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New Mountain and General Skiing Anxiety

This book really intrigues me as fear of the consequences of getting it wrong definitely have an adverse effect on my mountain biking. It's less so with skiing and maybe it's because I feel I am a much more competent skier than I am a mountain biker.Maybe this year is the time to actually get some instruction on the bike.The thing I find most uncomfortable in skiing is being in a situation where falling can have terrible consequences.It makes me shudder to think of it.

I think the book can help many people no matter what their fear is. I think about falling too and am afraid of that as well. I am just a bundle of fear. It's like an ice skater who's decent but just has a major case of the nerves when she has to skate in front of crowds she crumbles and people don't realize she can skate. I am filled with nerves and angst and skiing with other people and going to a new mountain is a crippling combination and I'm tired of letting it get to me. I am hoping this book gets me in the right direction and helps me help myself. This, some lessons, hard work and just simply more mileage and just doing it more often will help me a lot I believe. I am working on putting a plan in place this season to really take some steps to work on this in the upcoming season.
 
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SkiBam

Angel Diva
Most large mountains will have them....Tremblant has 2 times for meeting at the top. It's a retirement idea for me. You get a free pass and don't have work that many days for it. No pay, but free skiing and discounts....

I've thought about this too. But you have to commit to 18 days and on those days be there at 8 am - on the South side, which I hate going to. And it's not just giving tours. involves things like standing by the map at the top - in all weather. Anyway, so far I hanen't been too keen - but you never know. I've learned to never say I'll never do something.
 

geargrrl

Angel Diva
I have a friend who does this at Schweitzer. For him it's 10 days a season, and yep - it's the standing at the top of the mountain in all conditions standing around at the top that really kills him. That's just part of his shift, but it can be a killer depending on the weather.
 
My home mountain has ambassadors standing in various locations around the base lodge but I've also found wearing my ski school jacket puts us in the same capacity. We often get asked questions by folks. Especially when skiing around the mountain part of our "job" is to be helpful to people when they ask where trail goes or if they need any kind of assistance. One time I came across this girl that was heading down a steeper trail and she had fallen, was able to get back up but one ski popped off and due to the steepness she was having a hard time clicking back into her binding. She was pretty frazzled as she's trying to get her ski on, her cell phone was ringing and she was trying to meet up with her husband. I got her going and felt really good that I helped someone. At least we're skiing around but I imagine standing at a certain spot for what seems like hours at time might not seem as much fun but I get the perks of why people do it. We will likely be working as courtesy staff at Bromley in Vermont this winter so I'll have plenty of use for my Astis mittens and my boots with furry near the top. Will be mighty cold standing there but our perk is free skiing so ......
 

bounceswoosh

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
This book really intrigues me as fear of the consequences of getting it wrong definitely have an adverse effect on my mountain biking. It's less so with skiing and maybe it's because I feel I am a much more competent skier than I am a mountain biker.Maybe this year is the time to actually get some instruction on the bike.The thing I find most uncomfortable in skiing is being in a situation where falling can have terrible consequences.It makes me shudder to think of it.

Consider the book. It sounds right up your alley.
 

skibum4ever

Angel Diva
We have considered volunteering as Ski Hosts at Mammoth. One negative is that you have to be an "Indoor Host" for a couple of years before you can become an "Outdoor Host". If I'm at Mammoth, I want to be skiing not hanging around in the lodge.

The other negative is the stories I've heard about having to stand in one place for a couple of hours and give directions etc. I have no problem with doing that, except in a blizzard or extreme conditions, or when the volunteer for the next shift fails to show up and you have to put in a double shift.

It would be a nice way of "giving back" to my home mountain, but I fear it is not the right move for us.
 

dloveski

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I also am very nervous about Diva East because I have never skied with a bunch of people before and worry about everyone thinking I am a terrible skier. I also worry about being able to keep up with everyone, I want to go down cruiser runs and fun blues but what if we go on a black, what if, what if, what if......

Me too!! I have several reasons: I've never skied the East. I will rent skis (TBD). I have been sick past week and pretty much have been flat down. I am right now in DC on a business trip until I leave to VT. Altogether, my MoJo might be MoWhoa.....;-)

So, it will be interesting. My DH is so excited to come back to his old Stowe ski home where he taught his (now grown) kids to ski, where is has friends, and then to Killington where his best friend lives at base. I'm along for the ride.
 

ski diva

Administrator
Staff member
Me too!! I have several reasons: I've never skied the East. I will rent skis (TBD). I have been sick past week and pretty much have been flat down. I am right now in DC on a business trip until I leave to VT. Altogether, my MoJo might be MoWhoa.....;-)

So, it will be interesting. My DH is so excited to come back to his old Stowe ski home where he taught his (now grown) kids to ski, where is has friends, and then to Killington where his best friend lives at base. I'm along for the ride.

I was thinking of you last week, @dloveski , because with two feet of fluffy powder on the trails, we were seriously experiencing western-type conditions. You would've felt right at home. There's a freeze-thaw cycle going on now, so next week at Stowe is anyone's guess. Welcome to the east.

(BTW, you'll be fine.)
 

dloveski

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I was thinking of you last week, @dloveski , because with two feet of fluffy powder on the trails, we were seriously experiencing western-type conditions. You would've felt right at home. There's a freeze-thaw cycle going on now, so next week at Stowe is anyone's guess. Welcome to the east.

(BTW, you'll be fine.)

Powder is heaven, sorry I missed it. I can ski almost anything---except ice----which Utah isn't known for ;-)
 

newboots

Angel Diva
Powder is heaven, sorry I missed it. I can ski almost anything---except ice----which Utah isn't known for ;-)

Tune up for ice! I think we'll be on ice + slush, good-for-you conditions?

I've been sick, too, and I don't have my strength back at all. Still crossing my fingers.

This is a great thread, though! Everybody confessed their anxiety and shared ways to cope with it. Once I realized it was a year old, I didn't read the whole thing, but what a warm welcome for those [almost everybody] with some kind of performance or social anxiety. Count me in for both.
 

WileyAce

Certified Ski Diva
Glad to hear that I'm not the only one with nerves. Sounds silly, but each time I have been I get a bit nervous before I take any runs. Once I am on the hill I tend to loosen up and just have a good time. Last weekend I was able to get on blue/black runs at Mammoth for the first time and did great. Nothing like a good solid day to boost your confidence.
 

snowski/swimmouse

Angel Diva
Well, I'm another example. Driving to Stowe & Sugarbush just for the days at Diva East, I was first very fearful that I wouldn't even find the group, without which I'd never find my way around (can't find my way out of a paperbag!). I ~did~ find the group as they'd moved to the smaller lodge and SD had let me know. But, they'd already been skiing together so there wasn't that "orientation" run. I knew from Diva East at Whiteface, that I'd not keep up with the speedier group. I'm a not so great racer, but while I outrun my entire class in North Carolina, the steeper the slope, the slower I go. I try to always start the day on a green run to warm up, check conditions and check my coordination of the day (which can vary greatly!), but going with the "slower" group still took me up the gondola to what was ultimately a push-piled run, which was somewhat punishing to my knee. I did not comprehend that the "slow" group was ~not~ going back down to the bottom. When we restarted midway down, two of us were on a collision course so I steered uphill and when I turned back down noone was in site! I went to the bottom expecting to find them there, but noone was. Eventually I went back up the gondola, but still didn't find anyone. Then next round I did catch the "fast" group at the lift, but they were planning to go to a different part of the mountain, which involved going up a hill. I didn't get a chance to ask questions and between them aiming for black runs and the uphill, which my reconstructed leg wouldn't do, I thought following them would only get me into trouble which, unfortunately, I've wayyyy too much bad experience with. So, I ended up skiing the same two runs all day by myself, afraid of getting into trouble with noone to guide me out or even call for help. I even got the location of lunch wrong as I concluded the meetup location changed the lunch location. I figured the next day would be better. I very much enjoyed meeting divas I've seen on the site and renewing acquaintance with ones I'd met before, but I felt left out of some of the conversations at dinner as I'd not been skiing with any of them yet. Then I discovered that folks were bailing on Sugarbush due to predictions of rain. These were THE two most expensive lift tickets I'd ever bought, so there was no consideration of me bailing. As it turned out, it rained while I drove to Sugarbush, but stopped before I picked up my lift ticket. With firm and fast conditions, it was much more fun skiing for me but, once again, I was by myself on an unfamiliar mountain, not something I'd ever choose. The only place I want to ski alone is on a mountain I'm ~very~ familiar with. And even then, except when I was recovering last year, I'd always prefer to ski with others.

As for skiing with groups, like I do with my "Women On Wednesday" class, sometimes I go first (not so steep and good conditions when I'll "fly") and sometimes I'll go last (steep, icy, push piles...can you say "PANIC"?!?). Yes, I can be quite the scaredy mouse and my otherwise decent skills "can go to h___ in a handbasket" I can revert to come pretty lousy positions.....
I truly enjoy blacks in good conditions, but I'm terrified of getting going too fast when there's ice around, etc.....
 

bounceswoosh

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Sounds silly, but each time I have been I get a bit nervous before I take any runs.

I always get that way when I haven't done something in a while. Or sometimes even when I have. It sounds like you handle it well once you're there, so no worries. Over time, your comfort level will increase, and you'll only feel that way at the start of the season!
 

snowski/swimmouse

Angel Diva
I always get that way when I haven't done something in a while. Or sometimes even when I have. It sounds like you handle it well once you're there, so no worries. Over time, your comfort level will increase, and you'll only feel that way at the start of the season!
+1

p.s. I read this entire thread this evening with interest...
 

newboots

Angel Diva
@snowski/swimmouse

You have had the courage to put into words these things that many of us feel but rarely say! Not a timid act!

I am constantly afraid of scenarios like this. I was really nervous about Diva East because I'm such a new skier. New hills make me nervous, and even new trails on my home mountain. It turned out I was too sick to go. I was sad to miss the gathering but relieved not to face all these fears!
 

snowski/swimmouse

Angel Diva
I'd still love to ski with you @newboots, if skiing a weekday @ Okemo in the next two weeks is any possibility. You see, unlike many, I don't have to be challenged everytime I get on skis. If the green run is in the best condition (as was the case Saturday at Suicide Six) I can enjoy it all day long. As they say "Any day of skiing beats any day of work!"
Eek!
 

diymom

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I definitely start slow and work my way up at a new hill. Or even stay on the easier slopes if I am having fun there. I'm always a little hesitant about what might be hiding around the corner, or over the ledge. Also not knowing yet how the blue the blue is-- how does it compare to what is called a blue at my home hill.
 

MaineSkiLady

Angel Diva
As a curious add-on to this thread, DS and DH recently attended PSIA/AASI clinics at Sugarbush, VT. There was a lot going on: a L3 Alpine exam had just happened, and a L1 Alpine exam was in progress. This was in addition to all kinds of workshop clinics and other exams.

DH had a woman clinic leader whom he later related to me as having an odd name: Mermer. YES, THE Mermer Blakeslee! He was astounded that I blurted out her last name, without hesitation. He said she had a strong, race-influenced ski style.

Many examiners were present from all over the eastern division. One was seen from the chairlift escorting a rather timid female down a steep, somewhat bumpy run. On the chairlift with DH was an examiner who knew this person doing the escorting - and knew he was testing L1 Alpine in that region of the resort.

It is quite unusual for an examiner to break from a group like this.

Anyway, both of them had a great time, with DS spending a lot of free ride time with one of his L3 examiners from 13 years prior : )
 

newboots

Angel Diva
I'd still love to ski with you @newboots, if skiing a weekday @ Okemo in the next two weeks is any possibility. You see, unlike many, I don't have to be challenged everytime I get on skis. If the green run is in the best condition (as was the case Saturday at Suicide Six) I can enjoy it all day long. As they say "Any day of skiing beats any day of work!"
Eek!

Wow, I am not sure how I missed this! Next year, we must!

Did I post that just 6 weeks ago? I'm much more confident now! I hope I don't have to start over at the beginning next year.
 

snowski/swimmouse

Angel Diva
The first day or two of each season show great rust, but after that you'll be right back where you were this season! The instructors call it "muscle memory".

We can ski Okemo, Pico, Suicide Six or even Quechee; I ski all of those when I'm it VT!
(I usually ski the smaller mountains on the weekends to avoid the crowds and costs...)
 
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