Advice for a friend getting back into skiing

[Puppyski]

I have a friend who is getting back into skiing after 25 years. I want to make sure she has a great experience on her first days back on the slopes, so was hoping for some Diva wisdom.

She skied for a few seasons in high school in Ohio at Brandywine and Boston Mills and realizes that those two hills have almost nothing in common with Mammoth, where she is going. She did say she worked up to skiing blacks back in the day. But Ohio blacks.

Based on the years she skied, I am not sure if she skied on straight or shaped skis. It has been a long time, regardless, since she was on skis.

She understands that lessons are a must. I saw that Mammoth had some good lessons/rental/lift ticket packages for beginners. But I wonder if a first time beginner lesson is right for her? She is a lifelong runner, and does yoga pretty regularly. And she said she took to skiing pretty quickly the first time—as a teenager on a smaller hill, or course.

The beginner packages are financial attractive, but I want to make sure I point her in the right direction so that her first days back are positive and fun. My guess is that the right place for her would be a progressing beginner lesson, what they called ‘B’ lessons when I was learning to ski—as opposed to an ‘A’ lesson first time beginner.

I won’t be with her on the trip, so I cannot watch her ski and assess—and I am not a ski instructor, so not sure if my assessment would be the right one anyway.

She also just started her older child in lessons, so she will be juggling that as she tries to start back up herself.

Thanks in advance for any advice and wisdom!

 

[Aerlind]

I took a 15+ year hiatus from skiing. I skied as a child (I don’t remember learning, I literally started at age 2), and got to be able to do single blacks and maybe the odd easier double black slowly, in Colorado. I skied about 5 times total during my hiatus, and picked it back up seriously about 3 years ago.

You don’t forget how. You do lose some muscle memory, but if the basics were there in the first place, your body will remember them.

I was lucky enough to ski with a few folks who were significantly better and were able to give me some individual coaching, which resulted in my skills vastly improving in the last year. I’m lucky these people are also my friends, so their advice was free (or at least able to be compensated for with a beverage or two apres… ), but in your friend’s case I’d recommend a private lesson rather than a true never-skied-before beginner lesson. Even a 1-hour private lesson would get her started, but a half day would be better. That way she can have someone assess her at her level, and give her tips to progress.

 

[ExpertOnBlueRuns]

I took a 15+ year hiatus from skiing. I skied as a child (I don’t remember learning, I literally started at age 2), and got to be able to do single blacks and maybe the odd easier double black slowly, in Colorado. I skied about 5 times total during my hiatus, and picked it back up seriously about 3 years ago.

You don’t forget how. You do lose some muscle memory, but if the basics were there in the first place, your body will remember them.

I was lucky enough to ski with a few folks who were significantly better and were able to give me some individual coaching, which resulted in my skills vastly improving in the last year. I’m lucky these people are also my friends, so their advice was free (or at least able to be compensated for with a beverage or two apres… ), but in your friend’s case I’d recommend a private lesson rather than a true never-skied-before beginner lesson. Even a 1-hour private lesson would get her started, but a half day would be better. That way she can have someone assess her at her level, and give her tips to progress.

Yes I was thinking the same thing. It looks like Mammoth offers an “early bird” 1 hour private lesson for $169. I would have her do that first and then the instructor can recommend the right level for group lessons. I suspect she will pick it back up pretty quickly.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

I think the above suggestions are fantastic. The other option if she feels comfortable trying it is to go out and ski by herself for an hour on a green run so that when she shows up for her group novice lesson definitely not first day beginner she would be a little bit back to skiing rather than having the run that they use to decide which group she should go in be her first run in that many years if that makes any sense. But of course that depends on her comfort level. If not the private lesson first would of course be advantageous to determine where she belongs ability wise.

 

[GladeDuchess]

I found getting back into skiing after 30 years a right bit intimidating. I started out on green dots as though I was totally new and saw how things progressed. I just wanted to get reacquainted with old skills and new skis, and also learn my new limits as it was a different ball of yarn at middle age, vs. an indestructible child. I quickly moved from the easiest slopes to the easier blues where I plateaued, and then needed some lessons and effort to advance from there.

Kudos to your mate though for giving it a go and getting back out there!

 

[scandium]

Private rather than beginner for sure! I can't imagine a beginner lesson would cater to her needs nearly as well. However, I would suggest she skis for at least a couple of runs just to get the feel of being back on snow before the lesson. I imagine she will be a bit better than a never-ever beginner and depending on how she goes on those runs she may be more likely to need intermediate-level instruction.

 

[echo_VT]

If she doesn’t go for the private — Each hill is different in how they would approach this, when speaking to the ski school in advance or on the day, they will be able to help direct her. We typically see regression from year to year as well (like if the last time skied was last season), so for multiple years or decades it could be tough. No matter where she is ability-wise, it’s important to know that everyone responds differently when being reintroduced to the sport — and wherever she is, is OK. Mental state from kid to adult also changes as well as tolerance levels for risk. Agreed that Lessons is 100% the way to go.

 

[Puppyski]

Thank you all so much for this advice! The base area she is staying near has some more difficult intermediate runs, so I am really worried about her getting in over her head, hurting herself, or hating skiing. I am sharing this advice with her, and am so grateful for it!

I just saw a notification on my Ikon App that for the next few weeks, any friends and family discounts I share will be worth 50 percent off, instead of 25 percent. Hopefully that can create more room in the budget for lessons for her and her son.