| Questions
frequently asked by beginners |
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Should
I buy or hire skis and boots?
If you are a complete beginner
it is probably not worth the expense of buying skis or boots. Current ski
and boot technology creates many different skis and boots with very difference
characteristics. Boots which are suitable for a beginner are designed with
the emphasis more towards comfort than performance, whereas an expert will
demand much stiffer ones. With good instruction, you will progress quickly
and will quickly grow out of the equipment which you will need as a beginner.
Conversely, if you buy equipment which is designed for a more advanced
skier you will struggle to start with. After a couple of ski holidays,
when you have decided you like skiing, the first piece of equipment you
should consider investing in is a pair of boots.
Take professional advise
when selecting your boots and don't pretend to be a better skier than you
are! Also, don't go to a shop on a busy Saturday afternoon in December
when the sales assistants will be rushed off their feet. Go in August on
a weekday (You will also probably get a better price at this time). Spend
plenty of time making sure the boots are comfortable. Many shops, for example
Snow
and Rock offer comfort guarantees.
Should
I have dry slope lessons before I go on holiday?
Absolutely, yes. There are a
number of excellent dry ski slopes throughout the UK specialising in preparing
you for your first skiing holiday. Learning the basics, such as familiarity
with the equipment, learning how to control your speed and making your
first turns will allow you to progress much faster when you are on holiday
and most probably enjoy your holiday more. When you get to your ski resort
the ski school (if they are any good) should separate complete beginners
from those who have had some dry slope experience and you will progress
more quickly. Refer to the Directory
of UK skiing for the slope closest to you.
Which
are the best resorts for beginners?
This is a very subjective question.
Almost everyone has his or her own opinion about the best ski resorts.
Get hold of a large range of skiing brochures and look for the star ratings
for each resort. Most brochures categorise resorts as good for beginners,
intermediates, experts etc. Choose a resort with a 5 star beginner rating.
If you are going early (Christmas) or late (Easter) in the season, look
carefully where the beginner slops are. If they are low down - will there
be any snow on them? At either end of the season, you should pick a high
resort where the beginner slopes are near your accommodation or maybe a
direct cable car ride away (such that you can ride back down!). Look also
at what ski schools are available - are any offering British (BASI qualified)
instructors?
A personal recommendation
would Courchevel in
France and the Supreme Ski School.
If
I have dry slope lessons will I need ski school on my holiday?
Dry ski slope lessons will prepare
you for skiing on snow and will enable you to get more out of your holiday.
There are some things however which you cannot learn on a dry slope, for
example finding your way around your chosen resort and which are the runs
best suited to a skier of your ability for example. A ski school in the
resort also gives you a chance to meet with other skiers of similar ability.
Ski school lessons are usually of 2 or 3 hours duration and give you plenty
of time to explore on your own.
Hint. If you can, book your
lessons at the start of the day. The sacrifice of dragging yourself out
of bed for a 9:15 start is worth it.
What
exercises should I do before I go?
Skiing is a physical activity.
You are going to be doing it at altitude where the oxygen levels are lower
so you will tire more quickly. Any preparation you can do before you go
both in terms of increasing your general level of fitness and improving
strength, particularly in the legs will be of benefit. Don't over do it
though. If you are not used to exercising take professional advice. Many
sports centres run pre-season fitness sessions specifically for skiers.
There are also a huge number of ski and general fitness books and videos
you can buy.
Should
I buy a one piece ski suit?
The advantage of a one-piece
suit is that, as the name implies, the jacked and the trousers are constructed
as one. This means that if you fall down, snow is less likely to find its
way inside! There are however some disadvantages. One piece suits are less
flexible - if it is very hot you can't take your jacket off. It also means
that your ski suit goes back in the wardrobe when you get home and is not
used until next year.
What
age should children start skiing?
When they are ready.
Think hard why you want your
young child to ski. Is it because you want to go on a skiing holiday?
This is not a good enough reason. Remember that children below school age
are not used to being in a learning environment and are less able to be
'instructed' - they are more likely to want to play in the snow.
Also remember snow is cold and young children will not be able to tolerate
low temperatures in the same way adults can. Believe me, when it is 20
degrees below, a young child will not be very happy. Many resorts offer
'kids club" arrangements for the very young where skiing is treated as
play and is combined with indoor games.
Having said all that, I know
of a child who skied his first black run before he was out of nappies.
Now I think of it, I can recall an occasion at the the top of a black
run where a nappy would have come in really handy.
Don't forget - every child
is different. My only rule is do not to push a child who does not want
to ski - you may put him off what is a wonderful sport for life!
If
I have had some dry slope lessons, what level lessons should I book when
on holiday?
An investment in a 4 to 6 hour
course on a dry slope for will be a huge benefit when you start your holiday.
Tell the ski school what experience you have when you book your lessons.
In my experience 6 hours on the dry slope in the few weeks before you go
away will put you at the same standard as skiers who have had a week on
snow a year ago but done nothing since.
I
hear that there have been problems with British instructors being arrested
in France. Should I book with the local ski school?
There have been problems in
the past regarding British instructors working in Europe, particularly
in France. The cynics will say that there is never a problem during the
busy Christmas, New Year and Half term holidays when the resorts are only
too happy to have as many instructors as possible. At the end of the season
when work starts to dry up, things have sometimes been made difficult for
the British instructors. To work legally in France, all British instructors
have to pass an accreditation test. Check with the ski school, before you
book you lessons, that these criteria have been met and you should have
no problems.
The main benefit of using
a ski school which employs British instructors is that you will be taught
in English. This is of particular benefit for young children. Have a look
at the SkiNet experts recommended
ski schools before booking your holiday.
Other European counties do
not seem to have the same difficulties.
What
are carving ski's and should I use them?
Carving ski's are constructed
with a narrow waist and wide tip and tail. This geometry makes the ski
easier to turn than a traditional straight ski. Once you have mastered
the basics of plough turns and are starting to learn to do parallel turns
(in which the ski's remain parallel throughout the turn) carving ski's
will help.
What
is the Ski-way Code?
The Ski-way
Code is a set of rules for skiers, much like the Highway Code is a
set of rules for drivers. It was written by the Fédération
Internationale de Ski ("FIS").
