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Do men and women perceive their skiing abilities differently?
- Thread starter Kimmyt
- Start date
num
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I dunno about in general, but I do think that some instructors and the like expect women to downplay their skill level and expect men to exaggerate theirs. I know that personally, I've looked at what level breakdowns, [in my opinion] honestly picked the level I thought applied to me, used it when the ski school desk asks what level I ski at (when requesting a private lesson) and gotten an instructor who thought I'd be a way more advanced skier than I am.
Specifically, I called myself a level 5 while skiing greens and blues parallel, mostly carving but skidding some, working on a more fluid pole plant. My instructor expected much more advanced skiing from me, and I felt that he expected that calling myself a level 5 skier would mean I was a level 7 skier, as I'm a woman and would undercut my level. I found it annoying.
Specifically, I called myself a level 5 while skiing greens and blues parallel, mostly carving but skidding some, working on a more fluid pole plant. My instructor expected much more advanced skiing from me, and I felt that he expected that calling myself a level 5 skier would mean I was a level 7 skier, as I'm a woman and would undercut my level. I found it annoying.
LilaBear
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
In general I'd say yes. Men will claim prowess that they might not have, however they usually can get down those runs that they claim, just that the skill level has no finesse. On the other hand I find that women will not claim to be able to ski the terrain (even after they have just done so) unless they can do it with total control.
Lola had a great comment on control in the Zen of skiing where she says she finally understood that control was being in total balance in order to be able to adapt to the situation and to changes.
Lola had a great comment on control in the Zen of skiing where she says she finally understood that control was being in total balance in order to be able to adapt to the situation and to changes.
veggielasagna
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
My experience (although limited) has actually been the opposite with women. I have skied with men, but in a friendly setting where there really was no competition, challenge or talking about skill level.
I have skied with women the past year (some in groups, some solo) through lessons and what have you and found that (what seems like) a majority over estimate skill level as well. Myself included I think : ).
At the same time I don't think it is intentional since there is not a clear standard. I know the levels 1-9, but they vary and are open to (alot) of interpretation which is where the uncertainty of a true skill level comes in.
Vague generalizations such as beginner, intermediate and expert don't really help either...that intermediate zone is HUGE.
Just some babbling thoughts, I kind of wondered what was up with my experiences seeming to be against the "norm." I really think it is an individual thing; I do not ever like to generalize about men and women..not every woman underestimates and not every man over type of thing. There could be other factors such as age of course...who knows.
-veggielasagna
I have skied with women the past year (some in groups, some solo) through lessons and what have you and found that (what seems like) a majority over estimate skill level as well. Myself included I think : ).
At the same time I don't think it is intentional since there is not a clear standard. I know the levels 1-9, but they vary and are open to (alot) of interpretation which is where the uncertainty of a true skill level comes in.
Vague generalizations such as beginner, intermediate and expert don't really help either...that intermediate zone is HUGE.
Just some babbling thoughts, I kind of wondered what was up with my experiences seeming to be against the "norm." I really think it is an individual thing; I do not ever like to generalize about men and women..not every woman underestimates and not every man over type of thing. There could be other factors such as age of course...who knows.
-veggielasagna
DawnSuiter
Certified Ski Diva
ski levels 1-9????
I have never seen this complete list... anyone know where I can find it? I just finished a ski school website for here in the East, and we only list levels 1-5 just like at the local resorts.... according to THAT list, I'm a level 3 skigal
I have never seen this complete list... anyone know where I can find it? I just finished a ski school website for here in the East, and we only list levels 1-5 just like at the local resorts.... according to THAT list, I'm a level 3 skigal
Robyn
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Here's a page that lists the levels 1-9. I've actually not heard of using a 1-5 system.
https://skiing.about.com/od/downhillskiing/a/abilitylevels.htm
DawnSuiter
Certified Ski Diva
Thanks! By that chart I'm a level 5 working on a 6 this season for sure.
Here's an example of what I've seen locally, of course they only time this is used is when your renting skis, so I don't know that they ALL use this.. but just FYI here is a local example
Here's an example of what I've seen locally, of course they only time this is used is when your renting skis, so I don't know that they ALL use this.. but just FYI here is a local example
num
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Interesting. I've never seen that, am used to 1-9. Thanks for sharing!
As a simple to the answer of the thread title, from someone who helps with clinic surveys, I can answer with a simple word......Yes!
There are a few instances where women will exaggerate their skill level on a clinic survey, but most often, if a woman says she is advanced, she could be an expert, where as a man who says he is an expert may be advanced, or gad zooks, intermediate.
There are exceptions
There are a few instances where women will exaggerate their skill level on a clinic survey, but most often, if a woman says she is advanced, she could be an expert, where as a man who says he is an expert may be advanced, or gad zooks, intermediate.
There are exceptions
Well, one of the problems with the whole rating system is that it's trying to apply an overall skill level to a sport where there are a lot of different areas. And depending on where you ski - you also may not have much exposure to different types of snow. I see plenty of skiers who have excellent form (or even race well) and are great on groomed snow, ice, etc. but they've never skied deep powder and freeze up or just don't know what to do. And other skiers who can tear it up in deep powder but can't ski down an icy groomer for anything (because it's a rarity for them). And people like me who avoid big ice bumps like the plague so my only aim on the rare occasions I can't otherwise avoid them is to survive and get somewhere else. Certainly, once you have the basics down, most of that is in your head. The general principles are all the same - it's mostly uncertainty that makes people stiffen up and lose their form, but it definitely creates real performance problems!
I also think that while there are the stereotypical differences between men and women evaluating their abilities, I think the biggest general difference comes from the level of experience. There is this thing when you start out, that you think - well, they rate the trails, so once I can ski a black diamond or double black (depending on what the hardest thing at your local mountain is) - I'm as good as it gets! Um... It takes some exposure to see what's really out there in terms of difficulty and skill before you can even realize the magnitude of how big the gap is between "can ski an 'expert' run" and "can ski anything on the mountain" (which, depending on the mountain can mean some almost unfathomable lines...)
I also think that while there are the stereotypical differences between men and women evaluating their abilities, I think the biggest general difference comes from the level of experience. There is this thing when you start out, that you think - well, they rate the trails, so once I can ski a black diamond or double black (depending on what the hardest thing at your local mountain is) - I'm as good as it gets! Um... It takes some exposure to see what's really out there in terms of difficulty and skill before you can even realize the magnitude of how big the gap is between "can ski an 'expert' run" and "can ski anything on the mountain" (which, depending on the mountain can mean some almost unfathomable lines...)
C
CMCM
Guest
Like with anything else in life, I think this is probably an individual thing. Speaking for myself, I tend to underestimate my skiing ability. I just remember my beginner level too strongly, and even now, sometimes when I going down a slope at a good clip, making great parallel turns, I start thinking how amazed I am to be doing that! I think even if I ever get to a very advanced level, I'll still see myself at a much lower level. C'est la vie, I guess! 
Daria
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Well my day job is in HR and I know that generalizations are always dangerous. Women do tend to downplay thier abilities but there are always exceptions. AND there is a vast range of understanding between making it down the run versus really skiing it with skill (dare I say that men would feel a sense of accomplishment if they merely get down to the bottom?). It is all so difficult and very personal and it gets into our heads as to what we are telling ourselves. Once I was in a ski clinic and the instructor told me I was the most technical skier in the group and I felt on top of the world...then I found out he was a lousy instuctor and got totally deflated - but only until I nailed that next run 
