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Preventing the "I've skied once" syndrome - Page 4

post #91 of 95
11/3/06 at 7:16am
OK gotcha - didn't know the angle you were going after.

Yes they have some good ones around for fitting - there's a place at Stratton Vt that's great actually. Good point about getting the right fit before buying also.
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post #92 of 95
11/3/06 at 8:02am

Wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by RISkier View Post
I could gladly have quit after my first day and never looked back. Ice Queen really us to start skiing and I committed to doing 3 days of lessons and giving it my best shot. Day 1: I wore way too much cloths and was cooked by the time I got rental boots fitted and on. Then your clunking around up and down steps in boots, carrying skis, poles, etc. Then you finally get on skis and you're trying to do a sliding sport when you've never done a sliding sport in your life. And I started at a rather advanced age so I wasn't very confident I could learn to ski and was quite afraid I'd break my ass trying. When I told colleagues at work we were going skiing they said things like like "you're only going cross country skiing, aren't you?" The first day was not really fun for me but I'd promised to give it a real try. The 2nd day something clicked. I wasn't fighting the skis as much and was letting them run (just a tiny bit). I started having fun. All of a sudden we started doing day trips almost every weekend for the rest of the year and now we plan our vacations around skiing. I recall an aha moment about our 4th or 5th time out. We got into the lodge, threw our gear and boots on and both commented that that was certainly getting a lot easier. I think it's a pretty foreign activity and the first day or two presents a real challenge. I definately think that if you can get folks past the first couple of days a lot more will get hooked on skiing.
I could have written the above. Very similar to my experience.
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post #93 of 95
11/3/06 at 8:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by trochilids View Post
My parents, from Idaho, visited us in Alaska last winter. Dad's in his mid 50s with Mom not far behind. Dad had skied as a teen -- once -- and wanted to try it again (My wife and I have been addicted for a year, and we had encouraged Dad to give it another go). So we took Mom and Dad to our local ski area on Elmendorf AFB -- Hillberg. At best this is a beginner hill and a great place to learn. We paid for a lesson for Dad, and he had a wonderful time! Mom wasn't in the least bit interested and sat in the lodge the whole time.

But the next thing I hear after they returned to Idaho was that Mom had taken a lesson at Brundage and was now addicted as well! They're both relatively athletic in their own ways, but I wouldn't expect them to progress much past the intermediate stage as skiers. However, that's not the point for them. They're apparently having a blast toodling around on the bunny slopes and green runs -- together.

They don't have a lot of money, but Dad bought some used skis and boots last year, and we bought a season pass for Mom to a local ski hill. They both work far too hard during the week just to make ends meet, and I think that skiing provides them with some needed outdoor together-time in the winter -- and I wonder if THAT was the real reason that Mom took the plunge herself. Whatever reason, I'm glad they did. :

Cheers,
I have tears in my eyes after reading this. AWESOME!
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post #94 of 95
11/3/06 at 8:49am
People don't like to look stupid. Big reason for not liking skiing. It's humiliating for the first few days, anyway.

Americans are into instant gratification. Skiing takes TIME.

I've spent countless hours reading about skiing and watching dvd instruction. Then I've hit the slopes trying to master one or two principles.

The ABSOLUTE HIGH that you get when you advance to higher slopes and skills is incredible. But it takes TIME and a desire to do it.

My suggestion is to tell first time skiers that they're not allowed to decide if they like it or not until they've spent 10 days skiing.
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post #95 of 95
11/6/06 at 2:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCJIM View Post
People don't like to look stupid. Big reason for not liking skiing. It's humiliating for the first few days, anyway.

Americans are into instant gratification. Skiing takes TIME.

I've spent countless hours reading about skiing and watching dvd instruction. Then I've hit the slopes trying to master one or two principles.

The ABSOLUTE HIGH that you get when you advance to higher slopes and skills is incredible. But it takes TIME and a desire to do it.

My suggestion is to tell first time skiers that they're not allowed to decide if they like it or not until they've spent 10 days skiing.
Get their boots fitted and you can lower that from 10 to 3 days.
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