Spec me skiing lessons

Fuzz

Fuzz

Fuzz

Soldato
Joined
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Time for a new hobby :D
Quite a few of my employers and mates go Skiing and I think it's about time I learnt.
How would be the best to go about it though?
Learn in the UK on a dry slope?
Learn in the UK on real snow?
Learn abroad at a Ski resort?

There is a dry ski slope in Gloucester which is about 20 mins drive away at most. However I've had a bit of conflicting advise regarding where to start.

Dry ski slope is slow and hurts lots when you fall over but you get more "slope time" than somewhere like the snow dome apparently??
They say the dome is always packed and you spend more time going up the travelator than you do actually skiing down it.

Some have said just get out to a resort and do it all there. but it sounds an expensive way to learn (especially if I can't get the hang of it :o)

I actually hate the cold lol so don't really know why I am doing this, I think it's more just the "get out with the lads" and do SOMETHING instead of sitting here every evening :D
In fact Does Australia even have mountains high enough to be capped with snow (thinking ahead here :D)


Thoughts and stories welcomed.
 
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If you dont mind breaking your thumbs, then go to the local dry run. Your best bet is to either go to the snowdome or actually go to France and get told to "bend ze knees" by the french ski school. You will enjoy it more.
 
Dry slope is a fine place to learn. If it's a half decent one then they'll have a learners slope where you can learn the basics before going down the main slope. You'll fall, but you won't hurt anything. Maybe a bruise or two but you won't break any bones or anything - you won't be going fast enough for that.
Expensive to go abroad, especially if you don't like it. Be a total waste of money. There is still lots of snow on the mountains up 'ere so may be worth taking a weekend and go to the Cairngorms and trying it out on real snow - it's very different to a dry slope.
 
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Dry slope is a pointless place to learn IMO. It feels nothing like skiing, and whilst you might be able to pick up the (very) basics, the technique on snow and ice changes dramatically.

Fortunately I learnt on real snow first, after which a dry slope just felt utterly garbage.

Either find an indoor "pseudo snow" slope, or wait until you get to a proper resort. Contrary to popular belief, learning whilst on holiday isn't actually that expensive, and given that you are new to the sport, it is a great way to mingle with people and get to know the workings of a resort, whilst learning how to ski.

Having taken countless "new" friends skiing with me over the last 12 years, I'd always encourage them to take a taster lesson in the UK on "snow", and then take half-day lessons in the resort.
 
Ahleckz said:
You'll fall, but you won't hurt anything. Maybe a bruise or two but you won't break any bones or anything - you won't be going fast enough for that.
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That's not strictly true, I took my best mate skiing years ago and he somehow managed to do a forward roll with skis on and fracture his wrist despite going at somewhere slower than walking pace. To this day I've got no idea how he did it and yet I was watching at the time, I'm not convinced he has ever forgiven me for cracking up laughing. :D

However I'd agree that while learning on a dry slope isn't ideal but it does give you an idea of the balance needed and the skills to master - note though it is infinitely easier once you get onto real snow so if you can ski well on a dry ski slope you should be able to ski anywhere.

Oh and in answer to the Australia question, there's a few ski resorts there - Thredbo is probably the most famous.
 
Perhaps a mixture of all three is in order then
Get the basics of being able to stand up, stop and turn on a dry slope. (maybe without telling the non skiing mate I will be doing it with to make me look better than him :D LOL

Then do a weekend at the snowdome.
Then book the hol (with instruction)
 
Not quite skiing, but I've been learning to snowboard recently. Not in your area either, but I've been going to the Snow Centre in Hemel which is 'real' snow and it's great. Looking to go away now and I think having learnt the basics means I'll enjoy my time out there much more than going over and injuring myself.
 
semi-pro waster said:
Oh and in answer to the Australia question, there's a few ski resorts there - Thredbo is probably the most famous.
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Hmm.. not at the moment then :D

nosnow.jpg
 
1. Don't bother with a dry slope; the reason they are empty is that they are ****
2. Book a one-day course in the mid-week at a Snow Dome
3. Go to Soldeu in Andorra for your 1st week; they use BASI certified instructors
4. Wear the right kit and don't worry about the cold
 
Most important thing about learning skiing is confidence! Just get up when you fall and keep going. Force yourself to make lots of turns (a little speed helps). Also don't let them teach you snowplough as you'll just spend ages trying to unlearn it. Finally, learn on real snow (either snowdome or at a resort). The dry slopes I have been on are nothing like snow and hurt more when you fall.

Have fun ;)
 
I'm a boarder but I would definately recommend avoiding dry ski slopes. If your not in any rush to learn then wait till spring to book your day course at the snowdome as prices will be cheaper.

What ever you do don't give up because you get tired/fed up of falling over. Just keep it up and you'll get better. After that you'll get bored with ski's and what to try snowboarding =P
 
This is something I want to do as well as we're going skiing early next year. Was thinking about an intensive learn to ski day at the snowdome in MK. Anyone been there?
 
platypus said:
This is something I want to do as well as we're going skiing early next year. Was thinking about an intensive learn to ski day at the snowdome in MK. Anyone been there?
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Been there a few times and it is very limited if you know what you are doing but It would be fine for a first lesson. Money well spent to be at least familiar before you go on holiday.
 
Firstly, I'd agree that if you are planning to go away on a holiday, learn before you go. You will have a much better time and will know before what to expect and whether you are even going to enjoy it or not. Also, if you are with more advanced people, you can at least try and spend sometime with them. There's not much fun as somebody who can ski or ride to go away on a holiday with people who can't.

Secondly, I'd say that people so far here haven't been very fair to dryslopes.
I learn't to snowboard on a dryslope many years ago and there are a good deal of plus points that make them worth considering.

- There are a lot of comments about falling and breaking wrists or hand bones due to the holes in the dryslope surface. While that was certainly possible on a Dendix surface (dryslope material with holes in) you will find that a lot of dryslopes these days use a much more modern surface, such as Snowflex or Permasnow. These don't have any holes in them where you can get caught, they have soft cushioning layers underneath and are irrigated to run faster.

- "If you can ride a dryslope, you can ride on anything." That old adage is certainly true. Dryslope leaves a slightly less room for error than real snow does, thus being able to ride a dryslope helps prepare you better for the myriad of different snow and ice conditions you would encounter on a real mountain.

- You are considering getting lessons right now during winter? That's the busiest time of year to get lessons in a snowdome, as everyone will be doing it before going away.

- Cost.... this is the biggest factor. Snowdomes are expensive. For instance, an hour private one on one lesson on a dryslope is cheaper than the equivalent group lesson at a snowdome. It could be cheaper further still if you took dryslope group lessons. Once you have learned, the cost to go on a dryslope is much cheaper than snow and most places have a proper membership scheme.

- Freestyle - If this is something that appeals to you once you can ski or ride, its often the case that dryslopes are a bit better for this. Snowdomes tend to have specific freestyle nights where they have kickers and rails, but you pay for the whole night and at other times these are fenced off or not built. Dryslopes have permanent kickers and quarter pipes and freestyle features you can put in place, which means you can do freestyle stuff at any time of the day. Snowdomes also often limit their freestyle nights and features during winter when they have the most people in for lessons.

I'm certainly not against Snowdomes. I use Hemel once a month, and in the past drove up to MK very often to go to Xscape, as well as having used Castleford when I was in Uni. For lessons though, you get better value for money on a dryslope and can have a 1-on-1 with a qualified instructor.
 
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thanks for the info in this thread ive always wanted to give skiing a try :)

manchester place would be closest for me i think
 
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