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

[jack97]

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.

Exactly how I look at my first runs for the season. I try to go "back to basics", staying balance and focusing on the footwork. Last year, I didn't make first turns unti mid dec, got the jitters mostly from nervous energy.

 

[SnowRider]

Honestly people why is everyone getting so workied up? Do you HONESLY think you will get to the slopes and be like "oh ya how do i ski again?" It's never happend to me in my four years riding and never will. Just dont do anything crazy your first day.

The urge to ski must be bad if were talking about if we will remeber how to ski...

 

[hammer]

Honestly people why is everyone getting so workied up? Do you HONESLY think you will get to the slopes and be like "oh ya how do i ski again?" It's never happend to me in my four years riding and never will. Just dont do anything crazy your first day.

The urge to ski must be bad if were talking about if we will remeber how to ski...

YMMV, but last year it took a day for me to get my ski legs again (i.e., get back to what I was at the year before). It may have been sooner if I was able to have some time on an uncrowded green slope...

The main thing I will do this year is keep that in mind and manage expectations on what I'll be able to do.

And yes, the urge to ski IS bad.

Side Comment: I just installed Firefox 2.0 and it was neat to see all of the typos in the post...:wink:

 

[koreshot]

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 like this. I am going to try it this year. That is if someone would open already!

 

[koreshot]

Honestly people why is everyone getting so workied up? Do you HONESLY think you will get to the slopes and be like "oh ya how do i ski again?" It's never happend to me in my four years riding and never will. Just dont do anything crazy your first day.

The urge to ski must be bad if were talking about if we will remeber how to ski...

Of course I am going to remember how to ski, but skiing is very much a mental sport. I think everyone on this board would agree that it takes either some time or very good control of your emotions and focus to shake off a bad/dangerous fall. I have had a couple of falls that took a day or more to get out of my head. I think this closely relates to the thoughts and emotions that go through most people's heads after a long absense of skiing. Slopes, bumps or lines that didn't look scary when I was skiing regularly last season may look a bit scary now. I think a human mind takes time to get comfortable with its surroundings. Until the mind adjusts, some people experience jitters and nervousness. Its not fitness, its not muscle memory, its just focus and emotions.

I personally noticed this effect last year. I skied the saddle and face chutes a few times early January in Jay, didn't feel scared, but didn't feel particularly comfortable, took my time skiing down. Then I spent the week in JH skiing Alta, Tower and Expert chutes. Came back a couple of weeks later to the east coast, drove up to Jay and thought Saddle and Face Chutes were pretty flat. One could argue that JH just made me better, but I am sure that if I stood right now at the top of the Saddle, I wouldn't say that it was pretty flat.

 

[shwilly]

I have a different worry. I'm going to be very excited my first day. I will want to just start ripping immediately. I will have to hold back a little at first so I don't do something stupid like catch air, then catch an edge and break my wrist on my first run.

Of course, my first run isn't going to be on the face chutes.

 

[Rushski]

If there are any jitters in me that first day out, they are honestly gone before I finish my first run. Not being cocky, as I'm sure there are many posters here who could teach me a thing or two, but it just comes back to me and feels natural. Similar to skating in some respect, as I know some hockey players that skate better than they walk.

Before early '04, I had about four years off for various reasons - money, moving, getting others together, a few bad weather days and mostly being lazy. Once I got back out, it felt great to just be back out there enjoying the Winter weather Vs. fighting it. And then last year, after recovering from Achilles surgery (Vball incident) for six months and having to get new boots because of it, I had some jitters. Boots felt better than the old and once again got right back into the swing of things.

Just do it and don't overthink it.

I am seriously jonesing to get out there and may actually "earn some turns" if no lifts are available soon...

 

[Marc]

No jitters here. I'm usually so psyched to get skiing I have no room to feel jittery. Just insanely pumped, impatient, etc. etc.


Of course, my first time out this year my form was good when my legs weren't screaming at me from the hiking. Like Austin pointed out though, I didn't fall, I just let a tree eat me.



It's ok, though, I'm going to go cut down a few trees with a chainsaw this weekend for some vengance.

 

[awf170]

Of course, my first time out this year my form was good

You should really give the skis credit for this, not yourself. :lol: Those ever so stylish neon green bases made you ski the way you did.


Also, I do think you can forget how to ski. Ask Steve about my awesome skiing in the top half of Valhalla. I think I ended about 75% of my turns on my side or back.

 

[Greg]

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.

Please don't worry about this. None of the AZers I've ever met will judge you. I probably fall somewhere in the middle of the AZ skill level. I guess I'm somewhere in the lower advanced category. I've skied with AZers that were lower intermediates all the way up to guys I would consider expert skiers. I enjoy skiing with all of them. Skiing is a solo sport, not a competition. Skiing with advanced skiers will only help you improve.

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.

I can see this. I know that you have no qualms about jumping into a bump run right away. I usually take at least two runs to get a rhythm going.

I don't have any jitters or worries about how I will ski on Day One. I'm so pumped that I'll probably have some misconception that I will thrash on that first run; while the likely result will be some flailing and ugly turns. I can't wait for them!

 

[riverc0il]

i don't buy into first day jitters, i am all excitement on the first run. every year, i am more and more impressed with how much my muscle memory comes back so quickly. granted it takes a few days out before i am back in top form, especially since i am a slacker and don't work out any more during the off season but every year i feel i am better and better on my first day, that can go all out right away without concern. confouding variable is the fact that i have extended my season in both directions and minimized the off season to less than four months wheres most people have a seven month off season or more. even stil, being affraid and timid on a first run is simply a self fulfilling prophecy that you are gonna bite it. just go for it and don't think once, let alone twice, about it.

 

[Zand]

I used to get that, but I don't now especially if I start my season at Wachusett. My first run down Conifer last year I was carving like it was midseason. Of course, it would be different if I started on tough terrain with variable conditions, but most places usually open with an intermediate groomed run anyway.

 

[Marc]

You should really give the skis credit for this, not yourself. :lol: Those ever so stylish neon green bases made you ski the way you did.


Also, I do think you can forget how to ski. Ask Steve about my awesome skiing in the top half of Valhalla. I think I ended about 75% of my turns on my side or back.

Don't knock the Rossi's.



They will CUT you! :dunce:

 

[SkiDork]

BTW - if you go on opening day, your first day out is sometimes the toughest day of the year. Guns, and massive whales/bumps plus the crowds. Nothing like getting thrown into the fire right away...

 

[AdironRider]

After reading the whole thread I think Ill offer up my thoughts on the matter.

I dont worry about the first run at all. I think of it like this. So I forget how to swim over the winter? Do I forget how to hit a baseball even after not playing in years? Think of it like any other skill you dont perform on a daily basis, and youll be fine. Sure your not going to be in the best shape, or have the best form on your way down, but honestly your going to be fine.

Im similar to DMC in that a great first run can define your whole season, and the same goes for the first run of each day. I try to push it hard and fast, or just like I would normally ride any other time and just let it rock. What happens happens, just enjoy it.

After thinking about it though it comes down to not wanting to fall right? Sure, I hate it when I cant get my technique down perfect at the beginning of the season, but fallings where the pain comes in. Just gotta accept that your going to fall, probably alot. I fall every time I ride as Im always pushing myself or trying new things. Falling comes with the game, just learn to embrace it and learn from it. Im also 21 and Im sure that plays a role in my willingness to throw my body around.

 

[tirolerpeter]

First Day for 06/07

Actually, I share that "first run" sense of doubt. I feel it on my first ride up. Will I actually remember how to ski? In truth, it dissipates the moment my skiis hit the snow. "Muscle memory" is a beautiful thing. Just let "the force" take you down the hill. Five turns into the run, and it feels like I never stopped from last season. Think Snow!!!!!!!!!

 

[dmc]

I fall every time I ride as Im always pushing myself or trying new things. Falling comes with the game, just learn to embrace it and learn from it. Im also 21 and Im sure that plays a role in my willingness to throw my body around.

I got 20 years on you and I still throw my body around.. Falling is part of snowboarding..

Great thing about falling on a board is you don't lose your "ski" and have an oppurtunity to get back up and ride...