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

[eddiesmama]

@eddiesmama --to send someone a DM, click on the little envelope symbol up in the top right corner, on the blue bar. And with just a few more posts you will gain access to the "Divas Only" section of the site where you can post a MOTH (meet on the hill) thread to try to meet up with other Divas to ski.

Thank you!

 

[mustski]

Hang in there. It will come. No one can legally instruct you unless they work for the resort. A friend can help you but not if money exchanges hands. However, if you can go midweek, your group lesson is very likely to turn into a private; particularly right now when so little is open.

 

[Beckster]

So excited for you in having this time for yourself again to step back into the ski world!
Like you (only it was back in the late 90’s or early 2000’s) I had been so frustrated demoing the latest and greatest new technology of shaped skis that everyone was raving about but I was only frustrated by.
Recognizing my problem, My bestie instructor friend brought me onto an almost completely flat slope to feel what a shaped ski actually does.
So on the flats my friend had me widen my stance and simply roll my ankles which immediately directed the skies into a perfect turn. It was an ahh-hah moment for me. Then back on the steeps, all my friend could do was laugh hysterically at me loving the new found control and stability the skis offered. It’s almost like cruise control once you get that feeling.
Wishing you all the best! I’m genuinely looking forward to you reporting back once you find your mojo!!

 

[Iwannaski]

Frustration is natural, but don’t forget that skiing isn’t just physical, it’s mental as well.

I struggle with fear holding me back. Instructors watch me, give me tips and then when I have to operationalize, sometimes my fear gets in my way. When you skied when you were younger, you were footloose and fancy free, and life has thrown you some curveballs, and now that fear, anxiety, frustration…they’re all there.

One thing I found helped me was to pick a song that I could sing myself to keep me out of my head and in my body. does that make sense? 2 years ago, for some reason, I was really struggling with fear of going downhill and I would have to start every slope singing “I’ve got a peaceful, easy feeling…” until i was about 6-8 turns in.

If you’re crying on the lift in frustration, that’s your headspace when you get off the lift. Could you give yourself some affirmations on the way up?

Here are some ideas:
“not everyone does things that are hard, I’m braver than average, because I’m chasing joy!”
“I’m amazing because I’m doing a hard thing so that I can get better”
“I’m not a static, unchanging person, I’m a dynamic, growing person”

Sounds woowoo, but your brain can’t be pushing your body the wrong way on the hill. There has to be a sense of ego to put your body pointed down a slope, and go fast, with randoms also zooming around you. If your brain is saying “why can’t I“ instead of “I’m amazing” your body is getting the wrong signal.

 

[mustski]

@eddiesmama

I sent you a message with Dennis’ cell number in case you want to take a lesson. He teaches at Snow Summit and is a really good guy.

 

[Nedgirl]

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!

Regarding equipment, there are a lot of variables to shaped skis -- like how much rocker is in the tip and the tail, the stiffness of the ski, etc. So you can't solely base it on how tall you are, your skiing ability, your weight etc. If you buy skis at a reputable shop, they should ask you about your skiing before recommending something.

The horse is out of the barn, but honestly, you probably shouldn't have bought new skis until you took a lesson and figured out your ski technique. I teach women skiers a lot, and I always encourage them to demo skis if possible. BTW, a lot of resorts do women's lessons or clinics where women instructors teach women skiers. I think it's really helpful as women understand the differences in our bodies and how that translates to technique on the snow.

Regarding where you are now, my best recommendation would be to rent skis (you can use your boots, assuming they fit well) and take a lesson. With shaped skis, there is a lot different about technique (wider stance, how you initiate turns) than when you first learned. I get a lot of students like yourself who said they learned to ski 30 years ago on different type of equipment. It's quite common, and I'm sure you can master skiing with latest equipment. Worse comes to worse, sell the skis you have and buy other ones -- you might be able to make it work without losing money if you buy skis at end of season or some used demo ones.

 

[POC]

Welcome back to skiing! It's so awesome! A few tips to try -

1. Jilly's wider stance note is the best way to ski on your new skis-no more trying to keep them together (I still need to work on this myself!). I always give a little hop in the air before I go down to get in that hip-distance position.

2. When turning, think opposite "hip to tip", eg., for right turn, guide left hip towards right ski tip.

3. Press your shins to your boots.

Have fun!

 

[nkellan]

Welcome back.. The mavens are a nice ski! I think they are right size for you. Sounds like you have your boots dialed so now it's just get some time on snow! Don't be so hard on yourself!! You GOT THIS.. New skis are a bit different, once you get the feel for them, you'll love them. Some of the 'home work' videos I suggest to students are from Deb Armstrong! She has excellent videos and talks in lay-person speak, no techno mumble jumbo! I hope your lesson goes well, also if there are any ladies lessons or weekly ladies meet ups, I hope you can join in. Tips- Keep your shins on your boots, your hip over your foot, your head up looking down the hill, with your zipper in the fall line, let your legs do the turning not your upper body, if you are curling your toes-STOP- Regroup- start over, Relax, breathe, watch other good skiers and try to follow them, try to ski the fall line- it's the easiest place to turn. Perfect your skiing at slow speeds and it will excellent at faster speeds. I hope the snow starts falling in the West! Happy skiing!!!

I LOVE Deb Armstrong's videos. There are a ton out there. She is able to break down technical things in a manner that is really understandable.

 

[Ms Mia]

I want to highlight the psychological factors here. @Iwannaski also mentioned fear and singing herself into confidence. But for real: you sacrificed a great deal in order to support your child, you worked day and night and probably had very few moments just to yourself. It's what a mother does when a child is in need. Yet what you gave is over and above, incredible, and worth acknowledging.

And now you are returning to skiing, something that used to give you joy and a sense of freedom, and you're having to work at that too. No wonder you cried in the chair. Utter exhaustion of the mind, body and soul.

Give yourself some time, and a lot of credit. You are finding yourself again on the slopes, at a new and different time of your life, and not only are the skis different, but your body probably is too! Take a moment, go back to the green slopes as others have suggested, and if you can't afford a lesson, ask a friend or even just spy on an absolute beginner's lesson. Watch some YouTube videos (Deb Armstrong is great but very technical. I really enjoy Tom Gellie for basic drills and clear explanations). And breathe. It's going to be fun rather than work.

Once you feel how the ski wants to move with you, you'll find how you want to move with the ski. And then you'll be able to enjoy the slopes again and gift yourself the freedom that it brings.

Be patient with yourself and give yourself a hug, the way you've been patient and loving every day as a carer. The joy will come.