Time to start planning (part 3)
Published on 24th September, 2014
Your First Week
By the end of your first week you can expect to have completed your first blue run – but to help make this happen choose a ski resort suitable for beginners, one that has a lot of green runs and a reputation for good ski schools. Your first ski trip should be the start of a life-long passion that will keep you fit, take you to many interesting places where you will make new friends and enjoy holidays with old ones.
A Word of Warning
Most people lose their confidence and technique on about day three of ski school. It’s not the instructors fault but often your friends. Resist the temptation on day three to accept an invitation to ski with your mates. Your friends will reassure you, “it’ll be ok we’ll ski an easy slope.” This slope is only easy to them, not to you! They might have been skiing for a number of years but to most beginners who befall this fate, the slope is never easy.
Boredom soon kicks in – even if they first choose an easy slope – and they’ll want to push you. What to do? Exactly as your instructor tells you. Ask him/her which slopes you can ski on in your free time. This advice will be based on experience, and whilst your mates may seem like experts, they’re not and teacher knows best. Skiing is a social sport so ski with your friends, but listen for alarm bells such as, “look this slope is ok but how about we have a go down here”, “It’s not that steep” and the big one “you’ll be ok”. Confidence on skis is built slowly and lost quickly so take good advice from local instructors and stick to it.
A Last Word
Skiing is an amazingly addictive sport, it can take you across the world and you’ll meet many new friends and have some of the most memorable days of your life. Take lessons at every level as it is always possible to improve and there is always another harder piste to tackle.
Skiing offers something for the whole family, and can be enjoyed into old age. Get the first trip right and you’ll probably be skiing for the rest of your life.