Grew up straight flat skis took time off now wobbly and falling with the new kind how do I ski now?

[eddiesmama]

Hello! I started skiing when I was 4 (I’m 49) and obviously learned on straight flat skis that’s all they had. I took about 15 years off and didn’t ski too much before that for a few years. I had life events (not good ones) where I couldn’t risk hurting myself because I couldn’t risk not being able to take care of a loved one that required a lot of lifting and full body function. So now the skis are completely different. I find myself crossing my skis, losing balance and even falling (took some nasty ones). My confidence is low. Skied on some used skis last year that were close to straight and still flat and was fine it was like riding a bicycle again, my body just remembered. I bought new skis this year all mountain normal diameters and length for me. Nothing special. And I’m having all this trouble. Can any of you tell me about some online tutorials/videos that I can watch to learn? This is frustrating and I just want to ski and have fun not be scared and nervous like I was a little kid again and falling. And I don’t have money to spend on lessons. Already spent more than I could afford on a season pass and the new skis. Thanks!

 

[diymom]

I bought new skis this year all mountain normal diameters and length for me.

I'm curious, what skis did you get, and what length are they?

 

[scandium]

If they were your normal length in old straight skis then they are likely 20cm too long for you...

 

[Jilly]

Take a lesson. I've taught both straight and shaped. They totally different skis now.

 

[liquidfeet]

Take a lesson. Explain you grew up with straight skis and need to know how to use the new ones. Ask for an instructor who has gone through the change. Descriptions using words on a ski forum aren't going to be very useful - there are too many ways to misunderstand verbal ski instructions.

 

[liquidfeet]

Take a lesson. Explain you grew up with straight skis and need to know how to use the new ones. Ask for an instructor who has gone through the change. Descriptions using words on a ski forum aren't going to be very useful - there are too many ways to misunderstand verbal ski instructions.

On the other hand, Lito Tejada-Flores wrote a very good book explaining to old school skiers how to ski the new skis. Things have changed a little since he wrote Breakthrough on the New Skis, but not the fundamentals he's describing. They are the same today as when the book was published. No one can describe skiing movements like he did. If you go out and practice what he talks about, you'll fall in love with your skis.

It's very readable. You can buy a used copy cheap.

 

[GladeDuchess]

I totally get it, and got back into skiing a few years ago after skiing when I was little in the early 90's on straight skis. I did okay in some regards, but was really just getting down the mountain, not truly skiing.

Just going out was not easy financially, and I thought a lesson was out of reach.

A ski mate gifted me a lesson one Christmas, I think because I needed it, and also to demonstrate their value.

I now believe lessons are worth their weight in gold as after that one, I was much more confident, could link turns, and actually ski! I was no longer just getting down the hill.

Books, videos, advice: totally wonderful, but nothing can replace a good instructor whom you can follow and watch, and then switch places and get specific feedback on what you are doing or not doing.

Look around, as I'm not sure where you ski, but a small local hill may have lessons that are much more affordable than a big resort.

 

[eddiesmama]

I think I got the wrong size skis. Oh my gosh and they were brand new and too late to return. I am 5’9 and got 171 which is my old length. I also got the wrong specs. 121/16/105 they are Atomic maven 84. I am intermediate/advanced pretty much stay on piste like to go fast but not crazy. Oh no! Can I still learn??

 

[eddiesmama]

I’m so stupid. I should have just talked to people instead of trying to figure it out online.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

I actually think that your skis might be just right. I'm 5' 5 and I ski anything from a length 165 to 178. If they are 84 Under Foot that's actually a pretty good width for what you describe your skiing to be.

 

[diymom]

I’m so stupid. I should have just talked to people instead of trying to figure it out online.

Don't stress it. I don't think that length sounds outrageous for your height. If lessons are out of the budget at the moment, look for the book @liquidfeet suggested above. Look up some videos. Maybe dial it back a bit on the hill to start out, forget about fast until you get things sorted out. Practice on the greens, no shame in that. In fact I always see the beer league racers doing drills on the greens at my hill. And yes, you can still learn. You've already heard from others who used to ski on straight skis and made the switch. But you will get things sorted out.

 

[marzNC]

Skied on some used skis last year that were close to straight and still flat and was fine it was like riding a bicycle again, my body just remembered.

Welcome! When you skied on straight skis, what type of turns did you make most of the time? What region were you skiing in?

Reason I ask is that I only skied as a beginner/intermediate for a couple of years in middle school long ago. Never got past the stem-christie stage. What the meant was that my stance didn't have my boots close together and I couldn't make parallel turns. I didn't ski at all for 10 years. Then skied a bit on the straight skis that existed in the 1980s. I was an adventurous intermediate with strong survival skis such as side slipping and hockey stops.

When I first demo'd "shaped skis" about 25 years ago, I was very happy that I could make parallel turns without thinking much about what I was doing. What I learned in the last decade is that it was harder for my primary ski buddy to adjust to the current design of skis because he was an expert skier on straight skis by the time he was in high school in Colorado.

When we do semi-private lessons together, I'm thinking about keeping my feet from going too far apart and he's thinking about making sure his feet aren't too close together.

 

[eddiesmama]

I meant 121/85/105 turn radius 16

 

[eddiesmama]

I grew up skiing Tahoe, started when I was 4 (born 1976) skied all the time until about age 26, then slow until 30 then stopped because my son was diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy was in a wheelchair from a brain injury and needed me in full physical function to take care of him couldn’t risk getting hurt. Was really good growing up. My family was a ski family lots of trips every year probably been on a chairlift a few thousand times. Also took one big trip a year for a couple weeks and went somewhere else in the Western US. Was advanced skier black diamonds loved moguls never skied with my skis super close practically touching but close enough. Could ski all terrains easily. Now it’s like the world changed. I moved to Big Bear in Southern California couple years ago. Last year bought used flat parabolic (but soon realized they were very old school even though new to me). Started skiing and it was like riding a bike. Right back on the black diamond runs fast quick turns balanced and confident. They were 170 don’t know the specs. But this is a mountain with a lot of adult beginners from LA that come up. Lots of snowboarders and skiers brand new learning falling all over the place right in front of me so I need to turn quick and weave around everyone. And there are only a couple runs at each resort open because there’s no snow and too warm to make much so a lot of people packed in. Conditions are all of the above but no powder and not a lot of soft right now. None of the advanced runs are open where beginners stay off so I can’t avoid them and right now I don’t feel safe skiing around them in case I run right into them when they fall or fall myself and they run right into me.

Sorry for all these posts I’m just kind of freaking out and honestly really sad. Was actually crying on the lift yesterday. I was so excited to get new skis and now I am having so much trouble and my confidence is gone.

so officially…

Atomic Maven 84 (84 is in the name) length 171 turning radius 16 specs tip to tail 121/84/105. I am 5’9 weigh 160.

Says “all mountain rocker 15/75/10” (don’t know what those numbers mean)

Thank you so much for all your replies!!

 

[GladeDuchess]

Sorry for all these posts I’m just kind of freaking out and honestly really sad. Was actually crying on the lift yesterday. I was so excited to get new skis and now I am having so much trouble and my confidence is gone.

so officially…

Atomic Maven 84 (84 is in the name) length 171 turning radius 16 specs tip to tail 121/84/105. I am 5’9 weigh 160.

Says “all mountain rocker 15/75/10” (don’t know what those numbers mean)

Thank you so much for all your replies!!

Don't give up and don't lose heart, you will get there! You've got some solid skill and it is just a matter of learning to apply that skill to a different type of ski.
@marzNC brings up a good point. Being as advanced as you were on straight skis might just mean you have to "unlearn" a bit more muscle memory, vs. those who were not as advanced when we got on shaped skis.
Try going back to green dots as @diymom suggested. Get the feel for the new skis on something easy, and as it all starts to click, go to harder stuff as you feel more confident. : )
Sounds like your conditions are not ideal either, so all the more reason to consider taking a step back. My own confidence can wax and wane depending on conditions, how I feel, or just what kind of week I had. Some days conditions are fab, I'm feeling 110%, and revved up to do advanced terrain. Next week, I might be a blue square girl all day. Every day is different and a balancing act of keeping myself challenged and interested, but keeping my confidence up too.

 

[Jilly]

Ok, I'm going to do this in bullet points because it's easier for me (I'm not being nasty)
1. Your skis are the right length. My all mountains were in that range, and I'm shorter, but similar weight.
2. Your straight skis were maybe 66 underfoot and had no shape. Now you have 84 underfoot and 121 shovels.
3. First thing - keep your feet and knees apart. Like 6-8" apart. You need to exaggerate this to make it happen forever. So try this: On a flat (green) with lots of space. Put your hands into a fist and place BOTH between your knees. Then slide forward. Once that feels maybe OK, try something we call railway tracks. Fist between the knees, tilt the skis on their edges. Let the ski do the work. You should start to move in an arc. Flatten the skis, try the other way. This is not a complete turn, just a change of direction using the skis.
4. NO UP/DOWN motion is needed in modern skiing. Just tip em and go.
5. For an easy complete turn. Start in a wedge on a gentle slope. Facing downhill. Slide forward, steer to a turn, let the top ski match the bottom ski, without picking it up! You might remember stem christies, well its the same movement, but much more gentle.
6. Similar to the old method, weight needs to be on the downhill (outside of turn) ski.

That's enough for now.

 

[diymom]

on the lift yesterday.

That means you can get out and ski mid-week? If so, excellent. All of those beginners packed onto the easier runs should start to thin out soon during the week. It was still fairly busy at my hill on Thursday since college kids and some private schools haven't started up yet. I'm anticipating this coming week to be quieter. Hopefully your hill will be too.

 

[marzNC]

Atomic Maven 84 (84 is in the name) length 171 turning radius 16 specs tip to tail 121/84/105. I am 5’9 weigh 160.

Says “all mountain rocker 15/75/10” (don’t know what those numbers mean)

That's helpful to know.

But this is a mountain with a lot of adult beginners from LA that come up. Lots of snowboarders and skiers brand new learning falling all over the place right in front of me so I need to turn quick and weave around everyone. And there are only a couple runs at each resort open because there’s no snow and too warm to make much so a lot of people packed in. Conditions are all of the above but no powder and not a lot of soft right now. None of the advanced runs are open where beginners stay off so I can’t avoid them and right now I don’t feel safe skiing around them in case I run right into them when they fall or fall myself and they run right into me.

Early season has been rough out west. Should be better next week. I skied a few days in Colorado the week before Christmas with my ski buddy. We are senior advanced skiers. At Copper, it took some effort to find blue trails that weren't scary because of advanced skiers/boarders whizzing by. There was no off-piste terrain open and only a couple of black groomers. People who liked the terrain parks that were set up were trying to jump stuff on groomers too. Even though we had to drive farther to ski Winter Park, it was worth it go find emptier trails. Only greens and blues at WP too. We ended up leaving a day early because it wasn't really worth another day on hard pack groomers.

By the way, liquidfeet, snoWYmonkey, and Jilly are some of the instructors who are active around here.

 

[eddiesmama]

I actually think that your skis might be just right. I'm 5' 5 and I ski anything from a length 165 to 178. If they are 84 Under Foot that's actually a pretty good width for what you describe your skiing to be.

This makes me feel better thank you! Maybe it really does just boil down to learning on these completely different skis than I have ever had. My muscle memory of advanced straight flat ski abilities are cemented in from childhood through adult. Gotta talk to my cells and tell them there’s a new boss in town! Hopefully it doesn’t take long so I can just enjoy the season with confidence again!

 

[Jilly]

Note on the railway tracks.....that tilt comes from the ankles, not the knees.