Who skis better - you or your sig. other?

[Squaw]

My husband out paces me, no question about it. There are some things he drops into that I hesitate on -- really exposed extreme lines. I use more "current" technique. But then the way he flows down the mountain, who cares. He is beautiful in action.

Our son is on the verge of surpassing him, as he trains for moguls and drops cliffs with ease as part of all mountain exteme skiing.

Jen

 

[cyn]

My husband is the better skier, for sure. He'll ski anything, anytime anywhere. He's never thrown off by flat light, snowstorms, rocks etc.
I can usually keep up with him just fine, but it wasn't always that way.

When we were first married, I took up skiing again after 20 years, and he indulged me only to a point. There were many times when I found myself at the top of a run I didn't think I could ever ski, cursing him in my head as he skied away. Despite the angst at the beginning, my skiing improved to the point where I am now a much better skier than I thought I could ever be. I credit my husband with constantly challenging me, even if I was less than fun to ski with at the beginning.

That being said, I do not accompany him on his off piste excursions. I'll never be that good.

 

[ski now work later]

One of the things I love about this site is how many of us Diva are in our 40s and 50s. For ski divas, I guess 50 is the new 30! I turn 50 in 2009 and hope to take a 4 day women's clinic at Jackson Hole in March 2110 to celebrate.... And by then I hope to have some good moves in the park.:D

 

[Gloria]

You can do it!

That being said, I do not accompany him on his off piste excursions. I'll never be that good.

I think you would be better off than you might think. Off-piste is the same as regular skiing, just with better snow conditions. Some really steep areas are accessed off-piste but are generally easier to ski than those on area because they are less tracked out. There are also just places to go to find fresh snow that aren't all cliffs and drops, just a way to extend the last storm.

 

[cyn]

I guess I should have expressed myself more clearly. When I referred to my husband's "off piste excursions" I was talking about no-fall zones and cliffs and that kind of thing.

Last year when we went to Fernie, he did a snowcat day on his own, and when he came back from that I was soooo glad I had not gone with him. I am not a timid skier by any means, and things like steeps don't scare me, but I would have been out of my league of that trip, and I'm glad I had the good sense not to go.

I have severe arthritis in both knees, and I consider every ski season a bonus. If it weren't for daily sessions at the gym and Advil, I'm not sure I'd be skiing at all.

 

[lil mountain girl]

i agree with gloria . . .

I guess I should have expressed myself more clearly. When I referred to my husband's "off piste excursions" I was talking about no-fall zones and cliffs and that kind of thing.

Last year when we went to Fernie, he did a snowcat day on his own, and when he came back from that I was soooo glad I had not gone with him. I am not a timid skier by any means, and things like steeps don't scare me, but I would have been out of my league of that trip, and I'm glad I had the good sense not to go.

I have severe arthritis in both knees, and I consider every ski season a bonus. If it weren't for daily sessions at the gym and Advil, I'm not sure I'd be skiing at all.

never say never . . . !!! :D

you seem so dedicated to the sport and you've obviously overcome some of the challenges of skiing with your partener (and his taste in "extreame" terrain)!!!

in my humble opinion, i find women generally under rate their skills and ability, where as men tend to over rate theirs . . . of course, not always the case -- but generally speaking.

also, i think you probably would've done really well on that snowcat trip -- after all, i don't think the ski guides would have let your husband huck at whim . . . guides who lead the trips often choose more moderate terrain for safety reasons, but also to let the group as a whole enjoy the experience (not everyone wants an "extreame" experience after all -- it's not just you!!)

i guess what i'm saying is that done safely with some knowledge, awareness, and proper equipment, off piste skiing (including catskiing) is a wonderful experience -- i wouldn't want you to give up on the idea without giving it a try first!!!

i know personally, i LOVE it!!! and i find backcountry skiing MUCH easier on the body than resort skiing!!! ;)

and i salute you for all the work you do every day to keep skiing!!!
you rock!!

ps. my current ski partener likes to drop cliffs and skis alot of terrain that is over my head -- but that doesn't keep us from skiing together; we just choose terrain with options so that he gets his "exciting" line, and i get a mellower line . . . and we're still skiing the same slope!

 

[altagirl]

My husband is better than I am, but not by much. Part of it is my knees, for sure. I have days where my knees hurt or conditions are bad or my legs feel weak, and unfortunately I've learned the hard way to call it a day or else. :( I have days where I ski better than he does, but he has more where he's better than I am. Overall though, we're fairly evenly matched as a couple, in all the sports we do. He's typically a little faster, but when I get motivated I'm right there. For riding though - this year I've been going to spin class a lot, and bought a singlespeed and finally can kick his butt uphill! Woohoo! :D

 

[abc]

this year I've been going to spin class a lot, and bought a singlespeed and finally can kick his butt uphill! Woohoo!

Cycling is an embarassing activity, for my partners! ;)

Seems like I can climb walls on my bike! Usually slowly to start with. But once motivated, I soon improve and would outclimb most of my partners. Basically, as long as I ride equally as much, I ended up faster, ONLY ON CLIMBS though.

By myself, I'm not as obsessed with cycling, or for that matter, skiing.

 

[Quiver Queen]

He is, but I console myself in the fact he has hundreds of ski days on me. He's proud of how quickly I'm gaining on him, but I tend to push my envelope while he just enjoys his groove.

 

[dloveski]

ME. He started when he was 8. I first skiied at 17. He is a competent skiier. But in the last 8 years, I have been pushing my limits and ski conditions/terrain that challenge me and push me beyond that which I am accustomed to skiing and in which he does not care to venture.

 

[cyn]

Thanks for that great support and encouragement! That's why I joined this forum.

Maybe if we finally meet on a "Diva Day" next year (maybe Sunshine?) you off piste women can show me what it's all about.

I guess that lurking in the back of my mind, there's a little warning bell that says that if I have an accident, I might have to stop skiing for good, and I don't even want to think about that. It's not something that keeps me from challenging myself, but it does put some limits on how far I choose to go. Is this a function of getting older? Or is it related to the pain I feel in my knees sometimes? Maybe a bit of both.

 

[ski diva]

I guess that lurking in the back of my mind, there's a little warning bell that says that if I have an accident, I might have to stop skiing for good, and I don't even want to think about that. It's not something that keeps me from challenging myself, but it does put some limits on how far I choose to go. Is this a function of getting older? Or is it related to the pain I feel in my knees sometimes? Maybe a bit of both.

This looks like a great topic for another thread. So I think I'll start one! Thanks, cyn! :D

Go here.

 

[Kimmyt]

My boyfriend (now fiancee, but I hate that word so whatevah) snowboards. He can go down terrain that I can't or won't, simply because it's easier for him to slip-slide down the hill. He also seems to have less fear than I do of hurting himself. He'll play in the park or go down steeper stuff that I think he shouldn't or at least I wouldn't go down.

This year I've gotten better, though, and can hang with him most of the day. He's still stronger though because he skiied alot more than me and bigger mountains. He just bought a pair of twin tips though, so now I can finally enjoy watching him struggle on mogulled up snow. He already has the skiing backwards thing down, which pisses me off, but not terribly much. I did tell him that I wouldn't speak to him if he got better at skiing than I am.

K.

 

[Gloria]

never say never . . . !!! :D


in my humble opinion, i find women generally under rate their skills and ability, where as men tend to over rate theirs . . . of course, not always the case -- but generally speaking.

-- i wouldn't want you to give up on the idea without giving it a try first!!!

i know personally, i LOVE it!!! and i find backcountry skiing MUCH easier on the body than resort skiing!!! ;)

and i salute you for all the work you do every day to keep skiing!!!
you rock!!

!

Cyn, I think the Diva's are on to you!!! We think you are a better skier than you do.

Keep up the good work, I know that pesky knee arthritis is a real bugger. But truly, that deep soft snow is a nice side to side bounce over a grinding slamming bump run. You may be surprised at how much better it actually feels. ;)

 

[volklgirl]

I am.

But....I taught him how to ski 8 years ago. Now he's faster than me and will throw himself down the ugliest terrain, but we both know it's just his larger muscle mass, natural athleticism, and general gutsyness that allows him to do that. I, on the other hand have solid technique and gracefullness that he doesn't have. ;)

 

[garetanne]

Well, since my ski season here in the north east is done, I guess I can at least TALK about skiing!

Whose a better skier? Me.
We actually had a discussion over our last few trips to Vt where we've decided that there is a difference between a skier, and a person who ski's.

My SO is definately a person who ski's. I've got only a few years on him in experience, but I've got the drive to get better, ski harder, tighter, bumpier, steeper - well, you've got the picture no? I'm a skier, when it snows, I want to pack up the car and GO!

Luckily he is a good sport and will come along on the last minute trips, even if he won't ski with me beyond a warm up run.

Ski clubs are great for these types of situations, becasue usually there is SOMEONE for everyone to ski with!

 

[SnowHot]

Well, since my ski season here in the north east is done, I guess I can at least TALK about skiing!

Welcome!

Nice to have you aboard. I'm sure you'll find all kinds of fun topics here and don't forget to play some of our interactive games in the humour section!!:D