How do you feel about skiing alone?

[ski diva]

I almost always ski with my husband. But now that some other things have come up (Finn), that's not going to happen too much for the rest of the season. Sometimes I ski with friends, but sometimes I find myself skiing alone, too.

On the whole, I don't mind too much. It lets me do whatever I feel like doing, which isn't always bad. And it gives me a chance to meet new people, too. But sometimes it is a little lonely.

So I'm wondering. Do many Divas ski by themselves? And how do you feel about it? And if you don't ski alone, would you?

 

[Kimmyt]

I used to ski alone alot. I'd drive up the hill after work and ski at night by myself, then go home. It was the only way I'd get to ski.

Now I usually have someone to ski with, but I still go off on my own sometimes depending on how fast everyone is moving (i.e. they are too slow to get going and I get frustrated) or if I'm just not wanting to ski the same stuff.

I really really really like skiing by myself on a good day. Not all the time, but those days when you're on your own and just completely happy. Usually I'll get a really good song stuck in my head (my most memorable day involved an Ani song and I was feeling empowered) and I'll feel like it's my soundtrack and I'll just cruise and do my own thing.

 

[BatGirl]

I'm on my own, more often than not. Comprex and I will go to the hill together, but he likes to play on the black runs and steeps while I'm still negotiating the blues. To be honest, I kind of like it. It allows me to focus on what I'm doing instead of just trying to keep up with him. Also, I don't like thinking that I'm holding him back, making him go slowly, or keeping him from having fun on the harder runs. This way, we get to play on our own. The goal is to for me to get good enough to keep up with him someday. And I'm getting there!

 

[eng_ch]

I'm OK skiing on my own providing I'm within radio reach of someone else. I really don't like the idea of getting injured and having nobody to help. Likewise, I won't drive somewhere for a day on my own - I like there to be 2 drivers.

 

[volklgirl]

I just hook my cell and MP3 player up to my helmet (Tune Ups II) and away I go. I really like night skiing by myself - I just ski and sing and talk to myself and go as fast or as slow as I want ;) .

 

[Marigee]

Sometimes I ski by myself. Not usually when on vacation, but when I go to local areas. I like to work on my skiing. I also like to be able to ski where I want to ski and as fast or slow as I want. It's nice to just get lost in my thoughts and not have to deal with anyone else occasionally.

 

[SkiBaby]

I also ski alone more often than not. And I like it for many of the reasons mentioned already - mostly the ability to set my own pace without playing the "What do you want to do next...?" game. Surprisingly, I've often enjoyed riding lifts with people I don't know because of the random stories you end up hearing. But maybe that ends up being another thread......;)

 

[Lilgeorg]

Looks like I am the odd ball here. I don't ski alone. I may take a run or two different from the one others are taking but I would never go to the mountain alone. Part of the enjoyment of the sport is doing it with those people I care about. Also, at 65 it is no fun to get hurt and nobody know you are out there. Nope, I don't do it alone.

 

[SnowHot]

Looks like I am the odd ball here. I don't ski alone. I may take a run or two different from the one others are taking but I would never go to the mountain alone. Part of the enjoyment of the sport is doing it with those people I care about. Also, at 65 it is no fun to get hurt and nobody know you are out there. Nope, I don't do it alone.

Lil, you're not the odd ball, trust me!
I can, and will ski alone but its not my preferred plan. For me Skiing is a social activity as much as it is a physical activity. I have a GiroFuse Helmet with tuneups for those rare occasions I ski alone but I have had little chance to use it because I'm usually with friends and family - Nothing better than that!

 

[ski now work later]

I usually wind up skiing alone if I'm not with my kids because my husband goes much slower on his snowboard or because I'm going to the mountain alone. I'm not crazy about it for safety reasons, and although I enjoy my own company (I also use a Fuse hemet with speakers for my iPod on mid-week days), I feel a little nervous about the 1 hr. 40 min. drive home in the event that I get hurt.

Recently I signed up for a group lesson at Stratton on a Tuesday morning, and wound up with a great instructor -- in her 60s, fantastic woman, and it turned out to be a private, so I think that now when I go to Stratton on mid-week days without a ski buddy, I will take a group lesson. That will challenge me more in a safe environment and still be pretty economical ($39 for 1 hr. 45 min. or $45 for the same amount of time for a park lesson).

It's hard to find ski buddies who take the same amount of time getting ready in the lodge, ski at a similar pace, etc. I like to ski best with someone who is slightly faster and more skilled than I, because I push myself more. Today I'm in Big Sky, MT and will be skiing with my sister-in-law for the first time. She was adamant about meeting right at 9 when the lifts open, and of course I woke up at 5 am, which is 7 am EST (we arrived last night), so I have plenty of time to get ready. I think she'll be good company, but she does talk a lot and I like some quiet time on the lifts and to ski with music, so I'll have to work that out.

My absolute favorite way to ski, however, is in a women's clinic. I loved the WAA clinic that I took at Okemo last February, and would like to do another one sometime. In 3 years when I turn 50, to celebrate, I've ditched all ideas about a big party, some kind of beauty treatment, etc. in favor of the goal of attending a 4 day women's clinic at Jackson Hole. By then, I expect to be a very strong skiier and that I would get SO MUCH from that type of clinic. I like the comraderie of being with other women on the slopes, and I learn a lot from watching the other women in my group as they are trying out new stuff.

I plan to take a bump lesson here in Big Sky (small groups for 2+ hours only $65), and a group powder lesson too, depending on conditions. There's also a free mountain tour which will undoubtedly take me onto runs that I might not venture to on my own.

OK, this is a long reply. Better sign off now!

 

[Kimmyt]

I have a group of friends out in Big Sky this week... I'm hoping you all get some good conditions out there!

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I used to love to ski alone, but I'm a little weary of it as I continue to take baby steps on getting on the mountain regularly again. It will happen, though.

The things I love about skiing alone:
the choice of where to go on the mountain
the ability to not have to keep up or slow down
meeting new people on the lift
eating when I want to!:D
feeling at peace with the mountain.....snow, wind, sky, etc......

....overall, I find it to be very spiritual to ski alone. I love the mountain! It's my favorite church!

 

[dloveski]

Skiing Alone

So I'm wondering. Do many Divas ski by themselves? And how do you feel about it? And if you don't ski alone, would you?

I often ski on my own and find it a wonderful way to clear my head and try new terrain without the pressure of performing. When learning new skills, like powder skiing, I would venture out and try my turns, over and over, on low angle slopes. Caveats---I always wear a whistle (in case I'm down in the trees), go in areas in which I am familiar and know I can get out, and take my cell. When alone, I ski conservatively. I'm OK with side-slipping if indicated. I save the daring stuff for when I'm with a buddy.

 

[lv2ski]

I ski alone occasionally....or, lets just say, if I cannot find someone to ski with on a good day that I can, then off I go locally. I carry my cell phone, and if it is a tougher, or more remote trail often I will wait until I see other people around, and then, swoosh......emergency contact info. is inside my helmet and wallet also. More often though I do the clinics (mostly womens) to have other people to ski with and try to polish my skiing. It is kinda lonely though, with the drive and all, but still fun.

 

[dslawton]

It's fun skiing with others, but I enjoy skiing by myself. I turn up the tunes, get into a rhythm and flow. I spend a lot of time perfecting my techniques which is harder to do when worrying about where others want to go or where someone is.

 

[smpayne]

I used to love skiing by myself, mainly because I skiied a lot slower than everyone else and I felt guilty for making them wait. Last year I was always skiing with my brother (my husband only made it up 3 times). This year we just haven't been able to coordinate our schedules and stay well at the same time and I find that I really miss skiing with someone, especially someone who pushes me to ski better. I find it is a lot easier to chicken out of difficult terrain when I'm by myself, but if I'm with someone who is willing, I'll try it.

 

[liquidfeet]

I love to ski alone, especially when I am working on drills (who would put up with that?) or trying to perfect some skill I'm working on. But on the weekends I usually ski three days in a row, and three days alone is not so great.

It's then that I love to ski with people who are above my ability level, the kind and considerate people. There are some. Then I have a great time trying to keep up, and laughing when I can't. (None of my significant others ski, nor my friends.)

Best of all worlds: alternate.

 

[num]

I always ski alone (apart from instructors during lessons) ; no one I know skis.

I have lots of fun skiing alone. Never have to worry about pace or terrain or anything, just ski as fast or slow or steep or flat as I want. That being said, I'm sure skiing with people's gotta be fun. It'd be a new experience, and I imagine it would be nice to have someone who saw the good/bad/funny way you skied on a certain run, or vice versa, and be able to talk about those things later.

I've gotten non skier friends to come hang in the area, and skiing alone with occasional breaks for a cup of tea with friends is just perfect.

 

[cloudpeak]

Since I ski during the week when many people are at work, I often ski alone. I'll drop the kids at school, head up to the mountain, ski until after lunch, and get back in time to pick up the kids from school.

Although I enjoy skiing with others, too, I actually like skiing by myself. I like the people I meet on the chairlift, and I puttering around the mountain by myself.

On solo days, I dial things back a bit. I save harder runs for times when I ski with friends.

 

[liquidfeet]

One of the things I've always wanted to do but have rarely experienced is skiing with a friend (or friends) equal in skill, trying new things together. I see boys on boards doing this, trying some trick in the park or struggling down a rocky/cliffy area beneath the chair.

It looks like fun. I'd really like to do this. But alas I am having trouble finding adventurous women at my skill level.

And the men I ski with all seem to be ahead of me. I don't think this would be fun with men anyway. Maybe.

So I do the adventurous things by myself.