Worst ski advice you've ever received.

[mountainwest]

You wanna hear nuts? You won't believe this, but every time I mention, while riding on the lift, how much trouble I am having in powder: "You should sit back a little." Every. Time.

Now I ask for powder advice just to see what people say. Every. Time. I get the same answer.

Wow. Well at least you know that’s bad advice!

 

[Kimmyt]

That reminds me of bad advice given to a friend at Massanutten. She learned as a adult when the family got started because her youngest daughter had a Girl Scout ski weekend in WV. She did the never-ever lesson at Mnut, and person a beginner lesson or two after that. What stuck in her mind was the idea of falling as a last resort when out of control when going "too fast." Unfortunately that's what she remembered a few years later when skiing on a black trail (blue at any big mountain). She ended up sliding off the side of the trail (all manmade snow) and broke her leg.

When I was 'learning' to ski in PA a friend told me that if I couldn't stop to just fall. She may have been joking but I really didn't know how to stop and so did a lot of falling. This was in college, so I was young and dumb and didn't ski again for years because of how terrifying it was. Then I took a lesson and actually learned to ski and realized that it could be fun and not death defying.

 

[alison wong]

What stuck in her mind was the idea of falling as a last resort when out of control when going "too fast."

So what should you tell a never ever do then? Reason for my asking, my friend and her family will be going to 7 springs 3 days during xmas break for skiing. Now I wonder, what should I tell her advice wise? I mean falling as a last resort does sound intuitive to me.... no?

When I was 'learning' to ski in PA a friend told me that if I couldn't stop to just fall. She may have been joking but I really didn't know how to stop and so did a lot of falling.

That's what I did also when I first learned skiing. Glad I wasn't alone on this! Whenever I felt I was gaining speed and at a pace I could not slow down, I chose to fall. I fell very often when I was a beginner.

 

[marzNC]

So what should you tell a never ever do then? Reason for my asking, my friend and her family will be going to 7 springs 3 days during xmas break for skiing. Now I wonder, what should I tell her advice wise? I mean falling as a last resort does sound intuitive to me.... no?

What I told my friend afterwards was that the idea of falling to stop might work on green runs, but did not apply to blues and certainly not to blacks, not even Mid-A blacks.

Falling is one thing. Deliberately deciding to fall as a first choice over doing anything else . . . not the best approach. Have to ask an instructor for a better alternative.

 

[Skier31]

What I told my friend afterwards was that the idea of falling to stop might work on green runs, but did not apply to blues and certainly not to blacks, not even Mid-A blacks.

Falling is one thing. Deliberately deciding to fall as a first choice over doing anything else . . . not the best approach. Have to ask an instructor for a better alternative.

Turning across and almost up the hill to a stop is a much safer alternative. If someone is on a blue or black, they should be able to turn across the hill.

 

[Tvan]

So what should you tell a never ever do then? Reason for my asking, my friend and her family will be going to 7 springs 3 days during xmas break for skiing. Now I wonder, what should I tell her advice wise?

My favorite advice for never-evers is “take a lesson so you can learn how to turn and how to stop.”

 

[kiki]

Agreeing with @Tvan being acle to stop cleanly is really important for personal safety as well as safely of others

 

[geargrrl]

Sit back in powder? That advice is so 1990.

 

[Belgiangirl]

Sit back in powder? That advice is so 1990.

I'm a bit hesitant to post this as I'll look a bit like an idiot, but I was genuinely surprised to read that sitting back is considered bad advice. In my defense, my last instructor lesson was in the 90's Can't wait to improve my powder technique on a proper pair of skis this winter!

On topic: I haven't had a lot of (bad) advice on technique, but a lot of bad advice on gear. The guy who insisted my newer, bigger boots would fit my old frame bindings takes the cake. Spoiler: they were too big for the bindings, so they didn't release when they should have. I twisted my knee and had knee issues for months.

 

[geargrrl]

It's what you had to do to keep narrow skis from diving into the snow. In heavy crud you have to adjust COG a little bit to drive the skis but I wouldn't call it sitting back.

 

[QCskier]

Most of the advice I've not liked has been to ski less, to stay home amd take it easy, not to push myself. Most people say I'm crazy to get up at 4 in the morning and spend 3 hours each way driving to and from the ski hill, and that i shouldn't spend money so much money on gas, on gear and skiing overall.

I get this all the time. I usually get up at 5-5:30 for skiing so non-skiers think I am crazy for doing this on the weekend when I could be sleeping in.

 

[Powgirl]

I'm a bit hesitant to post this as I'll look a bit like an idiot, but I was genuinely surprised to read that sitting back is considered bad advice. In my defense, my last instructor lesson was in the 90's Can't wait to improve my powder technique on a proper pair of skis this winter!

On topic: I haven't had a lot of (bad) advice on technique, but a lot of bad advice on gear. The guy who insisted my newer, bigger boots would fit my old frame bindings takes the cake. Spoiler: they were too big for the bindings, so they didn't release when they should have. I twisted my knee and had knee issues for months.

I think it depends on the width of your ski...I can ski foot deep powder on my 80 underfoot skis, tho the shovel is 120 with rocker...I do pressure my heels when in powder to keep the tips up without leaning too far back...it's so fun!!

I also have to say I've never really received bad advice...sometimes I'm not always ready to hear it, but it's always been pretty spot on.

 

[Jilly]

I was always told, lift your toes, don't sit back!

 

[santacruz skier]

I was always told, lift your toes, don't sit back!

Isn't that good advice? Taos instructor said lift your toes....

 

[Jilly]

Yes, I was commenting on the sit back in powder tip.

 

[ski diva]

I'm a bit hesitant to post this as I'll look a bit like an idiot, but I was genuinely surprised to read that sitting back is considered bad advice.

Powder skiing is a great topic for discussion, and we have a number of threads that may be worth checking out:

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/skiing-in-powder-vs-skiing-groomed-runs.259/

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/powder-ski-tips.1581/

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/powder-skiing-tips.971/

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/skiing-in-fresh-powder.6134/

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/skiing-powder.2206/

 

[elemmac]

The usual suspects of bad advice (generally said tongue in cheek, but easily taken the wrong way):
- Go big or go home
- Go fast, take chances
- Just send it

 

[Abbi]

Worst skiing advice: “You only need one ski jacket.”

I just mentally counted five but I think I’m taking with me to VT! That does not include the ones I don’t wear anymore and should probably sell or donate! I often wonder why my financial planner has not just given up on me!

 

[Fluffy Kitty]

I often wonder why my financial planner has not just given up on me!

If your financial planner gives you s%$^ about your jackets, ask them how often they buy a new car.

 

[Abbi]

If your financial planner gives you s%$^ about your jackets, ask them how often they buy a new car.

LOL - actually not that often since he moved into an urban area! Truthfully I'm sure it's more the seasonal rental, equipment, passes and the money pit, aka my sailboat racing habit! I have said I will try and expire the day after I spend my last dollar living well!