After a good outing, a bad outing…feeling defeated (newbie here)

[EeveeCanSki]

Having been used to sliding, I'm fortunate that it makes more sense to think fun thank goodness. That I didn't have such a feeling of fun this past weekend and fear crept in, it broke my heart, but from that experience is coming valuable lessons now that I'm feeling better. When I went the prior time and was sliding down the hills, I had this thought--"omg, this is fun, I can DO this and do it safely!" I only wish my legs hadn't given out on me. I was so nervous that I didn't eat much that day and when SO and I were about 1/4 the way down the resort's steepest green, on our way to a more gentle green, my legs began trembling and felt like dead weight. I had to pop the skis and walk down a ways until he could escort me down on my skis when we reached a more flat area. But hey, I did get the feeling for part of that steeper green!

 

[bounceswoosh]

Oh that steep got me the first time I ever put on skis, and pitch changes get to me now! Two weeks ago when I was going down the mid-tier green at my hill, a pitch change caught me off guard and I could not get my control back.

If it helps - I ski the steepest terrain on my mountain, but when I get to a change in pitch on any run, blue green whatever, it still gets my attention - even though the steeper pitch is still a lot less steep than I usually ski. Something about that change ...

For me, when I was finding my edges whether on the shorter skis or the longer ones, I felt much more secure--a skid on skates is, at many times, not desirable (plus my training in my adult years focused more on edgework and power rather than freestyle).

Yes. Edges feel more secure. But if you're on edge, you're speeding up, and as you get to steeper terrain (or in crowds), that is often not desirable. I hate the term "skidding" because it sounds like something negative. I like the word "smearing," or the lovely-sounding "blended turn."

Believe it or not, this season my lesson series has been entirely about flattening onto your bases, which makes it much easier to control speed, and is vital to bump skiing.

Another thing - which it's probably too early to worry about, but maybe not, maybe you can save yourself having to undo a lifetime of bad habits - is that being on edge for security often means tipping your body back against the mountain where you've been, rather than getting forward down the mountain toward where you're going. Because you're on edge but not in the right position for downhill movement, it is more difficult to start the next turn, and you can end up slingshotting across the hill rather than going into a controlled turn down the hill.

This may not be an issue for you due to your skating background; I don't know. There are limits to how similar skiing and skating are. Not only the obvious - flat sheet of ice vs tilted variable snow - but also, the construction of a ski is different than that of an ice skate. Ice skate blades are all edge, with a tiny balance point of flat (as I recall). Skis have a wide flat section ("base"), with edges only on either side. Skis have camber and/or rocker ("reverse camber"), which is intended to flatten as you turn and then "pop" you out again - skate blades don't flex.

 

[newboots]

Yes, I am just learning the advantages of really getting forward while headed downhill. Astonishing how much better control this gives! When I forget, the out-of-control tense legs thing takes over.

 

[EeveeCanSki]

Eevee can ski after all!

I received so many nice and helpful comments above that I wanted to check in once again--this time, happy and confident. No tears in my beer this past weekend after skiing in challenging conditions that were less than ideal for troubleshooting, but darn it I feel I got stuff done. Managing to soldier through warm temperatures, icy and ungroomed slopes, and rain (and some hail!) is probably enough to boost anyone's sense of accomplishment when first starting out. This weekend was my third overall concerted effort on skis out of five times; thus, this has been my breakthrough winter of sorts in which I've felt the inspiration to keep going and learn more about the pleasures of skiing.

My first post described how frustrated I felt on new skis when the rental pair of I hired prior got me moving down the hill well. I tried the new skis once again and while they felt a bit better this time out, I still did not have the sense of control and agility that I feel I need for navigating crowded slopes. Edge grip felt better, and I think I was using more force on the ski, but linking turns was difficult once again. I switched back to the rental pair I had previously that was shorter and had a different profile, and once again I was linking turns much more happily. My instructor and I took a good hard look at both skis, and we feel that the wider shovel and more generous sidecut on the rental pair (125-75-103 @136 vs 115-75-106 @142) had a lot to do with how it felt better to turn those, and overall this may better suit me for now. I was nearly parallel at the end of my turns on the ski with the wider shovel.

Even on the shorter ski I felt plenty stable, even when kicking up a little speed (per my instructor anyway ) on the mid-level green at my hill (which becomes more like a blue towards the end...and freaks me out...but I digress). As I progress though, I do indeed wonder for how long this feeling will hold on these particular skis. However, I don't ever see myself skiing for speed; rather, my overall goal is to ski with control and an even cadence--and my current skiing reality is that we may go 4-6 times in a season. So my progression may not be very fast, but some consistent equipment that feels good on my feet on which to keep learning would be desirable, even if only for a season or two.

I'm feeling good with where I'm at after this weekend. I've found my happy place at a hill with slopes upon which I feel confident and safe, and a fantastic instructor with whom I plan to continue next season. Hopefully nature won't play hardball with us either and give us some more seasonable weather next year too, and I can start to explore some more slopes (some longer greens would be nice)!

 

[bounceswoosh]

 

[newboots]

@EeveeCanSki

I'm so excited for your progress! I am a beginner also, and I've been so pleased at the progress I've made by skiing as often as I can, and taking lessons. Such a feeling of accomplishment!

 

[EeveeCanSki]

@EeveeCanSki

I'm so excited for your progress! I am a beginner also, and I've been so pleased at the progress I've made by skiing as often as I can, and taking lessons. Such a feeling of accomplishment!

Thanks--I just wish I had more time to get out there!! And more time out on the slopes to overcome some fear--I tend to psych myself out when I sense a pitch change or too much traffic around me, but as long as someone I trust is nearby I can work through it, even if they have to escort me down to a more gentle area and I can resume. As long as I feel I've learned something new or leave with an appreciation for something I didn't have the previous time out, it's a good day !

 

[Marta_P]

I completely understand the one step forward, two steps back challenges! I started skiing about 5 years ago and some days I had such anxiety about the pitch on greens that I literally almost cried. And then the next week, all would be fine and I'd be zooming down. I'm a researcher by nature, so I've analyzed it every which way and I think I've finally narrowed it down to the fact that for me, for some crazy reason, I really shouldn't ski when it is that time of month (sorry, TMI!!!!). I know that sounds crazy! I only get to ski 3 or 4 times a year usually, so until this year, I'd never given it any thought. This year, the timing has always worked in my favor and my skiing has been super. I've even moved to some easy blues. It sounds like you are really enjoying yourself so don't give up! Kudos to you for trying to figure it out and good luck!

 

[EeveeCanSki]

I completely understand the one step forward, two steps back challenges! I started skiing about 5 years ago and some days I had such anxiety about the pitch on greens that I literally almost cried. And then the next week, all would be fine and I'd be zooming down. I'm a researcher by nature, so I've analyzed it every which way and I think I've finally narrowed it down to the fact that for me, for some crazy reason, I really shouldn't ski when it is that time of month (sorry, TMI!!!!). I know that sounds crazy! I only get to ski 3 or 4 times a year usually, so until this year, I'd never given it any thought. This year, the timing has always worked in my favor and my skiing has been super. I've even moved to some easy blues. It sounds like you are really enjoying yourself so don't give up! Kudos to you for trying to figure it out and good luck!

Not TMI at all--I completely understand, and am the same way! I am best sticking to stuff that isn't as hazardous during that time because my balance tends to be off just before and just after the start of, ahem, things... Fortunately for me too my skiing days worked out when I felt strong.

I'm a researcher as well so I'll seriously analyze everything that I'm doing, and especially the *why* of not skiing as well as I had hoped bugged the living mess out of me. It can be hard for me to turn my brain off on the hill. Still, between my last time out and this one, what I read up on per ski design and mechanics of steering the skis in turns served me well to figure out what's going to work best for me. And yes, really enjoying myself too!

 

[EAVL]

Boy have I been there!! I am in my 4th season skiing and I go every weekend all season and the start of this season I had such a bad day (after finally getting to mostly good ones) that I told my husband I wasn't sure I should even get a pass next year! A couple of weeks ago I had a meltdown skiing a steep blue next to a black (I think it should have been black) with my husband. I told myself it was ok if I stayed on easy blue and green groomers and ski slow forever. Not everyone needs to be an advanced or expert skier! My family are all fearless and good at what they do so they don't like this attitude. Well then I demoed different skis this weekend and my life changed! I do believe the right ski can make all the difference. I bought short ones my first season and they allowed me to progress quickly but I have now learned they have been holding me back. My first season my husband talked me into tryingna long, fat, twin tipped ski like he has and I felt like a semi coming down the hill with my brakes on fire! Awful!! Today I could handle that ski, but not then. I just tried, loved and bought a ski that sounded like way too much for my intermediate level online. It was a big jump in length, width and stiffness from my current skis. It took a couple runs to get the hang of it, I felt like I had to take charge of it before it took me for a ride, but I did and with each run I was having more fun. It likes to go fast and was so stable at speed I was ok with it. I also think I could handle that blue/black run with it! I think if you find the right ski it can be so confidence building. As I told my daughter recently, after she bought a snowboard she ended up hating, she can always sell it! She did and bought another one that better suits her needs and she loves it. Maybe your skis will work for you next season after some more practice. I hope you continue to try and grow to love skiing!!