Any Skiers here?

[smakme7757]

I'm currently living in Norway and a few of my mates at uni want to go on a Ski trip into the mountains for a day. Obviously they are all decent skiers as they have grown up with snow and skiing, but I've never actually been skiing before.

The place they plan on going is pretty steep, so the reality is that there is no way I'll be able to navigate such steep terrain with no prior experience. I'm also considering the safety aspect. I can't imagine it's all that smart to start at the top of a mountain rather than learning the basics first.

They say they will wait and help me, but I know that if i was in their place it would bore me to death to drive to the mountains and then not be able to just let go and have fun.

So i suppose my question is how dangerous would it be to actually goto the top of a mountain with no skills at all?

Obviously i don't get any better by not trying, but prior experience tells me that starting in over your head isn't that fun.

edit**
Seems like they have a hill there for kids, so I'm going to start on that first . I was under the impression that the only hill was the massive one

 

[jaedaliu]

Skiing can be a little boring by yourself. As much fun as it is to fall down and pull yourself back up every 15 seconds, it's more fun with a friend waiting for you at the bottom.

Does this resort have instruction? The ones in America typically have a beginner's discount that includes equipment rental and a 1 - 2 hour group lesson to get the basics down. You'll be stuck with a bunch of small children, but it's in a separate area with instructors that can catch you if you're falling down.

Skiing is a little bit boring when you're waiting at the bottom for your newbie friend to stumble down the slope. If they're good friends, they won't mind that much. You can ask one of them to ski with you after your lesson, then after lunch, they can switch up so that they can hang out with you some, and also get some faster runs done.

 

[smakme7757]

Skiing can be a little boring by yourself. As much fun as it is to fall down and pull yourself back up every 15 seconds, it's more fun with a friend waiting for you at the bottom.

Does this resort have instruction? The ones in America typically have a beginner's discount that includes equipment rental and a 1 - 2 hour group lesson to get the basics down. You'll be stuck with a bunch of small children, but it's in a separate area with instructors that can catch you if you're falling down.

Skiing is a little bit boring when you're waiting at the bottom for your newbie friend to stumble down the slope. If they're good friends, they won't mind that much. You can ask one of them to ski with you after your lesson, then after lunch, they can switch up so that they can hang out with you some, and also get some faster runs done.

Yea, i think that's the plan now. We are all good friends, but i can understand them wanting to get the most out of the trip.

I'm going to go in the "Family" hill where they have an instructor. So I'll be there for half the day. Then they said they can take me half way up the big hill, before it gets too steep and they can take me for a few "scary" runs.

At least I'll get to cut my teeth.

Thanks for the info.

 

[blackdogdeek]

Definitely take a lesson. You'll gain a lot of aptitude faster than without one.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Definitely take a lesson. You'll gain a lot of aptitude faster than without one.

yeah definitely this. don't believe your friends when they say they can teach you. ideally instructor is going to show you how to fall properly first because you'll probably be doing a lot of that.

pay the extra money now to get the basics. Otherwise you might get frustrated or injure yourself/someone else and never get a chance to get into the sport.

 

[blackdogdeek]

Also, try to find waterproof ski pants. You'll probably spend a significant amount of time sitting on your butt on the snow and cold, wet pants will make you miserable.

 

[jaedaliu]

Also, try to find waterproof ski pants. You'll probably spend a significant amount of time sitting on your butt on the snow and cold, wet pants will make you miserable.

Oh yeah, gear is pretty important. Waterproof pants that can tuck into your ski boots, gloves, goggles, hat, waterproof upper layer is nice, too.

Looking good may be important, but make sure you're comfortable and protected from the elements.

Depending on how windy it is, you may also need a mask to cover your face. Layer with wool or fleece, too. 1 giant coat doesn't work as well when you're skiing because you may break a sweat. Most likely your friends will have extras that you can borrow. Make sure you ask them early so they remember to bring things for you.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

agree with the gear recommendations. don't wear jeans. they'll freeze. put on some sun screen if you're boarding in the day. don't want to get sunburned.

 

[smakme7757]

Thanks for the help people, definitely some great tips. I'm going to be taking lessons thanks to you folks, so that part is all good. It's a morning, a few hours so that should get me up to par for a few slow runs. I have been Skiing before, but that was when I first came to the country, so its been about 5 years, soIi consider myself more or less at square one again.

I have all the "snow" clothes . I've been living in Norway for 6 years, so I've got all the right clothes and gear for harsh winter weather and i know how to dress properly. I need it when we go for walks, sledding, shuffeling snow or when i have to dig out the car in a snowstorm and all that sort of stuff. I just haven't found time to actually learn to Ski/slalom due to work/uni and general day to day stuff that adults do.

My wife is Norwegian so I've been taught by a local "viking" how to survive. Thankfully I have the survival stuff in order, just not the skiing bit .

Normally where i live it's covered in snow at this time of the year and I had planned to go skiing with my father in law quite a few times after xmas, but the snow just never came. It's been one of the first snow-less Christmas I've ever had since moving here. There is only snow up on the mountains which is rare, normally there is snow everywhere.

To be honest i don't really have any excuse for not knowing how to ski properly yet (apart from time). Last year my brother in law was the trainer for the guy that took Gold in the winter Olympics today (Nordic Combined), so I certainly have enough knowledge in the family lol.

 

[norseamd]

how do you live in norway for years and not know how to ski

been thinking about going skiing before the snow melts. afton state park is close by

where in norway do you live? i have distant family in vik and by bergen.

 

[smakme7757]

how do you live in norway for years and not know how to ski

been thinking about going skiing before the snow melts. afton state park is close by

where in norway do you live? i have distant family in vik and by bergen.

I was all amped up to learn skiing when i first came, and I went skiing a few times the very first and second year, but as work and family commitments (wife, newborn etc...) start piling up, not to mention just learning the language it was just never a priority - i just didn't have time. With skiing being seasonal the snow is there and gone again pretty quickly.

Of course it's never too late to learn, not at all, but time is a big pressure these days unfortunately. I remember saying to myself as a kid i would never let time be a problem, but it's easier said than done .

In any event I'll be going skiing in the mountains this Thursday, so that will be fun

I live in Trondheim

 

[jstew1]

I'm currently living in Norway and a few of my mates at uni want to go on a Ski trip into the mountains for a day. Obviously they are all decent skiers as they have grown up with snow and skiing, but I've never actually been skiing before.

The place they plan on going is pretty steep, so the reality is that there is no way I'll be able to navigate such steep terrain with no prior experience. I'm also considering the safety aspect. I can't imagine it's all that smart to start at the top of a mountain rather than learning the basics first.

They say they will wait and help me, but I know that if i was in their place it would bore me to death to drive to the mountains and then not be able to just let go and have fun.

So i suppose my question is how dangerous would it be to actually goto the top of a mountain with no skills at all?

Obviously i don't get any better by not trying, but prior experience tells me that starting in over your head isn't that fun.

edit**
Seems like they have a hill there for kids, so I'm going to start on that first . I was under the impression that the only hill was the massive one

Please do not go on the top of the mountain with no skills at all. I did this in my first year of college - i went skiing for the first time in my life and because I was so nervous and unexperienced, I ended up falling, twisting and completely tearing my ACL Ligament. It was the most horrific pain my life so far. I urge you to go a few times on the other slopes and get used to it. But hey, maybe you'll be fine and adapt quickly. For me, it was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Good luck!

 

[haikura]

take some lessons before the actual trip - ask some of your friends or hire some proffessional (more expensive) the more you learn before the more fun you will have on trip. And best advice learning mountain sports is to never give up even if it hurts a lot ... if you learn it at last, it will be soooo much fun...