Learning to Ski (2013-2014)

[SnowBro]

Hello everybody. I've decided to learn how to ski this year. Any advice or helpful tips to make the experience easier? I've been a snowboarder for about 2 years and love it to death. I hear skiing is harder to master in the long run while snowboarding is harder to pick up initially. Correct me if I'm wrong. Personally I learned to snowboard very quickly and consider myself somewhere in the realm of intermediate to advanced. I'm looking forward to progressing as a rider and learning to ski.

 

[fahz]

Take a lesson, don't cross your tips and have fun!

 

[mattchuck2]

Yeah, definitely take a lesson. Don't get sucked into the idea that you can just go to the top of the mountain and point em down the hill.

My advice is to go to a mountain on a weekday afternoon and get a group lesson. It will probably be only you in the class, or maybe one other person. That way, you can get the personal attention of a private lesson at a group lesson price.

 

[ScottySkis]

Lessons for sure what area of North east do you live. My cousin GF wants me to teach her and I said she should take lessons I go with them but not try teach someone.

 

[steamboat1]

Head straight to the park man.

 

[SnowBro]

Lessons for sure what area of North east do you live. My cousin GF wants me to teach her and I said she should take lessons I go with them but not try teach someone.

I'm in RI. Closest park is Yawgoo Valley. I'll be heading up to Wachusett a lot this season so I'll probably learn there. Planning to head up to NH, VT, and Maine a few times during Dec. and Jan. but I'll most likely be snowboarding during those trips.

 

[ScottySkis]

I'm in RI. Closest park is Yawgoo Valley. I'll be heading up to Wachusett a lot this season so I'll probably learn there. Planning to head up to NH, VT, and Maine a few times during Dec. and Jan. but I'll most likely be snowboarding during those trips.

Well lessons for sure If you travel probably have more fun doing what you know, and take lessons at your local hill. Shape skis are great and you do in a few days what you used take weeks.

 

[hammer]

I'm in RI. Closest park is Yawgoo Valley. I'll be heading up to Wachusett a lot this season so I'll probably learn there. Planning to head up to NH, VT, and Maine a few times during Dec. and Jan. but I'll most likely be snowboarding during those trips.

Crowds aside, I've always thought Wachusett was set up well for beginners. Definitely take lessons the first few times and enjoy, don't get too goal oriented with what trails you want to go on.

 

[dlague]

Considering that you have snowboardered before there will be some familiarity! A lesson or two will boost your ability then it is all about confidence! I did the opposite a few years back and found snowboarding to be a little more foreign since both feet were strapped to one board whereas with skis if one ski catches an edge you can still recover. Snowboarding not so much. Skiing is still my main stay!

 

[freeski919]

You're spot on about the differences between picking up skiing and snowboarding. I do both, and instruct both. Skiing is much easier to start, then gets harder to improve. Snowboarding just the opposite. I absolutely agree with the idea of taking lessons, especially the idea of taking them midweek if possible.

 

[Nick]

I'm in RI. Closest park is Yawgoo Valley. I'll be heading up to Wachusett a lot this season so I'll probably learn there. Planning to head up to NH, VT, and Maine a few times during Dec. and Jan. but I'll most likely be snowboarding during those trips.

Yawgoo and Wachusett are perfect for practicing. Don't spend a lot of money on equipment. The most important thing to learning is lessons and repetition. Just get out there, the more the better. You'd be surprised how much you can pick up in a single year.

Also, do a pizza and not french fries

 

[hammer]

Also, do a pizza and not french fries

 

[Nick]

 

[SnowBro]

Crowds aside, I've always thought Wachusett was set up well for beginners. Definitely take lessons the first few times and enjoy, don't get too goal oriented with what trails you want to go on.

I agree. It gets crowded due to its popularity, but during the week it's not so bad. Because my work schedule I'll mostly be taking trips there midweek.

 

[uncleezno]

Last year was my first season skiing, with no background in winter sports. I'll echo what everyone else is saying and recommend you try some lessons! Have fun!

 

[Sky]

Wachusett, especially now with the HS Quad on the biginner slope, is an excellent place to start. No insult intended. You getting there mid-week is terrific, you'll have the place to yourself...you and the "oldtimers". My wife got back into the sport last season and we spent a lot of time on that beginner slope. It's nice tha they have two seperate trails off that lift dedicated to beginners.

And Ralph's Run is not a huge leap in difficulty, just in length. Enjoy the lesson(s) and the experience.

 

[Lostone]

On one hand, it isn't a good idea to go to a big hill to learn. You just won't be able to take advantage of most of it. You'll spend most of the first few days on the bunny hill.

On the other... Heard about Sugarbush's first time to lifetime program?

It is for never-evers. Take 3 beginner lessons in the program and at the completion, you get a season pass.

A GREAT deal!

Other areas might have the same type.

 

[Smellytele]

Didn't Killington have a learn to ski thing where at the end of so many days you got a free pair of Elans?
or did that just happen in my head?