What Motivates a Beginner to Take Up and Continue Skiing?

Skiing can be a very expensive hobby. It can also take a fair amount of perserverance to learn. For most people, it probably isn't something that comes naturally. So what would motivate a beginner to try it and to stick with it?

I've seen a few threads talking about the need/desire to get more people into skiing (especially women). So, there seems to be some concern and effort being made to draw people into it.

What would you say to beginners who are considering trying it? How would you describe the sensations of skiing? There are some very good descriptions in books I've read or am reading (SSH's book, In the Yikes Zone, etc)...but I wonder if you have to have felt those sensations to understand what is being described.

For myself, I would say I got into because my husband begged me to try it. But once I got back and tried it at his request, I was hooked. What hooked me?

1) The realization that I could be outdoors in the freezing cold and be totally comfortable.

2) Adult Onset Athleticism (the older I get, the more athletics appeals to me.....) in general....

3) Being in the mountains on a serene quiet trail, appreciating the beauty of the surroundings....

4) The feeling of complete freedom.

5) The sensation of flight, dancing, harmony

6) The focus on how everything feels and the awareness
of the parallels between how you ski and how you
live.

7) The sense of skiing being above everyday life...an
experience at times that transcends day to day
living..

8) The chance to look at fear and move through it --
very rewarding

How would you describe what it feels like? What would you say to a beginner to try to describe why they should take up skiing?

Well, back when I was a beginner (days of leather boots, etc.) the only reason I tried it again was that was where all the cute guys were. Then I suddenly got hooked on the skiing, belatedly.

Maybe the reason girls aren't into it is the clothes that teen boys are wearing these days?

That sounds like snowboarder clothes that you're referring to.....

i wouldn't tell anyone they should take up skiing. i don't think it's for everybody. there are things unique to skiing that can be very off-putting, including expense, the schlepping of gear, the learning curve, the frustration, the potential for injury, all of the above taking place in sometimes less than comfortable conditions, etc.

i would tell them about my first turns, how they hooked me, how i'd never felt anything quite like it, how i couldn't stop thinking about it and how i had to have more as soon as i could, and how there were moments when i cursed aloud, slammed gear to the ground, felt clumsy and foolish, that these moments still occur, that i've torn a knee ligament, had a quite "colorful" on-mountan "disagreement" with my girlfriend, and that skiing is one of the best things i've ever come across because of things i personally cannot convey in a way that will ever make sense until those skis hook up and you're dancing with gravity in a world a little closer to god.

i would say also that it isn't for everyone, to not be dismayed or feel lacking if, once tried, it doesn't fit.

i would say TAKE A LESSON AND IF FRIENDS/SPOUSE OFFER TO TEACH, RUN AWAY NOW.

i'd tell them that if they're looking for something easy, they should consider miniature golf.

i'd tell them there is a correlation between what one puts in and what one takes out.

i'd tell them it's very possible to have plenty of fun cruising greens and stretching oneself to blues.

i'd probably be a scrooge and say getting down a black diamond run is NOT the same as "skiing" one, but it's all good, it's all valid, and that the only person they need to please is themself. one skis for oneself. but it can be shared and that the communal aspects add to the enjoyment.

i'd tell them even one day on the mountain can teach one a little more about oneself.

i'd tell them that if they wanted to get "good," it likely wouldn't be happening without working at it and that sometimes that work won't feel like play. i'd tell them also that with less ambition but still some small effort, they could get to the point where they could happily navigate much of the mountain, sometimes most of it, and probably never all of it, and that's okay.

i'd tell them athleticism helps but isn't a prerequisite; it'll be more about balance and getting to know balance.

i'd tell them it's okay to fall, that i still fall plenty. i'd say "get a helmet."

i'd ask if they like or dislike roller-coasters.

i tried skiing because i'd had dreams of skiing, without having ever thought about it. i still would never have pursued it had the opportunity to go to the mountains dropped into my lap.

i'd never have known what i was missing.

i'd tell them that, too.

in fact, i'd probably have them sit down, let me get them a beer or hot chocolate, and tell 'em a whole lot more. then i'd excuse myself, bomb a run or two, and come back with that sh@t-eating grin on my face.

words just don't getcha there sometimes.

but i'd still tell them - really i would - to check out epicski.com if they felt even a twinge of curiosity.

Yeah but the girls are wearing the same clothing so sometimes it is hard to distinguish the difference .
I see lots of young women snowboarding. More in equal numbers with males than skiing. In my kids lessons I often have more girls than boys but the older groups are dominated by boys.
Maybe there is a bit of a movement going on with young women and girls feeling the urge to slide about. I sure hope so. They are fun to teach. I get way more hugs from girls than boys and it sure makes you feel good about the whole experience.

ryan used capitals! must be important:

btw i agree.

There is a really enjoyable thread from the past about teaching a spouse/s.o. to ski.......the almost universal consensus.....don't do if you care about the relationship!!

Mastering movement atop features carved by forces long ago overwhelming is compelling for some but not for all. One first experience is all that is needed to determine a lifetime of passion that requires little motivation to sustain.

What motivates a beginner to take this sport up ? The reactions of their friends who ride. The joy and excitement they express before and after their trips to the mountain. They want to take part and discover the lure of this sport for themselves and when they do.................They're usually hooked.

Yeah, I agree that when you are a beginner, it'll be your friends that initially movitate you. I was stunned when we moved here and it turned out that only FOUR of the high school kids at the time were on the race team..and that included my daughter. Not sure what the count is now, but I bet it's the same. Some of the kids snowboard, but considering there's a mountain right here, it's surprising the number of people town-wide who really don't ski. 2-4 days a year is NOT "skiing". I think TV is just too easy.

I like being outdoors in the winter and something to look forward to instead of sheltering up for the season and waiting for spring.

I am not a devoted skier though. I usually look forward to it about this time then start thinking about spring activites in late February. In the summer I dont even think much about skiing.

Hot, hot, hot...

What motivated me??

Well, I think the white...

I agree
" ...The realization that I could be outdoors in the freezing cold and be totally comfortable..."

The fact of just tried it for the first time with 40yo, and did it for sure.

The mountains landscape.

The fantastic sensation of control, after two days of complete suffering...

A lot of other things!!
Cheers
Eduardo

Probably the #1 reason of beginer starting skiing is to be with their (potential) friends, be it cute guys or your spouse.

Another quite important reason, at least for me, is to stave off cabin fever. I can't understand people who live in cold places (winter of 6 month) NOT skiing. " ...The realization that I could be outdoors in the freezing cold and be totally comfortable..." said it all.

Both are compeling reasons that can override expense and the gear hassle.

Also, people who enjoy speed have a inate potential to get addicted to skiing as soon as they try it. Those who has fear of speed tend never get the buzz...

My first experience was awful. I went with a couple of friends who said after 2 runs down the bunny slope," you're ready to go to the top". Worst day of my life, up to that point.

15 years later I took my 3 daughters to Ragged Mtn, NH. We skied there a couple of days, and I knew then and there I would always ski ... it's something that you feel - almost spiritual. Even the fact that I blew out a knee on this trip, which resulted in ACL surgery did not stop me ... I was back on the slopes the very next season.

Like Ryan stated above, it's not for everyone. I don't "push" people to ski ... I just tell them of our experiences, the fun our family has from a once a year trip, every year.

There's nothing to compare with:

• the feel of fresh powder spraying in your face
• staring down from atop Big Mtn summit at a temp inversion below
• the purity of the cold with your scalp stinging, the blue sky
• linking sweet, sweet turns together
• seeing the grin on the face of newbies you've taken along and knowing that yes, they're hooked too
• and yes - the sweetness of the hot-tub at the end of the day

Some important issues...

I think... One important issue to keep in mind is: The very first experience.

Despite your motivation at the first time, if you go there with the wrong people, try over hard, get a big windy and snowing day, you are compelled to not want to do it again.

A good instructor is a must and do all difference on a good and balanced experience @ first days, since these guys have the felling to avoid your physic stress, and keep you motivated. So, the statement of "get a pro to show you how the things works" and "don't try to learn with your wife/husband/boy-girl-friend, etc" are absolutely correct!!!

Other: How you guys/ladies feels going up on a cloud day, full of fog, where you cannot see more then few steps away... The gondola/chair reaching the top... you look around and seem almost nothing... Best of all - you never skied that place before... Look at the trail maps and the unsolved question "to what one?" How difficult will be the trail??????????? HELP!!!!
Man, that scenario is terrifying...

A deep breathing... adjusts the boots, clear the goggle, close the jacket and... Heeee weeee gooooo!!! Keeping the control, the limits and smoothly gaining confidence and learning the mysteries of the mountain and relaxing and enjoying... And, at the end you are absolutely wet under the clothes, the adrenaline makes you exited and the first thing that comes on your mind is "LETS DO IT AGAIN!!!!!"::::

For sure, after you experience a day like that, for the first time... All things becomes pure pleasure. You understand, your limits and how you can handle with it.

So, Never surrender! Never give up!

Cheers
Eduardo

I liked this question!

What motivated me to start.....

DH decided that our family now lived in ski country, had an SUV with 4 wheel drive, and so we should learn. (kids too, and he very generously included daughter's fiance) He had skiied before I knew him, and liked it then -- I guess we were all going to like it too.

I had my reservations -- middle aged, FAT, nothing to wear, NOT athletic by any stretch of the imagination.

Bogus Basin (Boise, Idaho) has this great program, they call it the Passport program, for beginning skiers. You get four lessons, equipment, lift tickets, for around $200. When you finish, they give you a season of equipment use, and a season pass. It was spring, so our season was going to cover the next year.

He signed us up while I was out of town. In fact, I missed the first of the series of four lessons. So, I'm playing catch up to my family and classmates. I stuck it out through the lessons. Struggled, and didn't feel real happy out there, but I stuck it out.

The snow melted. I was happy -- never gonna have to do that again.



Strangely enough, come September, I heard a commercial on the radio: Bogus was having a season pass sale. I was driving in my car, and had a beautiful view of the mountain, directly in front of me. Called my husband on the cell phone -- back then, I pretty much never used it, much less while driving around town! -- and said, hey, you know what?

SKI SEASON'S COMING!!!!

His reaction was, kinda, hmm, how to describe it? Maybe, like, well, yeah, so what? Not that he said "so what" -- it was just kinda in his voice. I was distracting him from whatever work he was in the middle of, you know the sort of annoyance...

And I replied, you don't get it -- SKI SEASON'S COMING!!!!

and I'm excited!!!

Boy did I surprise myself: I really hadn't expected to look forward to skiing. When I put all the stuff away in spring, I pretty much planned on not doing that again.

I have NO idea what happened inside me during that off season between the lessons and the year of free equipment, but I came to discover that I was hooked. I think of myself as a skier now. Not a good one, by any stretch of the word, mind you, but I'm a skier! I've lost count, but I think this will be our sixth full season, and I'm more excited every year! (I do have all of my season passes stashed in a safe place, so I could count...)

Kano

Welcome to Epic Kano!!!! I really enjoyed reading your post! Look forward to reading more (and you're a Diva also, right?). You've found two very good sites to fuel the addiction!!!!

Here's a not-so-often mentioned problem for new skiers which IMO helps drive them away after their first experience on the snow. It's rental boots.

Rental boots are either too loose, offering only haphazard response from the skis and thus dooming the skier to less-than-rewarding sense of control on snow, OR they are snug enough but fit poorly, offering the skier a memorably painful experience. For many people, especially women, the feet in a rental boot are often cold as well.

Cold feet and painful boots, or cold feet and uncooperative skis, can give a first-time skier the feeling that either skiing is painful and why would anyone want to do that, or that she/he is terminally incompetent because the skis won't behave themselves.

These things might not deter a new male skier determined to conquer the slopes, but they sure will put off a woman who is not driven by the urge for victory no matter the cost.

I don't know of an economical solution for the mountains at this point. Once boot mfrs figure out how to make a boot that offers comfort, warmth, and superb foot-to-ski responsiveness out of the box, at an affordable price, then more new skiers will be prone to return after their first experience and take up the sport. Many women I've spoken with who have skied only a few times gave it up because of the painful boots combined with feeling incompetent. Granted, foot problems are not there for every new skier, but for some it's an issue.

My mom used to say that the boots were created to give you the idea what it would feel like when you had your leg in a cast. She skied ONCE, shuffling across the base area, refused a lesson, sat all day watching the skiers and smoking, sitting in her rented boots.

It doesn't get any better than this for an explanation.

I first tried skiing at age 16. This was 1965 or so. I went to a ski swap, bought some Raichle leather boots a size too small, and Kneissel wood skis (185's!!) with cable bindings. I never got beyond a snowplow in a year of sporadic skiing, which included aching and frozen feet. My ski clothing was pathetic, too. I didn't much care if I ever skied again. Fast forward to 1977 when I tried skiing again while working in Iran. Interesting experience, but again, lousy rental equipment and my skills didn't improve and I only skied about 4 times. Fast forward again to 2003 (I hadn't skied since 1977). I bought a $100 used rental set-up....Rossi skiis, boots, poles. Tried again, didn't get all that good but made it to a stem christie type turn. Had a bad fall and sprained my shoulder and broke a rib. Enthusiasm was waning about the skiing. In the 05-06 ski season I decided to go for it. I got new Nordica skis, new Nordica boots, proper clothing, and took lessons and skied a lot. The next year I skied about 40 days and got hooked on the slopes at Squaw Valley. Now at age 58 I LOVE skiing, I have pretty good techique, and did I say I LOVE skiing? It just happened, but I needed good equipment and clothing to keep me warm and comfortable, and finally, a heck of a lot of MILEAGE. It's all about mileage for me. It took a LOT of mileage to gain confidence and get comfortable. A lot of people learn more quickly, but for me, it just took a lot of experience and the comfort level I'm at now allowed the passion for skiing to develop. I really think if you come to skiing somewhat "late" (i.e. not as a kid or teen), you may need some time to get into it. You need a lot of practice, but you'll get there!

Motivation to Ski

As one of those people who is constantly analytical, one of the best things about skiing for me is the opportunity to let go, just feel the skis and the snow and enjoy the turns and each moment. It's not the instinctive thing for me to do, but when I do this, I also ski much better and have a better sense of what I need to do.

I kept going because of speed, G-force, weightlessness and freedom.

I totally agree with this. I'm just getting back into skiing - I had old hand-me-down boots/skis when I learned as a kid and up until high school when I basically gave it up. I always found the boots painfully uncomfortable and hated every part of it. I also have wide feet.

When I went out and bought my equipment, I spent a ridiculous amount (for me - I've never spent so much on footwear) on boots and after breaking them in (my first day of lessons was a little painful) I can't believe how comfortable they are. I skiied all day on long, green mountain runs in Banff and have never experienced such comfort.

Motivation to Continue Skiing

I think the above describes aspects of the motivation really well!!!!

But, then there is also the feeling when you finally find people who are able to help you understand what you need to do and you start to explore parts of the mountain you wouldn't have considered earlier and realize that you're really starting to ski and you could continue to go further!!!
You look at pitches that would've scared you silly and you start to have an instinctive feeling of how you need to move and you aren't scared at all (at least on those pitches). The sensations are so amazing that you are amazed and unable to verbalize to people who haven't experienced just how good it can feel. Somehow the experience ties closely into your life and you start to see more and more parallels between the two. All in all, it does feel like you are experiencing something that brings you a little closer to God because you are celebrating being alive when you ski (and nature has always seemed like the best of all churches).:

I think that this is an awesome thread!!

I am constantly trying to get more people hooked on skiing! I will be the very, very first to admit that my teaching ability is well under par, but I like to think that I can instill enough sense of safety and fun into any newbies I try to take under my wing to make learning a bearable, if slow, process.

I find that the one thing above all others that screws up new skiers is their first fall. I don't mean little crappy falls, I mean the first one that actually hurts a bit, leaves a bruise, leaves them winded, you get the idea. IMHO, the hardest part is helping new skiers get their "skiing mojo" (as one of my learners described it) and not letting go if it.

I've watch people that I honestly felt I could describe as naturals get discouraged, just because of a loss of mojo.

Worst experience I've had? I had a friend who wanted to learn, so I offered to help one day. She had a busy schedule, and so I told her just to pick whatever day worked. Unfortunately, she picked the day that me and my ski buddies had planned to spend 12+ hours on the slopes. I warned her over and over, but she was pretty adamant about coming along.

In case you hadn't guessed, she spent a few hours on skiing, took a tumble that cost her mojo, and spent the rest of the evening in the bar. She slept very, very soundly on the way home.

Best experience I've had was with a girl I was dating for a time. One night, cuddling in bed during the most unholy hours of the morning, and after 1 or 2 mixed drinks too many, I spent a long time trying to put into words why I ski. The feeling, the rush of knowing that your ability is the only thing keeping you from serious injury, the incredible feeling I get when I get to the bottom of a run I just know I beat the crap out of, the insuppressible feeling of pride when I finally start to feel like I'm getting the hang of whatever more difficult technique I've been working on.

Apparently, it got through to her.

I think learning young is very helpful as well. Learn the basics at an age where excessive speed doesn't make it scary.

Long, long, long story short, I think the most important thing to do is keep it fun. Skiing is wonderful. Learning to ski is not. For most people, it's cold, frustrating, and scary as hell. When it stops being fun, people stop wanting to learn. I don't expect to be trying to teach any future Olympians. Just people looking for a good winter hobby.

As long as it stays fun, they'll keep going.

It's all about the mojo

Newbies- To Ski or Not to Ski

Hi Ski Spirit, hope your're have a great season.

What do I tell a new skier for motivation/what did I experience myself?

Skiing is an idividual sport and experience. When you get up on the hill, you get yourself down, you regulate where you go, how fast you go, how safe you go, everything. There is no Team member to rely on. There really are no limits to what you can do. This applies to the easiest beginner run or the steepest run/hill on the mountain. The experience is yours and yours alone, enjoy the experience of learning, discovering new feedback to your body and life, thrill yourself, reward yourself and yes literally poop yourself out having fun.

Beginner. Enjoy this life in the mountains, you will over the years acquire he sufficient gear to stay warm and be comfortable in almost any condition. Look see that skier; he/she is really good and he is 65 yrs old, skiing is for everyone young and old. It is something you can do with others, by yourself and love for a very long time. By all means take a lesson etc. (See Beginner Zone) but above all try to describe the magnetism of our sport. The thrills, lifestyle, friends and rewards that come with spending your winter on the snow.

Example. During Christmas vacation I struck up a conversation out behind the lodge with a man who was approx. 55yrs. He was hanging around waiting for his visiting relative to come in from skiing. I related to him the above infor. with the additional comments; you arent't too old, hell i'm 65, take a lesson, you'll love it, give yourself a chance etc. When I dropped by later behind the lodge by the ski school to meet some friends. There he was taking a ski lesson. Later I saw him in the bar with his relatives and went over and talked to him. He told me: What a blast, I learned how to turn, stop and ride a lift - that was fun.

At times I like being a Skiing Ambassador and would love to guide at my local resort but the Corp. doesn't have the vision that I do. Bean Counters.:

A good beginner's lesson package can be fantastic for getting people motivated to stick with it. I learned to ski at age 37 at an area that offered 3 lessons, including lift tickets and rentals, for $99. So it was a great way to break into an otherwise expensive sport, and since everything was paid for up front, I think someone would be less tempted to skip out on the final lessons. Realistic expectations are another key. I was totally prepared for humiliation and pain, and actually, I didn't really experience either, since I was in a group of others that were also falling down. It was also an area that attracts a lot of beginners, so there was really no shame in skiing badly. My husband thought I'd be with him on an intermediate slope by the end of my first lesson--we only did the magic carpet and tow rope that day! Had I let him, or someone else with unrealistic expectations and no teaching experience, teach me, it would have been bad. Luckily he'd tried to teach an ex how to golf, and has since swore off teaching significant others anything.

I was hooked after my 3 lessons. I still take the occasional private lesson to improve, since this is only my second season. But, I do agree with some of the sentiments above--you really shouldn't TRY to get someone into the sport. I learned my lesson years ago trying to get friends into hiking/backpacking. When someone is undertaking something physically challenging, whether it's hiking up a mountain or learning to ski--they need to be self motivated to deal with the difficult aspects. If they aren't interested, or try it and don't get hooked, why push it? There's lots of other things to do.

Ski Spirit started a discussion that is crucial to this sport. Everyone who responded is a skier now. Even the 16 year old in 1965 who struggled with the equipment and tumbles. Unfortunately this sport looses about 85% of the folks who try it the first time. Ski Spirit's philosophy is remarkable as are the musings of many who posted their experiences including don't let the boyfriend be your first instructor!
I'd say many don't like it because they don't have control. They don't have an athletic frame of reference. Perhaps they never even tried skating or cross country skiing. That said, most of the experienced skiers out there would not put on a pair of rental boots and go skiing. Why not? Because the fit would be poor. There is no footbed. The fit would be sloppy. YET THAT IS WHAT WE ENCOURAGE THE FIRST TIMER TO ENDURE. That is ridiculous. Why would we expect a good result? If the foot fits then the skier is more likely to have better control and a better first experience which increases the odds that there will even be a second experience let alone a third. As an industry we can't afford a 15% batting average. Poor fit also results in more injuries.
Having a safe hill to ski on helps too. Other skiers in control don't hit you and hurt you and that will keep you going too. So, non skiers don't understand the rush of excitement we feel on a ski hill. It is like being in a club but it need not be so exclusive. Help new skiers by getting them onto the hill with proper fitting equipment, including a footbed and perhaps even canting and then get that lesson from a pro who is not related.
EJ

I'll second this comment.

First-timers who don't return to skiing find the lack of control astonishing, the danger is daunting to them, and they feel their physical efforts are unrewarded. Their feet hurt, they are cold, their quads are burning, and they are humiliated by falling. They can't imagine why anyone would want to work so hard for so little reward. They are more attuned to the frustrations than the beckoning thrills.

First-timers who continue to ski are attracted to the challenge of maintaining control. They like the potential of going higher on the hill and skiing steeper and faster one day. The difficulties of the first day are less frustrating to them because the hear the call of future thrills. They are willing to embrace the physical work in order to gain the skills to get the skills they want.

Good-fitting rental boots would do much to win over those who abandon skiing after the first time, because they could have so much more control.

Boot manufacturers would do themselves and the industry a big favor if they designed rental boots that had easy-to-use liner systems that cradled feet well without any custom-fitting. The liners could feel soft in the shop, so renters would be comfortable with a snug fit. Or shims could easily be fit into the boot to attain that necessary snug fit. Those liners could stiffen up outdoors in the cold. Also, boot sizes that mimic street sizes should reflect the REAL size needed (not as they do today, where you need boots labeled two sizes smaller than your street size).

Now some clever engineer could make those liners happen, right? Think of the benefits to everyone in the industry if renters had snug boots that didn't hurt. More control on the snow. Less floppy out-of-control skis. Fear diminished. Learning easier. More sense of accomplishment and triumph after a first day. More return skiers.