Are you self-taught?

[ski diva]

Who here has never had a lesson, or has had a lesson maybe once or twice? And if not, how'd you learn to ski?

I LOVE lessons myself. That's how I learned to ski, and I though I haven't taken one in about five years, I always find them valuable when I do. I did get some informal instruction this year from a couple of instructors from Copper (ssh and Bong from Epic) during a trip to Steamboat, and from our own tcarey at Okemo, too (thanks, Terry!).

 

[lil mountain girl]

ok, i'll bite!

i'm self taught . . . 3 seasons of flailing wildly :D

well, i guess before i skied, i snowboarded with other riders but also lots of skiers, so before i even tried to ski i was riding with killer-good skiers and watching them rip for 10 yrs. or so -- i think it helps!

also, i have good friends who either are ski instructors or former ski instructors who were willing to help a girl out (yay free lesson!) :D

 

[SnowHot]

Self taught for over 20 years.
First formal lesson was at ESA Stowe! Loved it!

Then off to Okemo for Diva Day on March 30th.
Tcarey and Cnewbound tried to whack me with my pole but my poles were too short so they couldn't reach me:D

 

[Pequenita]

I've taken 3 lessons, in 1983, 1990 and 2006. The first was how to ski, the second was how to race, and the third was powder skiing and baby bumps.

 

[ski diva]

Bump!

Anyone else?

 

[pinto]

Yes. I've had 2 or 3 lessons.

 

[Ski Spirit]

Definitely not self taught -- not at all natural at picking up athletic skills (but relentless in my pursuit of knowledge and a definite believer in the Sports Diamond concept that skill development is optimal when not just focused on technique)-various group lessons (helpful but not usually focused and concentrated w/some exceptions), a 2 hr private lesson in Park City which was really helpful. I'm thinking of trying a women's clinic this year if my schedule permit but may focus instead on several private lessons (unfortunately I'm a slow learner...but I do have a great attitude and I love every minute!)

Here's a link to the book by Weems Westfeldt on the Sports Diamond called "Brilliant Skiing"--it's available for free to download from the web or you can order ............https://www.edgechange.com/skiing.asp

 

[abc]

How old were you, those who're self-taught?

I'm "usually" a self-taught person on a lot of sports. But skiing scare the heck out of me, those 2 meter long planks that are attachd to my feet!!! (what's the sign for "shaking like a leave"?) ;)

And I was already in my late 20's when I started, an age mortality set in... :(

So, it was lesson or no skiing. But since I lived in the snowbult (Michigan), not skiing would mean very boring and confined in those long winters. I took the lesser of two evil and took a lesson.

Turned out I wasn't a very good student. :( I was the only one not able to get up with the rope tow at the end of the class!!! :( So, it's more lesson again...

Good things though, I usually ended up being the only one (sometimes 2) student in those "group" class the resorts dutyfully offer. I think most locals learn to ski as kids and don't need adult beginer lessons. ;)

Anyway, I was NOT self-taught. And I found lessons can be benefitial, and sometimes even fun. So I went back whenever I found myself stuck at some level not able to break through. Some lessons are more succeseful than others though. And being a poor students, I seeked out cheap offers, which may or may not be the best instructors I got, but I didn't know enough to tell the difference anyway then...

 

[cyn]

I'm mostly self-taught. Not to date myself or anything, but when my sister and I were kids, skiing meant wooden skis (edges came later) with bear trap bindings, and climbing up the hills before skiing down them. I remember how much snow there was back then - tons! When we'd fall we'd be buried in the stuff.

Then I graduated to the rope tow at the small ski hill on Mt. Royal in Montreal. The first time I skied a bigger mountain, I just pointed my skis downhill and took off - until I reached a very frightening speed and fell in order to stop myself. It was then that I realized I had to make some turns!

I've been lucky to have skied with some excellent skiers who taught me what I needed to know. I have also taken a couple of lessons when we've been on ski trips, and those have been really helpful. I'll take more lessons if the opportunity arises for sure.

 

[altagirl]

I started skiing in Michigan with a school ski club in 5th grade. Lessons were mandatory until you passed each level (I think there were 7 levels). They gave you a little colored patch for each level you passed, and when you got your "black patch" you were free to just go skiing and not take lessons anymore.

Since then... I did some race clinics for recreational racing. And I've done 4 ski camps. Snowbird Steeps Camp, a women's camp at Silverton with Wendy Fischer, and two Straightline Adventures camps w/Gordy Peifer. (which have been the most useful - lots of video analysis and excellent coaches.)

Oh, and a tele lesson a few years ago at Alta.


I think I'll probably do one of Gordy's camps every year. Video analysis may as well be called "public humiliation", but it's good for me. ;)

 

[abc]

Video analysis may as well be called "public humiliation", but it's good for me.

I thought that's one of the best thing since sliced bread! The first time I saw myself on video, I was shock that I wasn't half as good as I thought! :(

The thing is, the "humiliation" was always "public".;) Video just allow the "owner" see for the first time what the "public" always see! :(

 

[altagirl]

I thought that's one of the best thing since sliced bread! The first time I saw myself on video, I was shock that I wasn't half as good as I thought! :(

The thing is, the "humiliation" was always "public".;) Video just allow the "owner" see for the first time what the "public" always see! :(

While that's true - the public observer does not have a remote control to go through every out of place hand or moment in the backseat frame by frame... and rewind it to show it again and again... and again...

;)

Though I will say, that it makes those rare moments where Gordy didn't come up with anything to complain about make me want to throw a party! :D

 

[volklgirl]

I started skiing in Michigan with a school ski club in 5th grade. Lessons were mandatory until you passed each level (I think there were 7 levels). They gave you a little colored patch for each level you passed, and when you got your "black patch" you were free to just go skiing and not take lessons anymore.

OMG! You learned to ski at Mt Holly or Pine Knob!!! :D :D :D I taught those lessons for 4 years - what a great program!

I took a lesson first time out then winged it from there. The best thing I ever did for my skiing was taking the 2 day hiring clinic at Mt Holly....you learned a lot about yourself and your skiing in those 2 days. Of course, as an instructor, I'm constantly taking clinics (the fancy word for lessons for teachers ).

 

[altagirl]

OMG! You learned to ski at Mt Holly or Pine Knob!!! :D :D :D I taught those lessons for 4 years - what a great program!

I took a lesson first time out then winged it from there. The best thing I ever did for my skiing was taking the 2 day hiring clinic at Mt Holly....you learned a lot about yourself and your skiing in those 2 days. Of course, as an instructor, I'm constantly taking clinics (the fancy word for lessons for teachers ).

Mt. Brighton actually. I keep wondering how much of it I'd even recognize. I haven't been there in.... 19 years.

 

[Jilly]

When I started skiing, lessons were included in the membership. So every weekend there were lessons. But what are you going to teach a 6 year old, back in the 60's. So for about 5 years we had these lessons. More like group ski alongs. I'm not even sure now if any of the instructors were certified, or could just ski. Since 1982 I've been a member of the CSIA and like volklgirl, I take clinics every year.
Video anaylsis is absolutely fabulous. Like abc I thought I was doing good. Well I was still standing up and not low to the ground like they want now for craving. Bought a new video camera and do my own every now and then.

 

[Shellski]

I have two or three private lessons per season with the same instructor, he's the top guy at our local resort, and one of the top instructors at Telluride. We just work on refining one thing at a time.

I think finding someone who suits your learning style and sticking with them is the best way. My husband and I always share the lesson (although he is a much better technical skier than me) that way we can 'coach' each other outside of the lesson.

I'm very hard to teach, it takes me ages to make any kind of improvement, but I have seen friends go from raw beginners to accomplished skiers so quickly due to this guys teaching, he is a very good instructor.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

Mom & Dad taught me to ski.....and then I learned how to ski through lessons and the "Buffalo Ski Club" in Colorado.

As an adult, I've had lessons on bumps and skiing the "new" type of ski. What is being called "Carving" is the way that I learned how to ski as a teenager!

 

[playoutside]

Mostly...
I took lessons when I was five which were a lot about how to fall, how to get up, how to ride the t-bar and how to do a snow plow.

Then I did a WAA at Okemo 3 seasons ago. Never before spent so much focused time thinking about my skiing...rest of the season I felt like there was a little person on my shoulder reminding me to do one thing or another.

Everything in between (all 20+ years) was all me, especially some of the bad habits I'm now more aware of and am fighting to break.

Planning another WAA this season and will see if they can beat some of my nasty habits out of me.