Return of Fear

[liquidfeet]

Now that ski season has begun, FEAR has risen its ugly head once again. Anyone else out there feeling its nasty presence again? I have now skied twice, and am remembering (RATS!) that I am not so good at edging on the hard snow of New England. But I go fast anyway, using what I dub "controlled skidding," fast enough to leave me aware that if something goes wrong, I've got no real grip and I'll go a-flyin. How do I deal with the fear that accompanies that feeling? Ignore it, and work on getting better grip (carving, arcing, whatever) while moving along.

Any stories out there about bad consequences endured while ignoring fear?

 

[Lilgeorg]

I have 2 suggestions for you in dealing with fear. The first is to read Marmer Blakeslee's book The Yikes Zone. I read it every year before skiing. Marmer is the highest level PSIA instructor. She talks about fear and the benefits of good fear and the problem with debilitating fear. She also gives you good ideas about what to do when you run into your fear. Its great advice for skiing and living you every day life. The second, is to attend a fear clinic given by Maria Tomeselli. She makes you laugh at yourself and feel oh so much better. She was the one who turned me onto the book.

Good luck.

 

[Elangirl]

I like to think about my fear and see if it is that I am placing myself in a dangerous place or that my mind does not like the looks of what I am doing.

I think that "controlled skidding"on ice while going at high speeds is pretty dangerous---I don't often ski on really icy slopes, but I have to admit that ice does catch my attention.

Here in the West, we never sharpen our skis but perhaps you need to look at your edges and check the bevel too. Also, look at your tracks, are you making "Z's" in the snow or are the treacks nice and round. If you are making a Z, then slowing down and letting the turn develop more will probably make you feel more secure. If you are arcing the ski, then slow down on each turn by pointing the ski uphill a little until you feel secure.

I like to move slowly with skiing and with my teaching--it is early in the season, perhaps your fear is telling you to slow down a little and let your legs catch up with you.

 

[Bonni]

Fear is an animal best tamed. If you ski with fear, is it from speed or lack of skill? If it's speed.....easy solution is to slow down. If it's lack of skill, then you have something to work on. I am not sure that going fast with the fear of knowing you're in a death slide if you fall is the way to start!

I always start my season out in slo-mo. It's embarrassing how slow I go and how long it takes me to be comfortable on snow again. Once I do, then the fear leaves and the fun starts.

Give yourself time to reacquaint yourself with your ski legs again.

 

[eng_ch]

I guess the question is, when you go fast with this "controleld skidding", do you actually feel in control? If so, then you shouldn't feel fear. If not, then the fear is actually telling you something useful - such as slow down, or get back in control. I have to agree with Elangirl, it soudns a bit dicey to me. Although of course, if you're on actual boilerplate then yes, you are going to skid - but you shouldn't be going at such a speed that you aren't in balance. IMO fear comes from a lack of control or a lack of belief that one could be in control (e.g. standing at the top of a steep run).

The other thing is to remember that you are in the situation of being done for if anythign goes wrong every day in real life - as soon as you are on a motorway in your car. Does that terrify you? If not, then the trick is to reproduce that situation on skis.

The thing I always have to remember, though, is that being in control doesn't necessarily mean being able to stop on a sixpence - it does however mean being able to change direction at will to avoid obstacles on your route down the hill (people, trees etc)

I should really take my own advice sometimes ;)

 

[liquidfeet]

Thanks for all the responses. The snow underfoot is frozen packed granular, aka home-made stiff. If you ski in New England, you know what I mean. I am in balance. I am not jerky. My turns are curved as they should be. I can avoid obstacles, usually even if they are moving. I lean forward to initiate my turns behind my center of gravity, or at least last season I did. I can hockey stop if I need to or scrub speed and I know how many miles it will take me to do that at the speed I am going. I probably look like I'm doing fine.

But I know that my turns are partially or completely skidded. Not badly skidded, just not carved fully as I want them to be. I'm working on making the carving work as I ski, and carrying my fear on my shoulder, trying to ignore it. I seek arc to arc skiing because it's safer, but I'm just not skilled enough to do it consistently yet. I have been learning well, and plan on continuing to do so. I want to earn the label of "expert" one day.

So, does anyone else out there occupy the same psychological space as this whie skiing? Am I alone?

 

[ski diva]

I think everyone encounters fear while skiing at one time or another. For me, it's been when I've tried something that's over my head. So I try to avoid those situations whenever possible. And that means having a pretty good handle on my ability and not letting people talk me into doing something I know I can't handle.

That said, once in a while fear still rears its ugly head. When that happens, I first give myself a little pep talk, then I try to get going as soon as possible. In most cases, I find that the more I stand and mull something over, the worse it gets. If it's really gnarly, I try to break whatever's ahead of me into smaller, more manageable components and concentrate on getting through those sections, one at a time.

I think everyone deals with fear differently. Some people thrive on being scared. Not me. The trick is to get good enough so you have the tools available to handle any situation; that way it isn't an issue. That could mean taking lessons and just putting in plenty of hours on the boards (I know you'll hate that!). And if and when it is an issue, try not to let it get the best of you.

Just my two cents.

 

[Little Lightning]

Do you know the breathing techniques of Pilates or Yoga? In my Women's Wednesday lesson my instructor taught us to breath in when starting the turn and releasing the breath in the turn. This engages your "core" muscles. It also releases tension and takes the focus off your "fear".

Even though I live in Colorado, I have my skis tuned and waxed every 10-15 ski days. While we do have powder we also have hardpack which will dull the edges.

Kathi

 

[Lola]

Personally, I think it is important to distinguish for myself the difference between fear and nervousness. Fear, for me, is very different than being nervous.

Last March (on the day of my accident), we were skiing at Sunday River, Maine. There was a double black diamond trail that I was tempted to try. It was freshly groomed, so that made the trail interesting to me, and we encountered the trail early in the morning, so my legs were fresh. My husband, Phil, had skied the trail and I asked him if he thought I could do it. "Oh yeah", he said, "No problem." I trusted him, so we took the lift up and I found myself at the top of the trail, peering over the edge.

Now, I am at the top of the trail looking down, and a feeling wells up inside me. Is this feeling fear? I think not. It's nervousness. I'm a good skier. I can ski most any steepness that is freshly groomed and early in the day. So those are nervous butterflies, not fear. Phil knows my skiing ability, and if the trail was over my head - he would have said so. So, what I am feeling is nervousness. Nervousness has nothing to do with my abilities and everything to do with my perception of the trail from my view at the top.

I took a deep breadth, and went down the slope. It was steep, but it was groomed. It was a bit icy, but I could hold an edge. About half way down, I stopped to catch my breadth. I look up behind me at what I just skied, and I think to myself, "that wasn't very steep after all." I take a breadth, and ski on down to the lift. Phil tells me I did a great job, and I say, "I know. That was pretty steep - a bit icier than I would like, but overall - it wasn't that bad."

I think there is a big difference between the view of a trail from the top down, and a view of a trail from the bottom up. I also think there is a big difference between fear and nervousness - and for me, I have to remember to distinguish between the two.

Easier sad than done. :o
Lola

 

[liquidfeet]

Lola, good point about fear and nervousness. I have not been distinguishing between those two.

Now, how did you hurt yourself that day? And which run was the one you described??? Just curious...I ski Sunday River often and love the place. In fact, I skied it two days ago.

 

[Lola]

Ah, liquidfeet - I did not hurt myself. I skied Top Gun (the double black diamond trail) earier in the day. Skied it just fine - no problems.

On the last run, of the last day - which was a trail named Lollapoluzza (yes, I get the irony here - Lola has an accident on Lollapoluzza), I was skiing along when a teenager hit me from behind. I was skiing with Lil (my mom), who was behind me and saw the whole thing. A teenager hit me from behind, and with such force that I fell to the ground. I tried to stand twice, and failed twice - at which point we called for the ski patrol.

The net result - my ACL was distroyed in my right knee. I had to have surgery to replace it with a ligament from a cadaver. And today was my first day on skis since the accident. - I had a wonderful day! :D Lola

 

[SnowHot]

On the last run, of the last day - which was a trail named Lollapoluzza (yes, I get the irony here - Lola has an accident on Lollapoluzza), ..................... I tried to stand twice, and failed twice - at which point we called for the ski patrol.

:D Lola

This begs for the question.................
Are those tobbogan rides as bumpy as they appear to be?

We'll have to get another "lola...ish" run for you that lends to a great end to a great day.:D

 

[Bonni]

This begs for the question.................
Are those tobbogan rides as bumpy as they appear to be?

Yes. A little story on fear and toboggan rides!

When I ripped my ACL in 1994, you could feel every flake pass under the sled! It's like riding on a piece of cardboard.......it flexes. Ahr!When you're injured, the ride is a lot bumpier than when you are the guinea pig for ski patrol training exercises!

Two seasons ago, the Saturday night NSP crew was doing exercises and drills with the toboggan. I volunteered to be 'the body'. So I climb in the sled and lie down. It's amazing what you Can't See in one of those. I'd say that if you likened it to looking at a clock, you could see from 10-2 while lying down.

We're going to be doing exercises on the steeps, so we go to Roberto's Chute, which is short but steep and narrow, and tonight it had icy whales on it that were as big as I've ever seen them. Already I'm nervous, but Gary is at the front, and I trust him, and my husband Jeff is on the tailrope, so even if it gets away from Gary, Jeff will hold me.

We start down over the lip of this thing, and it's a living, breathing monster! I'm going sideways and damn near falling out of the sled, I have to hang onto the sides, then I'm going the other way, then I'm straight down , and at one point, we stop.

I can't see anything, but I hear lots of talk (training), so I let my mind wander. Next thing you know I'm moving again, slowly at first, then quite fast and being banged around (I'm saying 'ow ow ow ow'), and we slow on the flat at the bottom, and I sit up and ....

There is my husband midway on the run, looking down on us with a sheepish look on his face.

Guess who dropped the tail rope!?

Fear? Only if you're Aware!

 

[Kimmyt]

I have never really been afraid prior to the start of skiing season. I attribute this to the fact that in the past, my obsession with skiing was just beginning/growing. Two years ago I did not have my own skis (I think I bought them in Feb?). I was lucky if I went to the hill more than 10 times.

Last year I had my own sticks, and a boyfriend who boarded. So we planned trips. The excitement mounted. I hit the hills 10-20 days.

This year I was planning trips before we ever had a frost. And I find myself.... scared? Not really scared, let's say nervous. I think it's because I can't just ease into it like I've done for the past years. Before, I would go up for a day on a weekend, it wouldn't be a big deal. I'd ski Blue, a mountain I know like the back of my hand, have fun, do my thang and go home. I'd reacquaint myself with the idea of skiing. And I'd be fine.

This year my first day on skis will be December 25. Ok, so it's early, but I've skiied this early before with some friends (erm, at Roundtop PA). But this is the kicker. I have pressure. I have pressure to not have regressed over the off-season. Why? Because I'll be skiing for the first time out west, at my highest altitude, at a mountain I've never been to. I'll be skiing at a major resort and I will be pressuring myself to HAVE A GOOD TIME.

Is that the most ridiculous thing you've heard? So I'm stressing out big, realizing that holy hell, Xmas is 2 weeks away, and I'll be in Colorado then probably peeing myself at the top of the biggest run I've ever been on. I wanted to hit something out here first to warm up and refamiliarize myself, but with the crappy weather have been unable to.

So this year, I hear yall about feeling nervous and scared and unsure of myself.

I'm just hoping it goes away after that first day back on the slopes! (please tell me that a green out west is no scarier than a green at somewhere around here... say Jay? Anyone? Bueller?)

K.

 

[Lisamarie]

On the last run, of the last day - which was a trail named Lollapoluzza (yes, I get the irony here - Lola has an accident on Lollapoluzza), I was skiing along when a teenager hit me from behind. I was skiing with Lil (my mom), who was behind me and saw the whole thing. A teenager hit me from behind, and with such force that I fell to the ground. I tried to stand twice, and failed twice - at which point we called for the ski patrol.

The net result - my ACL was distroyed in my right knee. I had to have surgery to replace it with a ligament from a cadaver. And today was my first day on skis since the accident. - I had a wonderful day! Lola

When I lived back east, I always thought that Lollapoluzza and Dreamaker should be rated Blue.

BTW, pretty much the same thing happened to me. I was in ski class, and we had just skied Copper Bowl. I tore my ACL on Main Vein, which is a Blue. Go figure!

Before I moved to Colorado, I was always a terrified skier on anything other than a Blue run. The first year I was here, I not only lost my fear, I lost me common sense.

Now when I feel myself getting too confident, I worry.

One thing I've discovered: On my job at Copper, I sometimes have to ski to get to each place. (yeah, I know,life is hard!;) ) At first, I felt odd skiing in uniform. Then I noticed that the out of control snowboarders stay out of my way, for fear of getting their passes pulled.

Works wonders for my confidence!

 

[nelsapbm]

Liquidfeet - I would suggest taking a couple lessons. If you have the right instructor, it could be worthwhile in helping overcome your fear. Maybe we ought to start a thread recommending good instructors?

 

[liquidfeet]

Nelsa,

I'll be starting a ten-week Sunday morning race clinic on Dec 31st. That should catch my Big Bad Habits and put them where they belong. If there are distractions my fear gets sublimated real fast because there are too many other things to think about. So in the class my fears probably won't be addressed because I won't feel them. Like I said, I just ignore them mostly, and wonder if others do the same. Or maybe they don't have fears. Or maybe when they do they don't go there.

Biggest fear ignored so far: While mountain biking this summer, my group leader went down a vertical drop off a high embankment on his bike. I followed. I was new to mt. biking. I knew if I looked down ahead of time, I'd never do it, so I just did it without looking first. I barely escaped running into a tree, because I didn't know enough about mt. biking to hold my pedals horizontal and my bottom pedal met a big rock and threw me towards the tree right in the middle of the nearly vertical drop. Luck saved me. I learned a lesson: always look, even if I am worried that looking will paralyze me in fear.

 

[ski diva]

This year my first day on skis will be December 25. Ok, so it's early, but I've skiied this early before with some friends (erm, at Roundtop PA). But this is the kicker. I have pressure. I have pressure to not have regressed over the off-season. Why? Because I'll be skiing for the first time out west, at my highest altitude, at a mountain I've never been to. I'll be skiing at a major resort and I will be pressuring myself to HAVE A GOOD TIME.

Is that the most ridiculous thing you've heard? So I'm stressing out big, realizing that holy hell, Xmas is 2 weeks away, and I'll be in Colorado then probably peeing myself at the top of the biggest run I've ever been on. I wanted to hit something out here first to warm up and refamiliarize myself, but with the crappy weather have been unable to.
K.

Kimmyt, you are going to be so fine! I've been skiing for many, many years. And every year, before ski season starts, I worry that I've completely forgotten how to ski. I know it's irrational, but it happens every single blasted year. It's so dumb. So I completely understand how you feel. Trust me, you will not have forgotten or regressed.

As for skiing in Colorado vs skiing in PA, again, you'll be fine. Well actually, you won't be. Because now you'll be spoiled for life and never want to ski Blue or Roundtop or Jack Frost or any other PA area ever again!!! So be prepared. :D

 

[liquidfeet]

Kimmyt,

We are with you!!!!!!! Tell us of your first day/week on snow out west, and we will all vicariously be with you. We understand, and are rooting for you.