What's your advice on first-time trip planning?
Keep your first experience on skis short and sweet: one or two days. This approach has several advantages: You won't spend a bundle. You won't go home with aching muscles. You'll leave wanting more instead of being tired, frustrated or overwhelmed by the experience. And you'll have plenty of time to digest what your instructor has taught you. (You are taking lessons, aren't you?)
I'm afraid of heights and high speeds; can I still learn to ski?
Absolutely. Indeed, some skiers have used the experience to conquer their fears. If you just can't stand heights at all and chairlifts are out of the question, look for an area with a rope tow in the beginner area. When you arrive, explain your anxiety to the ski school and request a patient instructor. Insist on progressing slowly at first, if necessary by booking a private lesson. Take it slow. You'll find that, with skilled guidance and a little practice, skiing need not be a fast or frightening activity. It's simply a great way to enjoy the winter environment!
Where should I go on my first ski trip?
Choose a ski resort with ample novice or "green" rated terrain, and a ski school with a reputation for quality. Next, decide how much focus you want to put on skiing versus other vacation activities. For skiers not interested in night life, smaller areas are often more economical and less daunting than larger mountains and better-known destinations. On the other hand, big name resorts provide the restaurants, clubs and variety of activities that can fill out your non-skiing time. If you have kids, call the areas near your destination and ask about supervised night activities (such as ice-skating) for children, so you can enjoy some well-deserved time off. Look for off-peak bargains: "learn to ski" specials including equipment and lift tickets at sharp discounts are common at many resorts.
What's the youngest age I can start my child skiing?
This is a controversial subject among instructors and skiing parents, and childhood development is too variable for any single answer. In general, most preschoolers about age four are mentally and physically mature enough to thoroughly enjoy the sport; younger than three is probably too early. The best advice is to honestly assess the situation, and err on the conservative side. Unless you plan to teach your child yourself, ensure that your child has developed appropriate interaction with classmates and teachers, and low or nonexistent separation anxiety (e.g., if your boy cries when you leave him with the baby-sitter, he'll be miserable in ski school). Although folklore occasionally has it otherwise, potty-training and walking are usual prerequisites. Talk to your child about your ski plans. It's amazing how many children come to ski school feeling abandoned and unhappy after being unexpectedly dropped off by skiing parents. Most importantly, if your child's not interested in skiing, don't push it. Skiing is supposed to be fun, never tearful. If not this year, there's always the next.
Should my child take a private lesson or a group program?
The answer depends on your goals and your child's development. If you seek to maximize your own ski time and your child is mature enough, opt for a group lesson that provides supervision, lunch and a variety of skiing and non-skiing activities throughout the day. If you want to spend "quality time" with your kids or their age or development necessitates individual attention, then choose a private. Unlike adults their first day on skis, most preschoolers probably learn faster in a private lesson than a group, particularly is the groups are larger than 4 or 5 kids. After an hour or two "jump-start" in a private, your preschooler will advance quickly in the supervised groups. Is your child ambivalent about ski school? Strike a bargain that you'll spend time together tomorrow if your child goes willingly to ski school today.
How can I get the most out of a novice lesson?
In all lessons, set safe and realistic goals. Group ski classes work best for most first-time adults; you'll have more rest time, and watching other students will give you a healthy perspective. Most importantly, first-time groups are fun! By the end of a typical four-hour first-time lesson, you should have gained a basic knowledge of your equipment and lift facilities (e.g., a rope tow or chairlift), and be able to glide and control your speed on gentle terrain using the wedge position (or "snowplow," as it used to be called). Subsequent novice lessons will introduce direction changes made by turning your legs and feet, followed by gradual exposure to more challenging terrain. This is the time to ask questions and watch your instructor's movements! Eventually, you'll learn how subtle pressure changes on your skis can enhance the turning power you create with your feet. With practice on the green runs, soon you'll be ready to ski some easy blues!
