Recommendations for a Learner? (long)

[RISkier]

SAB,

I'm a relative novice so giving technical advice about skiing is not something I'm about to do, but did you really mean "the outside edge of your inside ski?"

I've pretty much been taught to ski on the inside edge of my outside ski (inside edge of right ski if turning left) on groomed runs. Most weight is on the outside ski. Tipping the inside ski can be used to steer (tip the inside ski and the outside ski will follow), and you are on the outside edge, but there is very little weight on it. I know, in power weight is more evenly distributed. I golf and I read stuff all the time on "tips" -- but you gotta have a pro who actually sees what the heck you're doing. That's why I advocate real lessons.

[teachski]

I think SAB meant the action of a wedge. That gets you on the inside edge of both skis.

This past weekend I had a man in a lesson that had a real tough time doing a wedge. He was a very strong, athletic man. When he tipped his skis to the inside edge to do a wedge, each one started to turn toward the inside. I abandoned the wedge and went right to a parallel turn with a J-turn to stop and slow. He was a hockey player so at one point during the lesson, without thinking, he stopped as if he were on his hockey skates. What a great lesson we had. At the end of the lesson, just so he would have it in his "bag-o-tricks" we went back to the wedge.... He finally got it.

[severine]

The 2nd instructor I had (which was a lucky group lesson in that I was the only one signed up, so I got a private lesson for the price of a group lesson) did a pretty good job of sharing the little secrets to help out newbies. Like if you keep your shins against the tongue of your boot, you know you're in a forward stance...as long as you keep your shins there, you should be fine. He also shared the trick of picking up the pinky toe on the uphill foot when turning to help you roll your ankles properly and make a better parallel turn. As long as I don't think too much about it while I'm doing it, this seems to be working well.
I didn't have many problems with parallel turning & keeping the knees bent from the start because I used to waterski for many years. In fact, it was more difficult for me to grasp the wedge at first--my legs had a mind of their own and wanted to ski parallel immediately. The stance you keep on waterskis is somewhat similar to downhill skiing, although you lean back on water skis, otherwise you run the risk of sinking the tips and faceplanting. You also turn in similar ways (at least, with redistributing your weight to help you steer), so that also has helped me transition pretty well from wedge turns to parallel turns. A lot of it has been second nature.
I know this was mentioned further up... I have found that I have one side that I turn to much more easily than the other. This may be due in part to multiple sprains to one of my ankles which has loosened up the ligaments and made it weaker than the other one, despite physical therapy. I also can "hockey stop" in one direction much better than the other. I am working on this... My instructor did tell me that it's normal for people to favor one side over the other. I just need to keep practicing.
I am not in any way downplaying the importance of lessons. I do intend to take lessons from time to time to further my progression... I know they are an invaluable tool. However, since I am not made of money and much of what I need to focus on right now would be better dealt with in practice/experience than lessons, in retrospect, it may be wise to wait until I've skiied a couple more times before I take my next lesson.
My husband and I are doing a ski-and-stay trip next month for Sugarbush and Mad River Glen. Yes, I know both (but especially MRG) offer challenging terrain. I don't expect to ski anything other than the easiest of greens on those mountains. But I was planning on taking a lesson or two while up there, figuring the quality of instructor may also be a little bit better than the instructors around here. Don't get me wrong; my 2nd instructor was fabulous and had many years' experience teaching. But the first was much younger than I am (and I'm only 26!), and I think it was only his first year teaching given the reminders other instructors were giving him at the start of our class. It was an adequate class, but not of the same caliber as my second lesson.

Welcome to the board and welcome to the wonderful world of skiing! Congrats on having the intestinal fortitude to start when you are above the age of 12!

My advice would be to remember, you have the reest of your life to get better, so don't get discouraged if you aren't Jean Claude Killy tomorrow! (he was an olympic skier before you were born..LOL! I am old).. instead, this year, work on relaxing, easy breathing and nice flexing from ankles and knees (and keeping the weight forward) ...controling where you are going and being able to stop or change direction quickly if you need to..

in other words, basic comfort and control on your skis. Relaxed, and in control. Have a lot of fun and don't worry about picking up bad habits.. you'll get the same ones everyone gets! leaning back and being too upright over your skis.. don't worry about it too much this year. Have fun and just become "one" with your skis.

Again, welcome!! you don't need to be an expert to join in here, so please keep giving us updates!

[Joshua]

Find a ski partner who is better than you who will force you to become better. That is how I learned, and quickly at that.

I like that 30-50-20 thing...but start to change the ratios as you get better.

I got over my fear by crashing (unintentionally) shoulder first into a lift pole and not even getting a bruise. I figured well, it can't get much worse than that, so never really looked back.

I do not recommend crashing into anything besides soft powder. Just stay relaxed, in control, and have fun. If you got the natual ability, the rest will fall into place.

[Greg]

Originally Posted by severine

...because I used to waterski for many years. In fact, it was more difficult for me to grasp the wedge at first--my legs had a mind of their own and wanted to ski parallel immediately.

I had waterskied (albeit only a few times) before I snow skied as well. I think the "fins" (not sure of the proper term) at the bottom of the skis keep them straight while moving. The independent, lateral sliding motion of snow skis at first was weird to me.

Originally Posted by severine

I know this was mentioned further up... I have found that I have one side that I turn to much more easily than the other. This may be due in part to multiple sprains to one of my ankles which has loosened up the ligaments and made it weaker than the other one, despite physical therapy. I also can "hockey stop" in one direction much better than the other. I am working on this... My instructor did tell me that it's normal for people to favor one side over the other. I just need to keep practicing.

Try my sugesstion above, i.e. force yourself to "hockey stop" to your uncomfortable side for an entire day or two. It will become more natural after a while.

Originally Posted by severine

My husband and I are doing a ski-and-stay trip next month for Sugarbush and Mad River Glen. Yes, I know both (but especially MRG) offer challenging terrain. I don't expect to ski anything other than the easiest of greens on those mountains.

I think I remember you now from the Epic boards. You had the question about staying up at Cannon initially, right? Glad you found us! You should get some detailed regional info about the local areas here. Have you looked at the and stay packages on this site?

http://lodging.alpinezone.com/northe...y_packages.htm

The "Ski the Valley" package may be of particular interest to you if you're consider the MRG/Sugarbush area:

http://lodging.alpinezone.com/ski_the_valley.htm

[RISkier]

I water skied a bit back in my misplace youth. Even tried barefooting once -- talk about a faceplant -- buckles from my vest were implanted in my chest.

[severine]

Originally Posted by Greg

I had waterskied (albeit only a few times) before I snow skied as well. I think the "fins" (not sure of the proper term) at the bottom of the skis keep them straight while moving. The independent, lateral sliding motion of snow skis at first was weird to me.

Yeah, I'm still getting used to that aspect of downhill skiing. And now that I have more responsive boots, I've noticed that things I used to do while using rentals (like wiggling my toes sometimes while skiing) are NOT a good idea to do anymore. Waterskiing and downhill skiing certainly aren't the same sport by any means, but the keeping the knees bent aspect, as well as shifting weight for steering, has helped transition me into downhill skiing a little better.

Originally Posted by Greg

my sugesstion above, i.e. force yourself to "hockey stop" to your uncomfortable side for an entire day or two. It will become more natural after a while.

I'll have to remember that this weekend.

Originally Posted by Greg

I think I remember you now from the Epic boards. You had the question about staying up at Cannon initially, right? Glad you found us! You should get some detailed regional info about the local areas here. Have you looked at the and stay packages on this site?
The "Ski the Valley" package may be of particular interest to you if you're consider the MRG/Sugarbush area

That was me! We ended up reserving a "Ski the Valley" package at Sugar Lodge. Never been in that neck of the woods before, but from what I could see on their website they seemed like a decent place. The price was pretty good, too (although not as good as the ski & stay that I first considered at the Woodstock Inn with lift tickets to Cannon--can't be $53/person when it includes a hearty breakfast like the one at the Clement Room Grille and lunch at the ski lodge, plus dinner on the last night of the stay if you make it 3 days). My husband has been sort of pushing me to advance so we can better enjoy MRG and Sugarbush, but I'm in no rush. As long as I can ski some greens on both, I'll be happy.

[Greg]

Originally Posted by severine

My husband has been sort of pushing me to advance...

And when is he gonna start posting here?

[severine]

Originally Posted by Greg

And when is he gonna start posting here?

He's a man of few words....usually al lurker in forums. But I've given him the link to your forum, so I'm sure he'll be here, if perhaps only in spirit.