You can learn to ski at any age.
On a previous ski trip to Austria we stayed at a lovely little guest house in Neiderau. Also resident were Harry and Marie who were experiencing skiing for the first time at the ages of 68 and 63 respectively. My partner, June, was also a complete novice and below is a brief account of her experiences.
"My first experience of skiing was in a lovely Austrian village called Neiderau.
The first day in Ski School wasn't too bad but by the end of the lesson I was in pain. I felt that I was being punished for something I had done wrong!
I had developed an enormous blister on my heel and had learnt the most important lesson in skiing: - You can't enjoy skiing if you are hurting. Make sure that you have correctly fitting boots. It doesn't matter how many times you change them - just make sure that you have the right fit and comfort.
Transformed from the agony of the first few days of wincing whilst sidestepping and snowploughing up and down the nursery area, I was now able to take the button lift to the top of the nursey slope and experience for the first time the wind whistling past my ears as I whizzed down the mountain.
(It felt like that then but in later years I realised that in reality I was probably moving at a snail's pace !!!).
I spent the next few days decending the nursery slope, which wasn't very high, but I felt that I had really achieved something. It felt great.
Now I was ready to move on to a new challenge.
On my last day I took the cable car to top of the mountain where the black run started.
No! I wasn't ready for this yet! maybe on my next trip, but I had looked forward all week to taking in the fantastic scenery and lunching at the mountain restaurant which was at the very summit of this mountain.
I had deserved it !
After lunch I rolled up my sleeves and trouser legs and enjoyed a spot of sunbathing on one of the numerous deck chairs set out around the restaurant. The weather was glorious and as I sat there I reflected on my recent experiences as a first time skier at 40+ years old.
I knew it wouldn't be long before I did it again, SOON.
June Jackson
13th January 2007My uncle Geoff took me to Silksworth Dry Ski Slope at Sunderland today.
I was a bit nervous when I saw how steep the hill was, but they had a seperate beginners area which wasn't so steep. So I didn't feel too bad.
Our Instructor was great, he really put us at ease with his jokes and the songs we had to sing.
I was smiling all morning.
It was really good even though it wasn't real snow.
Now I'm really looking forward to our next trip which is to Xscape Snowdome at Castleford, which IS on real snow.
Steve Atkinson Age: 28 Experience: One Session on a dry ski slope
Resort : Rauris, Austria Date: January '08
Day One
After arriving at Saltzburg Airport we were met by the Neilson Rep, Neil, who directed us towards the coach transfer to our Hotel - the Alpenrose Guesthouse in Rauris. (see my reports in “Accommodation/Resorts”)
We could arrange lessons and lift passes through him on the coach but personally preferred to do it ourselves at the ski school/lift station. Very often this works out cheaper, but on reflection was a bad move as we would have saved money going through the rep.
So our first venture out of the hotel was a 300 metre walk to make these arrangements, and to partake in a couple of beers in the ‘Ice Bar’ at the bottom of the slopes.
Then, tired from drinks and travelling, early to bed.
Day Two
9.30 Meet at ski school (half an hour earlier than normal lesson time) so that they could organise lessons. This was done with (apparently) typical Austrian efficiency at the bottom of the nursery slope in front of the wooden Ski School cabin, by the Head who came across very authoritively and loudly over their P.A. system.
I was placed in the bottom adult group (for people who couldn’t yet snowplough). We then spent all day sidestepping up the slope and learning to snowplough down it one at a time. Progress was slow and tedious but I suppose necessary. Things could have been speeded up more if the group (14) hadn’t been so large though.
At least I didn’t have to purchase a lift pass that day.
Day Three
Began again with sidestepping/snowploughing but later progressed to going up the slope on a ‘baby tow’. So I HAD to purchase a lift pass. This is where, not knowing the system,I made an expensive mistake - I bought a full lift pass.(approx 31 Euros a day)
It would have worked out much cheaper to buy 2 day pass for the baby tow at 17 euros a day and the 3 days for the full pass. The way I did it cost approx. £30 more.
The lessons were now more exciting with longer runs down the slope and no boring and tiring sidestepping uphill. Our instructor Michal (who was Polish) was excellent. He told us that soon we would be good enough to go to the top of the mountain in the gondola.
Thank God, cos, altho enjoying skiing on this excellent nursery area, my legs are beginning to get really tired. I dream of sitting down whilst being transported uphill.
Day Four
Continued practicing snowplough turns progressing more towards parallel turns. Now skiing more in a continuous line so less waiting - more skiing.
Unfortunately can’t go up mountain to ski blue pistes as some of the group still aren’t up to the necessary standard. Fortunately Michal has told us that tomorrow any people that can’t make it will join another group and will stay on the nursery slopes whilst the rest of us will go up in the gondola.
Day Five
Michal met us at the lift station and showed us how to board the gondola.
As we travelled above the piste that we were soon to ski on it looked VERY steep and VERY scary.
When we actually skied it though it wasn’t so bad, Michal lead us across to easier ares of descent and this plus lots of traversing took the sting out of it. (even though I’ve since been told by people who have skied many times that this slope was very difficult for beginners because it becomes quite red in many parts.) A big step up for novices!
Every one of the group fell over at some time or another but all in all it was all quite funny. We all felt an enouirmous sense of achievement when we eventually arrived back safely at the middle lift station. Even the less able members of the group (which was now down to 9) completed the run, despite the fact that the difference in severity between the nursery area and this was immense.
Dinnertime was also an incredible experience. This time the whole group ate together - (instead of disappearing in different directions as previous days) - in the incredibly spacious and modern cafeteria style mountain restaurant. The food was great and not too pricey but surprisingly there was also entertainment by a very good Pop/rock band called The Frogs - (half way up a mountain!!!) - who played everything from modern chart music to old school classics. Great !
In the afternoon we completed three more runs down the blue piste gradually falling over less and less.
I finished the day aching and bruised - from all the falls - but REALLY satisfied with what I’d achieved.
Day Six was test day.
We met outside the Ski School cabin again and then had to wait our turn to compete in a slalom held on the nursery area. This was OK but I would have preferred to have been skiing rather than standing around waiting for just one run down the course.
Most of the morning had gone by the time we went up the mountain to attempt a solitary run down yesterday’s slope before we stoppeed for lunch.
In the afternoon we got back down to the real stuff, we skied our usual blue piste again, but this time we only stopped every five hundred metres for us to regroup and for Michal to give us a few pointers. Everyone in the group (even previous strugglers) were now skiing amazingly fast. (Of course when we boobed our crashes were also amazingly fast ! )
But this was it:- Real Skiing. Incredible exciting REAL SKIING. What an unbelievable improvement from our first day !!!
That evening, the usual drinking that we had been doing all week in the highly recommended ShakesBeer’s Bar moved next door to Bellino’s for the Presentation Evening. This was a riotous boozy time with plenty of picture taking and back slapped congratulations. Of course, I didn’twin an award for placing in the top three, but maybe I will next time - cos I’m definitely skiing again !
Day Seven the last day (boo-hoo)
Michal, as promised, took us up the second (linking) gondola to the very top of the mountain, and as we travelled up the lift we were beginning to regret it.
This wasn’t a blue run, as shown on the piste map, it was so steep it had to be red !
The views from the top were so o o o o spectacular that we spent the first fifteen minutes taking photos. I think we could see every mountain in Austria (& beyond). The ride to the top was worth it just for this.
But NOW The Scary Bit - what we came here for - the descent.
The group was now 8, as another had to drop out, but the main contenders were there.
Who could get down without falling . . . . . . answer - no-one !
We were all over the place on the very steep bits, but the snow was wonderful and soft and great to land on. There was only the occasional patch of ice, which caught us out every time, and sending us hurtling away with arms and legs flailing all over the place.
I wish I’d been able to capture some of this on camera but I was too busy panicking myself to be able to film. However such good fun though - SO hilarious.
We loved it so much that when the instructor left at 3 pm, we all skied on, and on, and on, until the lifts closed at 4.30.
BRILLIANT ! - far better than expected.
Never thought that the mountain that terrified me at the start of the week would become my playground by the end.
Can’t wait for more.
Steve Atkinson
