Have you ever gone skiing?

[Anonymous]

My boyfriend keeps asking me to go skiing with him. He's real into sports and doing active stuff like this.

I've never gone. My one friend broke her leg the first time she ever went skiing and that really turned me off from it.

So my question is have you ever gone skiing? What was your experience? Is it easy to pick up, did you have fun or was it not that great of a time for you?

I really want to join my boyfriend in things like this because I know how much he enjoys being active but just thinking about going stresses me out... any words of reassurance or personal experiences would be great.

[sketchy]

Skiing's great - you'll love it!

I've spent a few seasons working in ski resorts. It's one of those things that takes very little time to learn, but years to really master (snowboarding is the opposite - it's brutal for the first week or so, but after that it becomes easy to handle tough conditions that would require actual skill on skis).

For a total beginner, I think you can expect to spend the first morning snowploughing (you'll learn what that means), the first afternoon skidding turns, and then be starting to carve proper turns from day 2 onwards - and happily cruising down blue / red runs the rest of the trip. You probably won't have long enough to be thinking about skiing powder, moguls, jumps etc. It didn't take me long at all, but I'd already done a lot of nordic skiing, and my girlfriend at the time was a skiing instructor...

The most important thing is confidence - you've got to be fearless and just go for it, or you'll never get anywhere. It's a little counter-intuitive, but you're actually less likely to hurt yourself that way too (it's the slow, awkward falls where your legs get all twisted in strange directions that cause injuries - if you're skiing more quickly, you tend to just go flying, and the skis release like they're supposed to).

If you're really worried about hurting yourself, tell the person who gives you your skis, and ask them to set the DIN a little lower than normal - they'll know what that means (if they don't, then definitely go to a different shop!), which is basically that it just makes the skis come off more easily in a crash.

Also, make sure they give you fairly short skis - between chin and eye level is good for a beginner (and preferably with lots of sidecut), as they'll turn really easily, and let you get away with skidding your turns a bit when you're just starting out (makes them more forgiving). If you can, ask for them to make the tips and tails a little blunt as well, for the same reason.

[ged89]

Skiing is really fun. I've been going since I was in elementary school. It's similar to ice skating. Going down hill is exhilarating and the scenic vistas are stunning. It is by far at least to me the most fun way to exercise. It's not hard to pick up. If you start out on beginner trails which are labeled with a green circle. No one cares if you fall. Just take it slow at first and get the fundamentals down like turning and stopping. But don't forget to wear sunblock if your face is exposed. You should at least try it. I'm sure your boyfriend will help you learn.

[Asker]

How would you say it's similar to ice skating? I love to ice skate and I'm pretty good at it, but my boyfriend never wants to do it because the skates hurt his feet. If I can ice skate pretty well do you think I'd be able to pick up skiing then?

[ged89]

Well you know how you do a hockey stop in ice skating? You shift your weight and dig the edges into the ice? That's how you stop in skiing. Also the way you are taught to turn in is to keep your skis parallel and use the edges of the skis to turn. Ya I think if you're a good ice skater then skiing should be easy to pick up. I skated before I skied and I picked it right up.

[Asker]

I see! Maybe I will end up giving it a go then. I wish that he would come ice skating with me but he really seems to hate the way the skates feel, so maybe this will just be the next best thing. Thanks for your help!

[ged89]

you're very welcome

[chocolateismylover]

The first time I went was crazy. I almost slammed into a tree but it was still a fun experience. I think its hard to get used to I buts its definitely worth learning. Its a great workout.

[MaskofInsanity]

I went for the first time the Christmas before last when I was in Colorado. I was surprisingly natural and had an absolute blast.

[sovetskii13]

I love to ski. It's a lot of fun, a great workout, and just being outside in the sun and the fresh air.

I can understand how you feel about skiing after that incident you heard about. But she must've been skiing on more advanced (black) trails. You've never gone skiing so it will be a while before you'll be able to take on the advanced trails. The chances of breaking your leg or other body parts on the easy (green) trails. Just go slow. Plus, let him teach you. Start by trying to keep your skis parallel. Work on your balance, and go from side to side rather than totally down the slope. That will help you get better control of your skis and used to keeping your balance. Once you master that you can go on the steeper slopes where you'll have to do the same movements faster. Better reflexes. And so on. If you take things one step at a time you'll be just fine. That's how I learned over 10 years ago. I've been skiing every year and I never got injured in any way. And I ski on the advanced trails sometimes. Don't be afraid. Practice makes perfect.

[Anonymous]

Yeah ...on a school trip - was probably around 12 years old then.

I hated it.

I had never skied before and it's a sport that I found out very quickly there in the mountains that just doesn't suit me. I tried to stay as much in the ski lodge as I possibly could, and I was bored to tears

[Asker]

Was there anything in particular you didn't like about it? Or was it just the environment?

[Opinion Owner]

Well, from what I can remember it was they automatically thought we were all masters of skis and had all gone before. I had never skied before in my life; I don't remember if I brought skis with me (probably lent from a family friend) or rented them on the location. Luckily there were a few in the class that also had no idea how to ski.

It was like throwing a kid into a pool and expecting him to learn to swim instantly. But I've never went skiing since and I never will

[THE_Godfather]

Nope! It's wayyyy too cold.

I go waterskiing & surfing. That's more up my alley.

[douride2]

I tried skiing a few times I sucked and didn't get better so I gave it up. I had fun just wasn't very good at it.

[ArabianPwincess197]

no