Need some newbie skiing advice

[miracleboy]

My wife and I want to learn to Ski/Board and were hoping to go away to France for a week designed specifically for beginners, where we can hire all the gear (apart from trousers/jacket etc).

Anyone have experience of doing one of these courses/holidays?

Or veteran skiiers have any advice on resorts, companies, methods of travel (we live v close to channel tunnel so coach/train/self drive an option).

Also she wants to ski and I want to snowboard, will this be a problem?

Thanks!

 

[skiba]

Igluski usually has good deals, especially last minute.

Which resort entirely depends on purpose and budget. Somewhere like Andorra is cheap and would be fine for beginners but useless for more experienced skiers due to it's low altitude. Places like Verbier and Val D'isere are great for off piste and steeps which you won't need. Somewhere like Alpe D'huez, Meribel, Courcheval would be a good in between but bear in mind there is not much snow in Europe at the moment.

Her skiing and you snowboarding won't be a problem except that she will be dragging you along the flats or laughing at you while you unstrap and start walking. Personally I would ski, I've done 2 seasons in Canada and most of my friends that were boarding switched to skis in the second season. Also you won't end up with a sore head when you keep catching your back edge.

Defintiely get some lessons at your local dry slope before you go to get the most out of your holiday otherwise you will spend the first 2 days just getting used to the feeling of having bits of wood strapped to your feet...

 

[Macca]

I'm not really too experienced, but i don't think you both wanting to do different ones will be a big problem unless you decide to get lessons obviously. Also with the snowboarding theres the strapping feet in and out a lot on flat areas. From reading your post it seems you've never done it before?

It might be easier to both do the same thing, as from experience i've seen snowboarding can take a lot longer to get the hang of. Myself i done snowboarding and loved it, but i noticed the people skiing would progress faster and be up the mountain before you.

Can't help with where to go / who to book with for something like this

 

[miracleboy]

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

Neither of us have skiied before, so we're total novices.

I think I might go with the ski's then based on what you say, I can always go with snowboard in the future once I get used to things.

As for where to go I think we wanted to try the French Alps, somewhere with good beginners slopes and some good apres ski, nice restaurants etc.

 

[skiba]

Most of the mainstream French resorts have what you're after but Meribel and Courcheval would definitely be two worth looking at, people also speak highly of Avoriaz and Morzine but i've never been so can't comment, Tignes would also be well worth considering but is pretty pricey. Personally I don't like Chamonix because the ski areas are scattered around and you end up getting buses and whatnot but it is a big town so lots to do.

 

[miracleboy]

We have to go in the Spring half term as my wife is a teacher, so I'm guessing it will be expensive and busy! Will it be okay for snow in France 10th-19th Feb?

 

[semi-pro waster]

Her skiing and you snowboarding won't be a problem except that she will be dragging you along the flats or laughing at you while you unstrap and start walking. Personally I would ski, I've done 2 seasons in Canada and most of my friends that were boarding switched to skis in the second season. Also you won't end up with a sore head when you keep catching your back edge.

It might be easier to both do the same thing, as from experience i've seen snowboarding can take a lot longer to get the hang of. Myself i done snowboarding and loved it, but i noticed the people skiing would progress faster and be up the mountain before you.

That is very odd, I've never met anyone who thinks that skiing is easier and I have done both, I skied for about 6 years (ages 6-12) then got on a snowboard and never looked back although I did try snowblades last year and found I hadn't lost that much in the way of ability but felt much more limited in what I could do. Not wishing to cast aspertions about whoever taught you but I don't think they can have been very good at imparting the knowledge of how to snowboard because it is very simple. I can understand if you want to do the same as your friends but snowboarding is, in general, far easier to learn and much quicker to progress to an advanced level.

After a couple of hours on a snowboard most people should be able to get down most runs (I'm excluding black/black diamond etc) on the mountain with a reasonable degree of control, it may only be edging/traversing but it can be done, I don't know of many skiers who picked it up that quickly and even fewer who I would trust to go down most runs after only a couple of hours. This is my experience from teaching mates/family members and I wouldn't say that I am doing anything particularly special in the teaching, it is just that easy to learn once you get the balance.

Part of the problem I think is that once you get good at one there is very little incentive to do the other because you go back to being a novice again and that isn't so fun when you have had the experience of speed and control.

 

[Jimbeam3678]

I'd have to agree with above. Snowboarding is a lot easier to pick up. Just hurts more when you catch a front edge and do a face plant

And boy yes i've done that a few times ha ha

 

[Macca]

That is very odd, I've never met anyone who thinks that skiing is easier and I have done both, I skied for about 6 years (ages 6-12) then got on a snowboard and never looked back although I did try snowblades last year and found I hadn't lost that much in the way of ability but felt much more limited in what I could do. Not wishing to cast aspertions about whoever taught you but I don't think they can have been very good at imparting the knowledge of how to snowboard because it is very simple. I can understand if you want to do the same as your friends but snowboarding is, in general, far easier to learn and much quicker to progress to an advanced level.

After a couple of hours on a snowboard most people should be able to get down most runs (I'm excluding black/black diamond etc) on the mountain with a reasonable degree of control, it may only be edging/traversing but it can be done, I don't know of many skiers who picked it up that quickly and even fewer who I would trust to go down most runs after only a couple of hours. This is my experience from teaching mates/family members and I wouldn't say that I am doing anything particularly special in the teaching, it is just that easy to learn once you get the balance.

Part of the problem I think is that once you get good at one there is very little incentive to do the other because you go back to being a novice again and that isn't so fun when you have had the experience of speed and control.

I'm just going by what i seen on both of my ski trips with my school, the snowboarders took longer to progress up the mountain. Yeah after an hour or so they could go down a few slopes but they were only able to go down straight and not really turn well. I seen a lot of the snowboarders change to skiing because they found it hard, i found it easy and it didn't take me long to master it but, maybe the people from my school just sucked?

Each time we went it was obviously different people teaching and it always seemed that the snowboarders took so long to get up the mountain in the lessons. I found it easy, just from what i seen in these lessons that it seemed to be hard for the beginners and i seen so many change to skiing.

I can't wait to go snowboarding again, i think there should be a OcUK Ski/Snowboard trip Would be fun, although not sure if it would be allowed or even work.

 

[ruffneck]

Where are you based? Why not try and find a local snow dome theres a big one in Milton Keynes called Xscape

get a couple of lessons there, then goto France

 

[miracleboy]

Based in Kent - there is a snowpark in Rochester so might go there and try it out.

 

[semi-pro waster]

I can't wait to go snowboarding again, i think there should be a OcUK Ski/Snowboard trip Would be fun, although not sure if it would be allowed or even work.

Could do it I'm sure, the main problem would be in organisation, as Scotland is just too fickle for snow and I don't have the cash for going elsewhere until after I finish uni (and maybe not even then) plus it is almost as close to go to the Alps for some of the English posters.

Sorry if I came across as a bit sharp before, I wasn't doubting your experiences, it just seemed a bit strange as it is completely at odds with my experience.

 

[Macca]

Could do it I'm sure, the main problem would be in organisation, as Scotland is just too fickle for snow and I don't have the cash for going elsewhere until after I finish uni (and maybe not even then) plus it is almost as close to go to the Alps for some of the English posters.

Sorry if I came across as a bit sharp before, I wasn't doubting your experiences, it just seemed a bit strange as it is completely at odds with my experience.

It was fine I know that just that i seen so many switch and so many struggle with it, i found it relatively easy to do, had my fair share of falling though

And for the trip, i was thinking of Europe next winter / next year. But the main problems would be organisation and stuff, would be a big task.

 

[Rich_L]

I would highly recommend Zell am See in Austria (if you're travelling to France, it isn't much further, 15 hours drive from Calais -> Zell am See apparently) I've been there twice in the last 2 years (just got back from this Xmas) and it has an excellent range of runs and the instruction is top-notch, plus it actually looks like a really nice place with all the traditional Austrian houses rather than monster apartment blocks, also it's right on a lake where you can wander round if you get tired of skiing. Not to mention the nightlife is quite decent, plenty of action without any idiots!

 

[Drawoh Tesremos]

I usually go to Les Gets. It's in the French Alps, not too far from Geneva. Very good for beginners as well as experienced, and there are plenty of courses for skiing and snowboarding at various levels, including absolute beginners.

As well as the French ski schools, there's also a British ski school which operates there. I can recommend both the main French School, école du ski français, and the British school, BASS (British Alpine Ski and Snowboarding school). Both of these school run provate lessons and group courses, typically six to eight students, with separate courses for children and adults.

 

[Nexus]

That is very odd, I've never met anyone who thinks that skiing is easier and I have done both, I skied for about 6 years (ages 6-12) then got on a snowboard and never looked back although I did try snowblades last year and found I hadn't lost that much in the way of ability but felt much more limited in what I could do. Not wishing to cast aspertions about whoever taught you but I don't think they can have been very good at imparting the knowledge of how to snowboard because it is very simple. I can understand if you want to do the same as your friends but snowboarding is, in general, far easier to learn and much quicker to progress to an advanced level.

After a couple of hours on a snowboard most people should be able to get down most runs (I'm excluding black/black diamond etc) on the mountain with a reasonable degree of control, it may only be edging/traversing but it can be done, I don't know of many skiers who picked it up that quickly and even fewer who I would trust to go down most runs after only a couple of hours. This is my experience from teaching mates/family members and I wouldn't say that I am doing anything particularly special in the teaching, it is just that easy to learn once you get the balance.

Part of the problem I think is that once you get good at one there is very little incentive to do the other because you go back to being a novice again and that isn't so fun when you have had the experience of speed and control.

I totally disagree with you.

Just for some background, I lived at Whistler Blackcomb ski resort for two years and worked as a snowboard instructor. From all my experiences teaching people to learn I can say without doubt that skiing is the easier discipline to being with.

Skiing is a lot more stable and easier to begin with, but is a lot harder to master. You are right in saying that once you start to progress with snowboarding that the progression is fast, much more so than mastering skiing.

It's also totally down to the individual. I've taught people who pick it up really fast and by the second day can be doing green runs with ease. On the flip side I've taught people all week and they still fall over every minute struggling to get down even the easiest run. Not to mention some give up because they don't think they will ever get it, or their arse is so bruised that they can't even sit down.

Really I think its down to how long you are going on holiday for. If you are prepared to take a fair bit of abuse and are good at sticking with things, then go for snowboarding. However if you are there just a week and would like to see a bit of the mountains, then skiing is probably your best bet.


Best option is to get down your dryslope/snowdome and take lessons before you go. You will have a much better holiday if you can already do it.

 

[Macca]

On the flip side I've taught people all week and they still fall over every minute struggling to get down even the easiest run. Not to mention some give up because they don't think they will ever get it, or their arse is so bruised that they can't even sit down.

That's how it was with most of the people i went with on my trip, 5 days of it and a lot of them still couldn't hack it. That's why i had the view it was harder than skiing.

 

[semi-pro waster]

Best option is to get down your dryslope/snowdome and take lessons before you go. You will have a much better holiday if you can already do it.

That is definitely good advice, a dryslope is not much like snow but it enables you to find your balance and if you can snowboard/ski on a dryslope then I've always found snow is pretty simple in comparison.

As to the rest, fair enough, you clearly have more experience in teaching than I do. I suppose I might just know a gifted bunch of people who picked it up pretty easily, like I said I'd never known anyone who thought that skiing was easier but I guess I (sort-of) do now.

 

[bam0]

That is definitely good advice, a dryslope is not much like snow but it enables you to find your balance and if you can snowboard/ski on a dryslope then I've always found snow is pretty simple in comparison.

Seconded, when I started skiing I learnt as much as I could on a dry slope and it really made me appreciate the snow better, the only real difference between dry slopes and snow is you can't catch your edges as sharply on a dry slope, you slide everywhere.

As to the rest, fair enough, you clearly have more experience in teaching than I do. I suppose I might just know a gifted bunch of people who picked it up pretty easily, like I said I'd never known anyone who thought that skiing was easier but I guess I (sort-of) do now.

Having done both I found snowboarding far easier, I couldn't guess how many hours it took before I could parallel turn, but it was many more than the 3 hours it took from getting on a board to doing linked turns.

 

[Chabsy]

Best advice would be do some training (running or gym) before you go skiing is hard work.

I prefer Italy to France Le Tiulle is great speling may be a bit wrong