Encouraging beginners

[billski]

As I was drinking my diet coke in the lodge Thursday, I watched this 20's-ish lady come stiffly down the beginners trail, the classic snowplow stance where you are just waiting for her to crash. When she got to the bottom she slowly stopped, threw her hands and poles over her head and shouted "YAHOO!"

Now, THAT'S the kind of learning experience everyone should have. So it got me thinking. Resorts should actively encourage and praise beginners. Don't just be there to continually pick their pockets by telling them to "take another lesson."

I don't think beginners and lower-intermediates are encouraged enough. They say over 80% of never-ever first time skiers will never come back for a second day.

What I mean, is, every employee should be mandated to put a positive spin on the whole learning experience, not just the person selling you the lesson ticket. Ski Patrol, lift attendant, ticket scanner. "Nice Job!" "you're looking good!" "keep it up".

Some areas have "ambassadors" who in return for free skiing, stand around and give out directions and tips. Why not put a couple at the bottom of the greens to hand out some nice words? I don't mean being a spin doctor, just providing encouragement.

I've seen way too many beginners get frustrated, mad, upset, bruised up, etc. on the slopes. I've seen many beginners yell at their well-intending "sinificant others" when they reach a high frustration level. It would be nice to encounter some moderating voice at the bottom "you've earned a break, go in for some hot cocoa", or "you might want to consider an easier trail for your next run, I can give you a couple of suggestions..."

There is nothing worse than limping off the slope after a long day or trying and getting no praise or encouragement. It would cost so little for the resorts to do this. Instead you are left to lick your wounds by yourself.

For all the money people invest in ski equipment, time, travel, expense, it's still kind of a do-or-die experience for many people. The resorts could win a lot of long-term beni's if they got more of an on-slope customer focus, rather than trying to comp us out with a fluffy bed and a gormet meal.

 

[RISkier]

I agree. This is just my 4th year. We started with a 3-day lesson package at Gunstock -- super deal. As an middle aged adult the whole first day experience was a challenge. I wore too much cloths, getting boots on was a pain, walking up stairs carrying skis and poles in boots was a pain, and then you start doing a sliding sport when all you've done all your life are traction sports. I thought the instructor the first day was very good and encouraging, but I'd have happily quit and never returned. Just thought I was too old to learn this new trick. Somehow things clicked a little my second day and now I seem to be hooked. Doubt I'll ever be a real good skier but we sure do have fun with th sport. I definately think that if resorts want to attract adults to skiing they need to make the process as user friendly as possible. I do think it's difficult sell to recruit new skiers from the ranks of adults, my colleagues thought I was nuts for even trying and we have friends who we've kind of encouraged to give a try but they'll have no part of it.

 

[Marc]

Excellent sentiment, I couldn't agree more. Just starting 5 years ago myself, the only words of encouragement I heard were from my highly cynical friends in the form of "Hey, you made it down this time without killing yourself or any kids, nice job!"

If I pass anyone struggling on a trail, I'll give them a quick tip or say something sympathetic and/or encouraging.

I've skied with people that have been at it for so long, they forget there was ever a time where they were learning as well.

When I was at Snow on Friday, me and my friend were the only ones skiing the bumps on Bear Trap. I could make it halfway down with stopping for a rest but whenever I did I would often hear a jeer from the lift (from someone not skiing the trail no less). It would be cool to hear something else for a change. I just block people out now.

My skiing partner encourages me now and I do the same so now I try to do the same for other people. I think it's just being a good ski neighbor.

:beer:

 

[riverc0il]

excellent comment.

 

[BeanoNYC]

I agree 100%. This is only my second season of serious skiing. If it weren't for my ski buddy (who is real good) giving me encouragement, I might have been discouraged. I'm no Riverc0il, Trailboss or Bode Miller, but I'm the first to stop to give someone some words of encouragment. It meant a lot to me when I was struggling to hear those kind words, so I try to "pay it forward"

 

[billski]

common theme

The common theme seems to be that the individual with the tenacity, persistence or athleticism will master the skill to board or ski. Unfortunately, the majority are not in that boat and that is a shame. Most people have the ability to at least get to the point of really enjoying the sport, without the need to be Bode Miller.

The second thing I find is the psych. aspect - the older you get, the more humiliating it is to keep falling and looking like a dumbo all day. You can be a good sport, but in the final analysis you say to yourself - do I want to drop $50-100 for one day of falling, being scared, getting bruised and generally not having any fun at all?

Sometimes, it's like that teacher we all had that comes around, looks at what we're doing and just drops a simple comment - you've really improved, you're starting to carve, you're going faster. It's awful hard to tell you're making progress when you are in the thick of it.

I found, at least with myself and my kids that we were all better served by private lessons. In the final analysis, it cost us way less money and time to get up to speed than the number of group lessons required (90 minutes: 80 to watch others fall, 10 to practice falling yourself). Every private lesson I took has given me at least three times as much knowledge, skill and coaching than I got in a group.

There are also other fairly inexpensive ways to improve your abilities that nobody ever talks about. NASTAR or beer leagues are a great example. Everyone seems to think you have to qualify, pay large fees or whatever - that these things are not open to the mortal man or woman.

I must give great credit to the PSIA instructors and race coaches. When you get face time with them, they are just excellent; They give you examples, gentle criticism, coach you, stroke your ego and leave you with appropriate homework.
However, the instructors are but a cog in the overall wheel of the ski resort infrastructure. The instructors, coaching and cheerleading are limited by resort management.

It seems odd doesn't it, for a sport that has such a huge infrastructure - mountain, lifts, snowmaking, that so often the profitability focus is put on real estate, lodging, dining and shopping. It's like they are not stimulating demand, only competing for those who are going to come anyways.

I think these lessons can apply to the "learning mountains" too (metro area hills like Nashoba, Bradford, Blue Hills, etc. near Boston.)

 

[riverc0il]

i don't think their is an absence of focusing on beginners, i think it is definitely there and recent strides to improve beginner areas such as magic carpets and stuff to put in a beginner area to make it fun for the kids help. i think you nail the head of the nail regarding that positive upbeat attitude being lost when the beginner leaves the true beginners area. resorts need to work on a pervasive attititude (for everyone not just beginners) through out their resorts.

and this thread has made clear to me that i am failing in being an advocate for the sport by not doing this myself. i am going to try to make it a goal to offer encouragement to a struggling skier at least once an outting. if the skiing community did this, we could surely make a positive difference in the experience of others.

 

[BeanoNYC]

and this thread has made clear to me that i am failing in being an advocate for the sport by not doing this myself. i am going to try to make it a goal to offer encouragement to a struggling skier at least once an outting. if the skiing community did this, we could surely make a positive difference in the experience of others.

I'm holding you to that when we finally get to meet up, Steve.

 

[Sky]

Great goal RC!

I'll take that one on as well.

Great Thread!

Private lessons...agreed, if you have the means.

Wa has a great starter package. I think it's $139 for three sessions (lift ticket, group lesson, rental). The three days are whenever you want to go. And in my experience (my daughter)...after the three trips, the instructors pass out deep discounted coups for "one more day" of the same schtick. It's what got my daughter into the sport...AND it was one of the owners who got her dressed on that second trip (a reluctant student my daughter was) and it just happened to be a breakthrough event. THAT! That was encouragemnet.

 

[YardSaleDad]

Re: common theme

I found, at least with myself and my kids that we were all better served by private lessons. In the final analysis, it cost us way less money and time to get up to speed than the number of group lessons required (90 minutes: 80 to watch others fall, 10 to practice falling yourself). Every private lesson I took has given me at least three times as much knowledge, skill and coaching than I got in a group.

My first day ever skiing, was MLK day, back in Feburary of this year(I was 42yo). There were about a dozen adults, starting out for the first time, in a scary spastic mob, on the bunny slope at Butternut. That adventure had me seriously considering a private lesson, but fate intervened.

My next time skiing was super bowl Sunday & Monday at Stratton. The slopes emptied out, and no one was taking lessons. Two of the group lessons were me, myself, and I. Another had only one other person show up.

I now time my "group" lessons. I have had at least half a dozen more lessons since at Belleayre. Early season or early morning weekdays work well. The instructors seem more relaxed and focused too.

 

[billski]

great example

Great goal RC!

I'll take that one on as well.

Great Thread!

Private lessons...agreed, if you have the means.

Wa has a great starter package. I think it's $139 for three sessions (lift ticket, group lesson, rental). The three days are whenever you want to go. And in my experience (my daughter)...after the three trips, the instructors pass out deep discounted coups for "one more day" of the same schtick. It's what got my daughter into the sport...AND it was one of the owners who got her dressed on that second trip (a reluctant student my daughter was) and it just happened to be a breakthrough event. THAT! That was encouragemnet.

This is a great example of how a little bit of attention/encouragement can go a long way (owner or employee)!