Is It Easy To Learn How To Ski?

[thisinspiringlif]

Going on a skiing holiday next week and I've never done it help!

[calmck]

Book one or two private lessons if you can then join group classes

[Ken4155]

Skiing is one of those things you immediately take to, or you don't. What i mean by that is that if you are one of those who struggle with your balance and keep falling over, it could put you off the idea altogether. There's an awful lot of bodily co-ordination involved and i honestly would have learnt at least the basics before booking a skiing trip.

Are there no artificial skiing surfaces near you where you could perhaps have a few lessons before you embark on the real thing. It would be very handy to begin your skiing holiday by at least remaining upright while being taught😉

[Khandro]

Do you have a good sense of balance ? I assume you don't have your own skis, so you might be asked how much you weigh & your height, and if it's on the continong, better know it in metric. 

Don't expect to do very much on your first visit, you'll just be sliding slowly on a gentle slope.

[douglas9401]

I honestly have no idea, it's my kind of hell.

[Cloverjo]

If you can get lessons on a dry slope before, that might help a bit. Otherwise you could join the toddlers on the nursery slope. Sorry, but it's not easy. 
Or just enjoy watching your friends risk their limbs while you sip a warm cocoa or brandy. 

[ladybirder]

My first skiing was in Austria and I joined the Beginners Group and it was just brilliant.  The clear mountain air, the stunning views, happy people laughing and enjoying themselves everywhere and the very nice cafes/bars to stop and have a drink and gaze at the view.  We went slowly up and down the beginners slopes and it got easier as the time moved on.  Just remember to dig your heels in.

[Canary42]

I'm with Doug on this - the idea of being on a downward very slippery slope with just your feet for control is my idea of a nightmare. But good luck, hope you have a very enjoyable holiday.

P.S. I was once recorded as having a broken leg from skiing, but that was an error by the Personnel Department at the site where I worked after I had reported one of my staff being in a German hospital with just such an injury - the dope who took the call put it on my record.

[piggynose]

I got into ice-skating big time in 80s, I think this helped my confidence when I went skiing in 92.. I had one half hour class and away I went, there was no stopping me! I did surprise myself, I did expect to fall, but didnt!  

Btw good luck!

[-SharonA-]

I just couldn't do it. I kept falling over. I guess it's a balance thing. But all was not lost, I spent & loved my time tobogganing!!!

[bednobs]

if you are young and bendy, probably.  If you're old and decrepit, probably not

[Etch]

Some elements of learning to ski are counter-intuitive: for instance ladybirder's advice about digging your heels in is wrong - you need to have your weight forward, even when heading directly down the slope, and on the downhill ski when heading across it. Beginners tend to make the mistake of leaning back, or uphill, which usually results in them going faster and eventually falling. Incidentally, if you are afraid of falling over, and ski so as to try and avoid it, your progress will be slow and you probably won't enjoy it so much. Better to treat falling over as an inevitable part of the learning process.

I agree with others about having lessons, either in a beginner's class or with a personal instructor. When I first started to ski I also had a copy of 'We Learned to Ski' by The Sunday Times, which I found invaluable for understanding what was involved.

[mumytodex]

Ski lessons for sure! You can do a full dya one which should get you slope ready. Chill Factore - https://www.chillfactore.com if you're up north or The Snow Centre - https://www.thesnowcentre.com if your down south

[ladybirder]

Etch you can still dig your heels in when you lean forward.  How would you turn if you didn't put your weight onto one foot or the other at sometime? Dig in is perhaps an exaggeration, so put weight on the leg might be a better description.  I'm too old to do it now but og how I loved my ears of skiing in all different countries.  Anyone here who hasn't tried it should give it a go imo.

[ladybirder]

J H C   og = of

ears = years.  

TUT

[fender62]

balance is key as was mentioned, i used to roller skate and ice skate swim dive bicycles motorcyles etc, i found skiing came easy, back in the day...lol, now erm, probably could but...these old bones are not up to it, go to a dry ski place and have a go.

[Abstract1]

NO

[ladybirder]

IF I had gone to a dry ski slope first I would never ever have gone skiing.  A friend suggested we should go once, before the skiing season had started.  Never again.  For me it was nothing like a real ski slope and I hated it.