Need beginner advice for GF

[Charlie Schuessler]

Where: Your local favorite Mountain (from Stamford, would that be Butternut or Jiminy Peak?).

Equipment: Regarding the rental equipment, SNUG boots & short skis, the shop will do the rest.

How Long: Standard Single Lesson...women instructor's seem to teach lady beginners with ease...and then practice the rest of the day on the trail she took lessons on. AT HER PACE!

 

[tekweezle]

it sounds like you are a beginner too so as she gets better, maybe you both can ski together in the near future.

i agree, let her take lessons, especially if she has never been on skis. so many resorts do such a great job with learn to ski classes that you can;t go wrong..

Do not try to teach her or push he faster than she wants too. I learned that the hard way. everyone taks different times to "get it" and there is no way to accelerate that. the toughest thing for beginners is to overcome fear, not necessarily how to master the techniques for doing a wedge and a snow plow.

let her take classes with people of the same ability prefereably with other women. even if you are the same ability, it might be too much pressure for her to want to catchup to you.

goodluck

.

 

[Brettski]

Lake placid is also another great place....there is so much to do off the slopes....and has a lot better feel than the Big K

Do you only want to do a day trip?

 

[leahp]

Encouragement

Ha! It sounds like me & BF have same scenario as you two. My first lesson was at Cannon, went OK. Next day, BF takes me up chairlift to ski "easy green" - I can still remember thinking it was the steepest thing ever in the world, falling and insisting I would never ski again.

All previous advice is perfect - you cannot offer enough positive encouragement. If you're a nervous skier (I am, sounds like your gf is too) - then it's all in your head. If my first (always easy) run is Ok and BF says "Hey, your turns looked good" or some other nonsense I ski much better for the rest of the day. If, and this has happens, he makes me ski down an icy blue run, I fall and he says "you're not trying" then I think that my sking will never improve and won't move from the greens for the rest of the day.

I had a few group lessons which were good but private lessons really did it for me. Try to get a really experienced older guy (I've had lessons with younger girls (no offense) and felt they were just telling me what they'd been trained to say) who has a lot of patience - if you can afford it you can usually get a better deal on a 3hr private (you pay a bit more but get 3 times the time and attention)

Bretton Woods is great once she gets off the bunny slope - loads of well groomed, not steep runs, gives you extra confidence.

I would also agree with making it a whole weekend of fun - stop in at the outlets, have a few beers, go tubing. Buy her some cute ski clothes.....

 

[Brettski]

Cute Clothes?

I thought clothes were optional on a romatic ski weekend...

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Well i already bought her the cute ski clothes, hopefully they wont just be used for tubing.

 

[Lostone]

the instructor saying well meet u at the bottom and what not

Very important to complain to that ski school! They sell lessons, and "Meet you at the bottom" is unacceptable!

Beyond that, to support what has been said... (Well the parts I like, anyway :wink: )

Get her a group lesson. Don't waste your money on a private for a never-ever. She needs to see others fall too. (Gravity: It's not just a concept. It's the law)

Don't go to a big mountain. She only needs the bottom slope.

Don't teach yourself. The person that you try to ski like might be the worst on the mountain. It takes a LONG time to get out of the bad habbits you pick up.

REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN!!!! :beer:

 

[slingshot]

Helping a Girlfriend with skiing

Dejavu....

I am a 40 something guy who has been sking with my wife now for over twenty years. But we started out just like you twenty years ago at Belleayre.Mt wife(girlfriend at the time) was about to take off her skis and go sit in the lodge.Just then my cousin (a girl) skied up to her and started to work with her. Instead of boring you with details here is what I learned.
Belleayre is probably the best mount. to learn on. I know what you mean by having to ski down to get on the lift, but if she can't handle that yet then she wont be able to handle the trails either and it will only make her nervous dont attempt this until she is ready.After she can negotiate the hill down to the lift she will be able to handle the whole lower mountian. Get a private lesson it is WELL WORTH the money for a beginner.
Learning how to stop and control speed is the first skill that must be learned. Only after that can she stop worrying and start learning and really start to enjoy the sport. Bellayre has FREE lessons at the lower mtn. the are group stations and you move from station to station learning each skill till you can go down a mild slope.
Above and beyond all else tell her to relax. We all felt like that when we started. When she snowplows tell her to push those skis ALL THE WAY OUT, it really makes the diffrence. Good luck and maybe I will see you at Belleayre some day.

 

[evil]

I agree with Brettski.
While my girl and I have been skiing/riding for most of our lives we definitly have different ideas of what a ski trip should be.
Since we enjoy spending our vacation time together & I HATE going any place but the mountains I have had to reform my ways a little.
The key is making it a good time for her and having a group with skiiers of different levels.
I'll ski w/ her all day after a big breakfast, stop for a long lunch, breaks, the whole nine.
If we wake up to a dump I sound the bugle and me and the other troopers are on first chair with lunch in a backpack "see u @ 5:00".
She knows what a powder day means to me & I know what chilling on cruisers means to her.
Bottem line is a little understanding can go a long way to making a good ski trip, and an even better evening. :wink:

BTW: I am awefull on skiis (good on a board) so I bought a pair just so she can have the luxery of leading the pack sometimes.

 

[JimG.]

I agree with Brettski.
While my girl and I have been skiing/riding for most of our lives we definitly have different ideas of what a ski trip should be.
Since we enjoy spending our vacation time together & I HATE going any place but the mountains I have had to reform my ways a little.
The key is making it a good time for her and having a group with skiiers of different levels.
I'll ski w/ her all day after a big breakfast, stop for a long lunch, breaks, the whole nine.
If we wake up to a dump I sound the bugle and me and the other troopers are on first chair with lunch in a backpack "see u @ 5:00".
She knows what a powder day means to me & I know what chilling on cruisers means to her.
Bottem line is a little understanding can go a long way to making a good ski trip, and an even better evening. :wink:

BTW: I am awefull on skiis (good on a board) so I bought a pair just so she can have the luxery of leading the pack sometimes.

Sounds like my wife...if she understands what "powder day" means, marry her.

 

[evil]

Shopping for a ring now.

 

[Paul]

I forgot to add these words of wisdom...

"If Momma ain't happy, ain't NOBODY happy"