latetoschool

I didn't want to hijack the runner thread - I have NEVER skiied, and there is a wonderful club that I am considering joining. Membership is only $60/year, and they seem to offer group trips to the most interesting places at what appear to be very reasonable prices - in the U.S. and in other countries.

Does anyone here ski, and if so, it is reasonable to assume that a novice can try it a few times without a huge financial commitment? In other words, can one usually rely on being able to simply rent the necessary equipment at the ski resort?

Also, is the exercise and health benefit payoff worth the effort? It seems like it would be terrific exercise as well as a LOT of fun, but a lot of travel time and financial investment. Very tempting, not sure it's worth it (???).

emeraldkity4

well if you already have all the clothing
( jackets- long underwear- gloves- hats etc), then yes you can rent at the resort, although that may be expensive and if you are going to do it more than a few times it is worth buying ( also becuase rental gear can be lesser quality- it also may be worth it, if more of a hassle to rent at a ski shop where you live, because they will see you as a repeat customer, and may have equipment that will suit you better)

You need to be in shape before skiing, otherwise you may not have the muscle strenght that you need for control, and that could be dangerous or at min lead to injury.

Personally, depending on resort, I am not a big down hill fan- I prefer cross country, but slalom courses are a great workout, especially for your legs.

I would let who is running the trips know you are a beginner, to get more info about the areasand how they select them, some may not have much to offer beginners.
However many are picking up the sport and some areas do have lots of things designed for adults new to the sport
http://www.ifyouski.com/features/sally_home/

driver

I've skied for 30 years and never bought equipment. I usually go for two one-week ski trips per year, and purchasing gear hasn't been worth it for me. If I lived in a place where I could easily ski on weekends, I would buy. We bought gear for my daughter when she moved to the Berkshires, and she uses it a lot.

It's enormously fun. It's also great exercise, depending on how you approach it. X-country skiing is obviously more of a workout, but downhill can be a great cardio (and muscular) workout as well, when you become more advanced. Skiing is expensive and addictive, there's no way around it. If you decide to go for it, invest in a half-day private or semi-private lesson once you've mastered the basic bunny-slope stuff. The dividends from such lessons are exponential.

Chedva

Yes, a novice adult can learn how to ski. Your best bet is to book a "lesson, lift, rental" package which can be a one-day thing or multiple days. That will give you a pretty good idea if you like it or not. It's also the best economically. (The club may also have some arrangements with local ski shops that could give you a deal on rentals.)

Also, just as an FYI, Mobil gas stations offer deals on lessons at certain ski resorts for 3 fillups.

And as a novice, you don't have to be in great shape (I'm certainly not!). Skiing will help you there.

mootmom

Agreed -- lesson/lift/rent is the way to go, preferably for more than one day (your first day may only get as far as the bunny slope with tow rope, which isn't where the fun is). Skiing can be more or less of a workout, as others have said, but if you're properly clothed and it's not pouring slush and the snow is sweet, well... it's just short of heavenly. (Pun sort-of intended for my compatriots in the Tahoe area... ) Coming out of a bend in the trees at a leisurely pace, with the cool air in your face, and seeing the sun glint off the snowy hill and Lake Tahoe (or some other gorgeous winter vista) appearing in front of your face in the distance almost makes winter worth it. And arriving at the bottom of a hill that challenged you (even if experienced ski bums would find it laughably easy) is a *very* satisfying feeling. (As is the hot cocoa or other warm beverage afterwards next to a roaring fire.)

Despite having collapsed knees (see running thread for sighs), I wear braces on my knees and ski every winter. The price of your club seems good (depending what they offer for the money), and you can definitely try skiing without investing in your own equipment (although be aware that rental equipment at resorts is not going to fit you as well as equipment you'd purchase and have personally fitted at home, and since so many people use rental equipment it's often somewhat worn, but they won't rent it out if it's dangerous so no worries.) I'd say go for it!

digmedia

Living in Colorado gives us great opportunities for both downhill and cross-country. Both are great fun, but downhill considerable less so if the resort is crowded. Large crowds are not fun, either waiting in line or on the slope itself. Last year, we started concentrating on some of the smaller, less-crowed areas and had a blast (at a cheaper price, too). Our favorite spot is Telluride: huge area and zero crowds!

But, unlike my wife, I - born and raised in the South - started skiing as an adult. The first day was mostly miserable (until I figured some things out). So dont make any of my...

First Time Mistakes...

1. I wore too much clothing. I figured that it was winter, it was near freezing, and I'd be out in the snow, so I'd better bundle up. Aaaargh, was that a mistake! Dress in layers and have a small day-pack on your back to stuff those layers into when the sun and the effort begin to make it feel like a summer's day!
   
2. I rented equipment at the resort. Think of cattle being "chuted" through to the slaughter station! Long waits in line, but then you're rushed through the ourfitting in a way that you have no idea whether you're properly fitted or not or whether you have the equipment that's best for your first time(s). Much better to go to the local ski shop or sports store and rent in advance, get some personalized service, and be ready to ski when you get there.
   
3. I did not get an initial lesson. I figured that my wife knew how to ski, so she could teach me. She got so frustrated with my frustration that she said so long and took off without me.
   
4. I headed straight for the chairlift to the top of the mountain. "Bunny Slope??" Wasn't that for little kids? Not for me! I wanted the real mountain. The first hurdle I did not overcome was the short Black-Diamond-worthy slope at the top of the chairlift. Of course I went sprawling, the operator had to stop the lift, and everyone glared at me until I got out of the way.

Later, after shedding several layers and going over to the bunny slope, I then began to see that this sport might be fun after all.

And then one final bit of advice: The easy part is going downhill. The more difficult thing to learn is how to turn. I tried to do everything my wife and others told me about how to turn - where to put weight, what to do with my feet and legs, how to shift balance, and on and on. NO WONDER I COULDN'T TURN! It's impossible to think of everything you've got to do and then do it.

But then I decide to use the "Think Method" (think of Robert Preston and the Minuet in G). I just kind of imagined I was Jean Claude Killy and did NOT try to analyze about how to make the turns. I just had a vision of what I wanted to look like as I made the turn. And guess what? It worked. And since I also imagined Jean Claude doing those "hockey stops" after a downhill race, shooting up a lot of snow in an impressive stop, that's how I learned to stop. I kind of skipped the wedge stage.

Try it and have fun.

driver

Visualization is an amazing method, dig. Works for skiing, tennis, martial arts--just about anything. Of course you have to be visualizing good technique, so there's no substitute for good teaching. I also agree about the clothing, with one caveat--always bring blizzard gear in your pack. Goggles, neck gaiter, face mask, etc. I hate being overheated, and tend to dress light on the slope, but those nasty squalls can come up out of nowhere, and then you're in real trouble if you don't have some stuff to put on. I also began wearing a helmet about 10 years ago, after seeing a man taken down the mountain at Big Sky with blood coming out of his ears. He had hit a tree, but there are also out-of-control hotrod skiers to contend with, at times, who can hurt people.

One thought on turning--yes, it's really what it's all about, isn't it? And where the exercise comes from. You can spot the instructors all the way across a valley, maintaining the same controlled descent no matter how steep or rugged the slope. It still awes me to see it, and I can do it on occasion, particularly after a night of vivid ski dreams (visualization while unconscious!) My kids can ski like that--they started at age 3-1/2, but they no longer have the patience to give poor old Mom pointers

mootmom

Helmet = YES! If you invest in one piece of equipment after your bunny-slope lesson, make it a helmet. You typically won't be able to rent one, and there's really no excuse anymore to ski without one. Even the ultra-cool teens in the family wear helmets. 'nuff said.

latetoschool

Thanks very much everyone for all the terrific, detailed information. I appreciate it, and I'm going to give it a try. I'm especially relieved to know it doesn't have to cost a lot to experiment and see if I will like it.

Digmedia, I visited with a client Friday who turns out is from Colorado - he graduated from the University of Colorado before going to law school at Georgetown, and settling in D.C. He must be 60-ish by now, anyway, I went to his office, haven't visited with him in months, and discovered him with a cast on one arm and on crutches for the opposite leg. He's an obsessive skier it turns out; he flies to Colorado as often as possible. He cannot wait to get back on the slopes and intends to defy his doctors and return before they tell him he can. I'm guessing his wife must simply be worried sick that he'll get hurt even worse. Anyway, I told him I was thinking about this local club and giving it a try, and he just wouldn't stop talking about skiing as well as obsessing about the incredible beauty of Colorado, which of course rather abbreviated the available discussion time on business issues.

Driver unfortunately the only winter outerwear I own is for business, for business trips into the northeast or mid atlantic. Don't own anything else and don't even know if I can buy anything locally, but I'm going to join this club as they seem to have a LOT of community related activities too and hopefully someone can stear me to a resource that won't be ridiculously expensive. I am used to tropical weather and tend to get very cold when in the north, hoping some of the local club members can tell me how or if they are able to adjust to winter climates.

latetoschool

Mootmom, thanks for the emphasis on helmets. I am a very uncoordinated and easily confused person - very athletic and in incredible shape - but hopelessly nerd-ish. My biggest challenge will be figuring out how to stand up in skis, especially while trying to wear winter clothing. It'll take days and days before I will be able to do anything besides fall down a lot, I'm sure.

patient

What I do at our resort (Northstar at Tahoe) is I get a lesson and rent DEMO skis suggested by the instructor--not the generic ones you get at the base of the mountain, but ones that the ski store is hoping to then sell you. That way you don't have to buy anything but your skis are suited to your body more.

My parents first skied at age 52 I believe--Dad skied into his 70s, I think my mom skied for at least 10 years. Granted, they never won any races, but they had a glorious time!

emeraldkity4

It might even be better to start when you are older
It sounds like you are in good shape amd should be able to handle the new ways of moving.
My H has skiied since he was small & he still thinks he is 28 if not 18, which has resulted in his knee being screwed together ( he went off of a jump that was a little too big)- but if you don't suffer from testosterone poisoning . you should be OK

JeepMOM

You should be able to get very good basics - outfitted - at any decent sporting good store - Dick's Sporting Goods - Sports Authority - etc..... - basically start inside and work out - in layers.

good long johns - Chili's are comfy and non-waffled type of material - top and bottoms
out-door socks - they have different weights - and are padded in the right places - wear over the long johns
turtle neck is a must
tight-knit sweater - or fleece - loose knits are very bulky
well-fitting jacket and 'snow' pants (the type you only have to wear long johns under - the dicky type are warmer/comfy vs reg pant type that snow can get up your back)
hat
good gloves/mits - very important for those who don't do real well with the cold.
Neck gator - fits in your pocket - or worn as a turtle neck - can be pulled up over your face if it is really cold
goggles - or good sun glasses will do for many

For warmer days - a nice vest can be substitued for the jacket.
Also good to have wind-breaker in your bag at the lodge - just in case another thin layer is needed.

Always good to stuff hand warmers chem packs in your pocket - they fit inside mits/gloves - they have foot/toe warmers also.

Always try on ski boots with the socks that you will be wearing - and don't try on boots at the end of a day.

Lots of ski areas have lift/lesson/equip - lift/lesson/equip/lodging packages - and being in a ski club has lots of social and $$ percs as well - especially for someone new to the sport.

JeepMOM

Almost forgot - the most important thing - the helmet!!

patient

I like LLBean and REI too--you can shop both online. LLBean is nice for little people (has petite sizes).