"Will I remember how to ski" jitters just hit me

[koreshot]

I was checking out some pictures in the Hunter vs Mt. Snow thread and the jitters just hit me hardcore. It seems every picture or youtube video of skiing I look at now scares the crap out of me! On top of everything, I am going throu the "i shouldn't have bought those skis, what if they are too much for me" jitters too.

This is so irrational and I go through this every November as the winter season approaches. I sitll haven't figured out how to effectively fight them off, so the result is a very scared first few runs down the slopes and a day or two to gain my confidence back.

How do people fight/overcome these feelings? How many days/hours does it take to feel like you are back where you left off last year?

 

[cbcbd]

My first run this season I skied like crap. Second one much better, third better, last one even better. Just go out there and have fun. I think you're mixing up "nervous" with "excited"

 

[skiNEwhere]

I think I know how ya feel. I haven't skiied in the last 2 years, and only once in the last 4. I am looking foward to going skiing again in jan (hopefully), but in the back of my mind I am thinking "what if i totally forgot, what if i have to start all over" It worries me a little, but I kinda try to tell myself its like riding a bike, once you pick it up, you never forget. Try telling yourself that

 

[Grassi21]

My fear is that my first day out will be at an AZ outing. I'm a solid intermediate and felt really good about my progress at the end of last season. I would hate to give the wrong impression to my fellow AZers with the first few dog poo like turns the first day out.

koreshot, in terms of equipment, I'm thinking the opposite. I'm concerned that I bought skis and boots that won't keep up with my skill level as I log turns this season. Actually, I'm more concerned with the skis. I think the boots will last me 3-5 season.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

i always take the first few runs really slow, start with the basics, get the feeling back, give the muscles a chance to warm up and remember skiing....even go back to a few wedge turns, think about the hands, posture, make sure the boots are dialed in etc....dont rush into it...

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I get that feeling the begining of most seasons for the first few trips. Will I catch an edge getting off the chair and tumble, will I take a turn to sharp and hit the ground, etc. I bought new skis this year, my first shaped skis, and to be 100% honest, I am really nervous. I've just got to get out there, do a few small runs to get the feeling back, the muscles woken up, my mind cleared, and if it means I do a few green runs, so be it. I'm still skiing, and that's better than most other things to do.

 

[SkiDork]

I get that feeling the begining of most seasons for the first few trips. Will I catch an edge getting off the chair and tumble, will I take a turn to sharp and hit the ground, etc. I bought new skis this year, my first shaped skis, and to be 100% honest, I am really nervous. I've just got to get out there, do a few small runs to get the feeling back, the muscles woken up, my mind cleared, and if it means I do a few green runs, so be it. I'm still skiing, and that's better than most other things to do.

wow - it's been a while since you've bought skis huh?

 

[skiNEwhere]

I get that feeling the begining of most seasons for the first few trips. Will I catch an edge getting off the chair and tumble, will I take a turn to sharp and hit the ground, etc. I bought new skis this year, my first shaped skis, and to be 100% honest, I am really nervous. I've just got to get out there, do a few small runs to get the feeling back, the muscles woken up, my mind cleared, and if it means I do a few green runs, so be it. I'm still skiing, and that's better than most other things to do.

I still use straight, what made you change over?

 

[SkiDork]

I still use straight, what made you change over?

you don't know what you're missing. Ripping carved turns is a lot of fun, and VERY hard to do with straights...

Unless you're a serious bumper, I would definitely give them a try...

 

[2knees]

I just dive right in. It takes some time to get completely comfortable, but yardsales are still a part of the sport for me. My first day the last 2 years, killington has had some really nice bumps. last year on highline and the year before on bittersweet or skylark. There is no time like the present.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

wow - it's been a while since you've bought skis huh?

About 20 years. My K2's served me well, and they will still be a great 2nd set. Got the whole package, new ski's, boots and poles.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I still use straight, what made you change over?

I'm getting older and need all the help I can get with the turns.

 

[koreshot]

Funny about the straight skis. While most people go from straight-ish skis to more sidecut, I have gone the other way, from 18-m sidecut to 40. That is why I am freaking a little bit. I think its the usual jitters, happens every year, i was just making sure I am not the only one.

 

[roark]

Relax, you'll be fine. But if those Bros don't work out for ya drop me a line :wink:

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Take your first runs on some easy terrain and you will be just fine. I think your gettin yourself all worked up over nothing.

 

[thebigo]

Personally the first time I click into my bindings each year I wonder if I will remember how to do thi,s but after a few runs it all comes back.

I think I know how ya feel. I haven't skiied in the last 2 years, and only once in the last 4. I am looking foward to going skiing again in jan (hopefully), but in the back of my mind I am thinking "what if i totally forgot, what if i have to start all over" It worries me a little, but I kinda try to tell myself its like riding a bike, once you pick it up, you never forget. Try telling yourself that

Hope you make it home this winter for some turns and thanks for your service.

 

[wintersyndrome]

Its like riding a bike, your body remembers. Though as Ive gotten older I dont go balls-out right away (I'll wait until after lunch) as I need to get my body back into the mechanics of it all, or I end up throwing my back out and taking myself out of the season for two months

 

[dmc]

I don't buy into the whole first day jitter thing...

I always think my first run of the year defines the entire season - So I try and nail it..

 

[Bandit2941]

I don't buy into the whole first day jitter thing...

I always think my first run of the year defines the entire season - So I try and nail it..

I'm with you. I think that if you have some bad habits, try to make your first few runs of the year without them. It'll make it easier to lose them entirely as the first few runs you're "remembering" to ski, and skiing without the bad habit will be easier to do the rest of the year if you ski without it the first few runs.

I know that was an awkward paragraph, but case in point, the year before last I was having trouble with falling into the back seat sometimes. I made sure my first few runs/ski days of last year were absolutely balanced. My skiing and carving skills improved immensely last year due to being more in balance, and I think those first few runs helped a lot, since I didn't get back into old bad habits.

 

[ski_adk]

Well, I've already gotten 2 days of skiing in this year...so, I'll weigh in on the jitters. First day this season was on the whiteface highway. Cake. 2 miles of bunny slope won't scare me one bit. Then, a couple weeks ago, we hiked up Jay. It was fun, but then I tried to turn em. It was some of the scariest backseat skiing I've ever done. It was my own fault, I never re-waxed the skis. Snow was sticking and even freezing to the bases. About half-way down, I took them off and walked.

Right now, I'm nervously waiting for the lifts to turn. I want to makeup for the Jay incident. I've got my 'real' skis waxed, tuned and all ready to go. Am I nervous? Sure, but it's nothing that a few laps won't solve.