How to let go of the fear?

[ski diva]

Yeah, I call out, too (said in a small voice because you seem to hate it so, @SallyCat ). And I've often had people call back "Thank you!" It honestly never occurred to me that anyone didn't like it. I figured it was a good way to avoid a collision.

And I get the whole food grief over the removal of chicken and waffles from the menu. (What on earth were they thinking?) My local postman said to me recently (about the Vail acquisition), a new broom sweeps clean. I just never imagined it'd sweep away the chicken and waffles.

 

[SallyCat]

To be fair, I have not experienced polite people giving me a friendly warning; it's been out-of-control meat rockets warning me to get out of their way. I think we're discussing a sort of apples-to-oranges pair of contexts. But you should disagree with me in a strong, confident voice!

As long as nobody slanders Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, I have very thick skin and a well-developed willingness to be proven wrong!

 

[nopoleskier]

?!!! No More Chicken and Waffles!! I'm writing a letter maybe letters!! BOO VAIL!!

@SallyCat you're lucky the crazies are giving any warning. A shame the good intention skiers aren't the ones calling out near you.

At Tremblant last week I 'heard' the skier coming when I turned around it was a meat missile totally out of control carreening towards me. I moved to center of trail to give wide berth.. He barely could stand (we were on black trail) he skidded by but I really thought I was a goner. Same at Sugar Bush Several (and they are always Men) flew by me with out a peep! I did yell a foul name a couple times at those that were beyond rude.. it got so scary we left the MT. Where's ski patrol to pull a pass when you need them?

The Zen is ruined w/out of control skiers anywhere. Having to have 'your owl' head on isn't fun skiing.

 

[contesstant]

I defer to the majority!

The few times anyone has given a verbal warning to me, it was because they were basically out of control and unable to pass me without me staying in a tight, anxious holding pattern while they flailed past.

Nevertheless, I shall set aside my Manual Typewriter of Righteous Indignation and accept verbal alerts as a necessary intrusion into my ski zen.

I miss the zen, though. I mean, the Vail Corporation has brutally stricken the Chicken and Waffles entree from my favorite slopeside restaurant, so I'm dealing with a lot of food-related grief. An institution that could make a decision like that is capable of anything.

People talking to me while I ski....having to eat some b.s. salad instead of amazing food....these are dark days on the mountain.

Ahh I can relate to the Vail thing--the Mountain Collective has done the same thing here. Madness.

 

[Jilly]

I like to let you know I'm there. With many people listening to tunes in their helmets, I want you to know that I'm there and not scare you. This will be necessary this coming week!!

 

[emmthorpedo]

Beginner so not a great deal of help. We are fortunate that we can ski in less crowded seasons so i totally agree with the above, I feel way more comfortable going faster when there are less people. I tend to avoid people who are not that experienced and clearly out of control and flying around on a crowded slope. Makes my nerves flutter.

 

[newboots]

Welcome, @emmthorpedo ! Glad to have you here!

 

[emmthorpedo]

Thanks @newboots . Not sure how much help i will be for your skiing though. We all have to start somewhere

 

[newboots]

To be fair, I have not experienced polite people giving me a friendly warning; it's been out-of-control meat rockets warning me to get out of their way.

When I was even slower than I am now, I got those polite warnings. Of course, I got the meat-mouths too. But all of these were welcome. I’d rather have a warning than feel the whoosh and the I was almost toast feeling.

 

[newboots]

Thanks @newboots . Not sure how much help i will be for your skiing though. We all have to start somewhere

Don’t worry! We all help each other, and it’s a big crowd here!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Because so many are now "plugged in" while skiing/riding, I'll use a loud voice to call out, "Passing on your right/left."
If/when I get buzzed by silently, I get louder:
"SKIER/RIDER! CALL YOUR PASS!!!"

 

[Abbi]

I miss the zen, though. I mean, the Vail Corporation has brutally stricken the Chicken and Waffles entree from my favorite slopeside restaurant, so I'm dealing with a lot of food-related grief. An institution that could make a decision like that is capable of.

How did you find that out?! As of Thursday epic had not opened yet. Do you have inside information on that place?

 

[emmthorpedo]

Because so many are now "plugged in" while skiing/riding, I'll use a loud voice to call out, "Passing on your right/left."
If/when I get buzzed by silently, I get louder:
"SKIER/RIDER! CALL YOUR PASS!!!"

Thats actually really helpful. Thanks. I will clear my vocal chords before i embark. Why not if it saves collisions. In golf since the ryder cup incident they are really emphazing the need to shout if in doubt

 

[santacruz skier]

Ski mostly Tahoe w/ Epic Pass and definitely see "speed police" around the mountain that will pull one's pass...... yeah we get yahoos here too but really loved skiing early season mid week last week. Picture this, I was the only skier on a very long run in an area at Northstar called Lookout Mtn ( a poma to get there so limits folks as rare in Tahoe).
Couldn't believe it..... just me cruising around on a super long run..... not another sole in sight.

 

[emmthorpedo]

I am finding also that close calls and small collisions happen at end of the day when people are tired. Speed police around pinch points where there is a lot of traffic would come in useful on the more crowded sloped. The boy racers should be penalised.

 

[Powgirl]

@QCskier - come up to Tremblant some time. SkiBam and I are both certified ski instructors and can help you with that. It's confidence really and guided skiing sure helps. I'm not comfortable in trees. A weekend out west at the women's camp at WB gave me some confidence with them. A return trip helped and then another with Lady_Salina guiding in the bumps and trees. It's still there in the back of my mind that that tree doesn't move. But I do have the knowledge/skills to go through the trees.

If anyone watches me starting a run, from anywhere, you will see a slight wedge to start. This is my stable position. I'll move whichever ski to parallel. It's something my mentor taught me and it has stuck.

Another one is do not stop at the top of pitch and stare it down. Never works!! Move!

I do this too, Jilly...I used to feel bad about starting a run in a wedge, but no more...it works especially well when I am forced to stop and start again on steeper terrain.

 

[mustski]

Because it's not my job to stay out of your way if you're behind me. It's your job to pass me at a safe distance and in a reasonable manner; if you're doing that you don't need to alert me. Plus it's startling; do it to a novice skier and they are likely to turn their head to look and lose balance. And it often happens when stronger skiers are trying to speed through a novice area to get to the lift.

In fairness, the only time I call on your ______ side is with novice skiers/boarders. They are the ones who make sudden and unpredictable changes of direction and never look uphill first. I wouldn't even consider passing an unpredictable skier without letting them know my intention.

As long as nobody slanders Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, I have very thick skin and a well-developed willingness to be proven wrong!

Never! Never! I stopped being Chargers fans when they traded my Drew!

 

[emmthorpedo]

In fairness, the only time I call on your ______ side is with novice skiers/boarders. They are the ones who make sudden and unpredictable changes of direction and never look uphill first. I wouldn't even consider passing an unpredictable skier without letting them know my intention.



Never! Never! I stopped being Chargers fans when they traded my Drew!

“Sudden and unpredictable changes of direction and never look uphill first”...Guilty as charged and fully expect to be berated by passers by in the name of safety.

 

[mustski]

“Sudden and unpredictable changes of direction and never look uphill first”...Guilty as charged and fully expect to be berated by passers by in the name of safety.

This is expected of learning sliders. It is not berating when I call out my planned movement, it's for both of our safety. I never cut close to another skier; I am just letting the other person know that, for a brief second, I will be there. I always speak in a cheery, pleasant voice.

 

[TahoeCruzer]

There is a lot of good advice here. This book sounds great! I've always lived by a "get right back on the horse" philosophy to conquer my fears after setbacks but I think the notion of going back to your comfort zone for a while is a good plan.