow 2 weeks later were a massive learning curve. Even a short linking piste is way bigger and longer than a fridge.
The 4 of us newbs booked private lessons together (New Gen ski - definite decision to avoid ESF). After the first one we split the time into 2 groups of 2, as me and one of the other guys (who rode motorbikes) picked it up much faster - we got onto red runs on the 3rd day. After that, mountain bike terrain-reading head started to come into play and I progressed way faster. By the end of the week I could travel round the resort pretty comfortably with the other pair in the 6 of us who'd been skiing all their lives.
I think the thing was that me and moto-mate both understood pretty instinctively the "front wheel grip" thing, so weren't afraid of getting the weight forward, just had to learn how to do it.
Yes its hard work, especially the falling over bit. Actually, aside from leg strength, as learners the best thing I'd say is good general mobility as being able to get yourself up off the deck quickly and efficiently is a massive time and energy saver. You see so many skiiers like beached whales who need to have their skis taken off by a friend then hauling up to vertical, then get the skis back on etc.. Roll over to skis perpendicular across the slope below you, push off your uphill hand, away you go. Again, being used to falling off bikes helps...
Bad conditions - yes its tough. But once you have the basics of making the skis work, there's nowt like being near blind to teach you to feel your edges if you have the mental capacity to do so. You'll also be the only daft bugger out, so don't have to worry so much about hitting/being hit by other people. The last 2 days of our first year were pretty claggy, but as a confidence building excercise - fantastic.
Kit wise, used general outdoor kit the first year. I still use my walking/climbing goretex jacket; first year I used my softshell walking trousers; after that got some Decathlon salopettes that have been great. Big winter walking gloves. MTB goggles with an orange lens, hired helmet (bought my own for the second year). We did buy proper ski socks.
We both love it. Only year we've missed since was '21. The mountains in winter are pretty special; being able to get away from the worst of the resort infrastructure makes it even better. (look for pistes round the edges of the resort)
For us the most valuable thing was going to a dry slope and having lessons there before we went off to Austria. This was all many years ago and snow domes weren't really available. We found doing the dry slope training was really valuable providing you never got Dendix thumb. This was all at Harlow (now defunct I believe). The end result was that when we turned up in Austria for our group lessons we got graded into a bit higher class than basic beginner and had a more time doing the fun things. We kept up the dry slope sessions when we got back and also when we moved away we did them at the Aldershot dry slope.
Throughout the years we regularly skied kept up some dry slope sessions and I believe we attained a lot more skills than if we hadn't done them.
As some who has never been in possession of the greatest sense of balance it was almost no surprise I managed to break a metacarpal bone in my hand on a dry slope before I had ever been on snow but even so for a number of years I was happy to return to the artificial stuff for a session prior to a ski holiday to remind myself of the whole mucking about on skis business.
As some who has never been in possession of the greatest sense of balance it was almost no surprise I managed to break a metacarpal bone in my hand on a dry slope before I had ever been on snow but even so for a number of years I was happy to return to the artificial stuff for a session prior to a ski holiday to remind myself of the whole mucking about on skis business.
I broke my wrist at Rossendale years before I ventured onto snow.
For us the most valuable thing was going to a dry slope and having lessons there before we went off to Austria. This was all many years ago and snow domes weren't really available. We found doing the dry slope training was really valuable providing you never got Dendix thumb. This was all at Harlow (now defunct I believe). The end result was that when we turned up in Austria for our group lessons we got graded into a bit higher class than basic beginner and had a more time doing the fun things. We kept up the dry slope sessions when we got back and also when we moved away we did them at the Aldershot dry slope.
Throughout the years we regularly skied kept up some dry slope sessions and I believe we attained a lot more skills than if we hadn't done them.
Dry slope skiing is technically more challenging than skiing on snow IMHO.
A couple of sessions at a dry slope before going will definately pay dividends if only to better understand how all the equipment works.
We're heading to Morzine.
Some good advice here and I'd just underline a few of the points above.
Group lessons are fine. But don't be shy if you're not getting on with the instructor. Ask to move groups asap. Instructors are not universally great and IME some will struggle to relate to teaching adults to ski. And agree with the language point, mixed nationality lessons can be trying for all involved.
Morning lessons tend to be better than afternoon ones due to quieter slopes and better snow. Plus you're likely to be less fatigued.
I think 4-5 lessons would be a minimum for most people so I'd budget on that and see how you both feel by the time the third one comes around.
Don't put up with uncomfortable boots. They'll be stiff and slightly weird but shouldn't pinch or rub to the point of blisters or bad circulation. Change if you don't get on with them. It's free!
I think experience of going fast downhill on a bike is a helpful parallel 😉 to the feel of skiing, so IME bikers tend to feel less uncomfortable and progress more quickly. Bear that in mind if you're skiing with someone who is not so used to being outdoors on things that go quick: MTB's, horses, motorbikes etc. It can lead to quite a different learning curve which becomes very distinct within a day or two.
Most people seem to love skiing, and an even greater proportion of bikers seem to take to it easily. But it is not for everyone, so manage expectations accordingly. And be prepared to persevere and find it tough. I don't think many people fall in love with the sport within the first few goes. It takes time.
I would add a little tip - I pop a bit of vaseline around my shin and ankle bones, a bit smeared on these places helps stop rubbing.
Also (as mentioned above), wear sunscreen, even on the cloudiest, foggiest of days, even when snowing.
@Edukator - I would like to book a lesson with junior (going to St Foy soon) at ESF. Can you message me please.
Group lessons are fine. But don't be shy if you're not getting on with the instructor. Ask to move groups asap. Instructors are not universally great and IME some will struggle to relate to teaching adults to ski. And agree with the language point, mixed nationality lessons can be trying for all involved.
100% this, I've had some group lessons that were focused on the finer details of the art of pole planting in parallel turns, for the entire morning. The prospect of a week of that filled me with utter dread so asked to be moved into a different group. That instructor had a group with a load of kids (and now me) and spent the rest of the week in the halfpipe and snow park, it was bloody fantastic.
Everything everyone else has said rings true, one thing is that nothing can prepare you for the first time you get off a lift and look over the edge and think 'how the bloody hell am i supposed to get down that'. I think as MTBers we tend to think what's the worst that could happen but you really can get yourself stuck somewhere that's hard to get down from, and you might not find that out till you're halfway down (I'm looking at you natur pistes rouges in La Plange!) learn how to side slip and it'll dig you out of the inevitable how that you get yourself in, and it'll be a great story in front of the fire that evening.
That's all true but it's easy to forget that even the harder stuff on piste is not that steep. Max 35° - 40°. I know it's hard to rationalise when you can barely turn or stop but they Really aren't in the business of trying to hurt you. It makes it more difficult to extract the last €...
Hi Bunnyhop, I'm afraid I inadvertantly pressed return so I've already hit my two-message-a-day limit. The conversation will have resume tomorrow.
you will have a great time. group lessons can be fun being with lots of people in the same boat.....although you may get separated if one of you progress much faster than the other. but you are likely to meet lots of people. Private lessons also good in that you will get much more specific instruction than the more generic instruction in a group. But as others have said private lessons are expensive.
as you are a beginner its worth bearing in mind the different learning curves with skis and snowboards. Snowboarding is much harder to learn initially (you will spend alot of time falling on you backside and pushing yourself up again), but once you can do that you will progress much faster to a higher level (over a few holidays). Skis are much easier to learn.....you will be standing a not falling over constantly pretty much straight away. Skiing takes a a lot longer to prgress from beginner to intermediate and onwards...but its much less physically punishing to learn !
just hire when you are there......buy second hand on vinted or in aldi when they are selling gear. I have always used a dark lens goggle. Yellow ones arent dark enough for me when its bright....but the dark ones still provide enough definiton when its snowy.
and following on from someones comments above......weather conditions could be anything.....if you get blue skies and fresh snow overnight thats amazing....but even in howling winds and zero visibilty you will still have fun....just take lots of layers and face covers etc etc.
Quick google of Morzine ski schools and there's several British options available. Try and do the basics in the UK either snowdome or dry slope to maximise your fun and time in the Alps.
Goggles - pink or orange tint for preference, not grey.
I have raynauds so now wear mittens with silk liners.
Learning to ski is effortful so fitness and mobility beforehand will reap rewards when you're there. It isn't all legs though, don't forget upper body and abs.
I hope you have a great time, I was gutted for Rockhopper70 when he had a less than great time 🙁
Trim your toenails a week before you go.
Aldi have their ski gear in store this week, although personally I prefer the Decathlon stuff.
If you are remotely close to Cas, Milton Keynes etc - book some lessons there first. Seriously.
It would be a crying shame to spend your first hours or days even, on your hard earned (no doubt expensive!) holiday, looking up at enormous rolling slopes flowing down beautiful alpine mountains - and be stuck on 60 metre long conveyor belt doing things like 'how to tighten your boots up' and 'how to step sideways with ski's on'.
Uncomfortable boots can be due to not knowing what they should feel like. A good boot fitter will make sure of fit, and a good instructor may also have some tricks about which buckles need to be tighter than others, where to have your weight on the footbed, and this can make uncomfortable boots suddenly work.
Don't go for the cheapest boot offer, go to wherever gets suggested in Morzine where they will take the time to fit you, not just in terms of size of foot, but arches and calves too. worth looking at suggestions for best ski hire on SnoHeads
We always wear some M&S pop socks (phwoar) inside our ski socks as this adds a little warmth and reduces friction
Sounds like you're skiing so this won't apply, but if you're learning to snowboard consider wrist braces. I was in a lesson of six snow board novices two of which didn't have braces. They both broke their wrists. Although I also damaged my coccyx so maybe it was a really bad instructor 🤔
Maybe what I should be saying is if you're massively uncoordinated like me skiing is more fun to learn. I had group ski lessons and they were great fun. 😀
Always wear a helmet. You might think you look an idiot, but you can't account for other people and they work if you slip over on an icy piste and smack your head.
Oh yeah, bright clothes. You want to be found, right?
If you are in Portes du Soleil (Morzine/Avoriaz) then have a look at TSI for lessons. Sally will give you some tailored advice and they work really hard on matching groups and moving you around in the week to keep groups working. Focus on fun. Tell them how you want to learn and see what they recommend.
(Source: came to them for lessons for kids after several ESF experiences; were recommended by trusted sources and have been with them last 2 years. Not cheapest, but I have nothing but praise for their care and approach and they keep records of progress to better match groups year on year, as well as training the PisteXcode).
Think about where you are staying, and where you will access the snow. Can you hire gear at this point? Can you book lessons with a meeting point here? You don't want to be having a trek in ski gear/boots each morning. Even more so if kids are involved.
Think about your lift pass. As a total beginner you won't need a full Portes du Soleil pass. Ask ski school what you need for lessons. I think the Morzine-Les Gets pass will be perfect.
Personally I would go with group lessons in the morning. My wife learned in group lessons and always enjoyed it. My kids went through the full suite of ESF group lessons and had a great time. I am a Secondary teacher, with a pretty wide experience in mountain/paddle sports and I have never had ANY concerns over quality of teaching from my own experience, but there must be sub-optimal ones out there.
Use a helmet. Buy gear from Decathlon or s/h. Decathlon gear is in store now. As is Aldi gear. My kids grew up skiing in Aldi ski gear and I see it everywhere. Decathlon (Wedze) is practically a uniform for every ski family, esp. en France...
Get good gloves. Probably a buff-type-thing. A little lipsalve with SPF. Put some Haribo packets in your pockets.
I have seen some teenagers (usually girls) learn to ski well in a week, with NEVER falling over. Maybe over cautious, but impressive. Equally I have seen total crash-test-dummies take a full contact approach. This is not recommended for an adult.
Most of all, enjoy yourself. There are fantastic places to go skiing, and many of the smaller (and cheaper) resorts are real gems. Some are like having your own private resort.
Be a little adventurous in the afternoon, but plan your return. It is possible to be stranded (=expensive taxi) far from home. Never be afraid to take a lift down at the end of the day.
I learnt in my early 30s- my wife had skied before. I learnt on the local dryslope with the benefit being once we hit the snow it was much easier so was a confidence boost.
We had group lessons as part of the package holiday, only drawback being in a group of c 10-15 if you're near the back its difficult to see the instructor to see what you are doing so you end up following what the person in front is doing- a bit like Chinese whispers.
Half way through the week we had a private lesson to concentrate on some of the bits I was struggling with and it consolidated the learning from the group session.
Go to Zakopane in Poland, its cheap, relatively quiet the slopes aren't too steep, ideal for learning. Buses run regularly from Krakow.
I think experience of going fast downhill on a bike is a helpful parallel 😉 to the feel of skiing,
Mountain bikers often* have an understanding of balance, weight distribution, how grip is generated and the separation of upper body and lower body movement which are also applicable to skiing.
* Some don't obviously!
@PrinceJohn I learned to ski in Morzine this year. I went out in January by myself and I spent a 6 mornings with Paddy http://www.paddymorris.co.uk/ and then a couple of mornings in Feb half term with him. I am absolutely terrified skiing and he has got me skiing so I can get down reds now. He a great teacher and a top guy. He mostly teaches around the linderet and avoriaz side of the resort.
He taught my kids about four years ago they picked it up in no time and has guided then each year they spend the mornings going down blacks and off piste with him whilst we pottle around.