What I hope to gain or improve
Over this holiday I hope to improve my skiing. Last year I had lessons and because I remember what the instructor taught me, I hope to be able to practise. What he taught me was how to slide downhill on one ski, with my side facing downhill. This will be useful to control my movements more efficiently and better on the harder runs. I was able to practise this a bit and went on a red run* the first day back. I think I have gotten better at controlling my skis, especially my back one, however I still need to learn and practise putting my skis parallel to each other when going down the slope on harder runs, as this will aid in sharper and more controlled turns.
On the second day, I decided that I wanted to try snowboarding. I hoped that I would learn more about the dynamics of snow sports, which I love. I also tried snowcycling, which I was weary of, because I don't like riding bikes.
On the second day, I decided that I wanted to try snowboarding. I hoped that I would learn more about the dynamics of snow sports, which I love. I also tried snowcycling, which I was weary of, because I don't like riding bikes.
Trying something new... Snowboarding?
On the second day, I decided that I wanted to try snowboarding on the third day. I decided this due to all the snowboarders that were on the slopes as well. Really, the main thing that made me want to try it is that there were people new to snowboarding that would be sat at the edge of the runs. I wanted to see really why they were sat there and if it was as hard as it really seemed. After I had finished skiing the next day, I skied the morning of the third day and had a lesson in snowboarding in the afternoon.
I really liked the lesson. My instructor was good with me, and taught me well. He was friendly and nice and worked for the same company that we rented our skis from, which I was familiar with as I had been skiing through the company (Myoko Snowsports) for 4 years, after this years. I think that I picked up snowboarding quickly at first, as I am familiar with skiing and using the edges of the board like the skis to turn. What I struggled with and was not familiar with was that the fact that both my feet were strapped down. After having both my feet free to balance on and move more delicately, it felt unnatural having my feet strapped onto one large board. With skiing, for me, even if I catch my ski on an edge made by other people, I can still catch myself with my other foot. With a snowboard, I can't. Basically, skis feel like extensions of my feet, while the snowboard felt restricting. I did quickly learn how to use the back of my board to slow down, however I struggled with learning how to use the front of my board. Eventually, I was able to do it, but it was still hard. I fell a lot while I was learning. The technique I learned to use the front side of my board was that because you turn by looking where to go, I looked uphill and used my arm to point where I was looking. This seems easy, but it was for me to gradually go from going flat on my feet from going straight downhill to on my toes. It worked my feet a lot, which I was not used to. Eventually though, once I was able to do this easier, I enjoyed snowboarding, but I like skiing better, even though I slipped on the snowboard and cracked my kneecap slightly.
I really liked the lesson. My instructor was good with me, and taught me well. He was friendly and nice and worked for the same company that we rented our skis from, which I was familiar with as I had been skiing through the company (Myoko Snowsports) for 4 years, after this years. I think that I picked up snowboarding quickly at first, as I am familiar with skiing and using the edges of the board like the skis to turn. What I struggled with and was not familiar with was that the fact that both my feet were strapped down. After having both my feet free to balance on and move more delicately, it felt unnatural having my feet strapped onto one large board. With skiing, for me, even if I catch my ski on an edge made by other people, I can still catch myself with my other foot. With a snowboard, I can't. Basically, skis feel like extensions of my feet, while the snowboard felt restricting. I did quickly learn how to use the back of my board to slow down, however I struggled with learning how to use the front of my board. Eventually, I was able to do it, but it was still hard. I fell a lot while I was learning. The technique I learned to use the front side of my board was that because you turn by looking where to go, I looked uphill and used my arm to point where I was looking. This seems easy, but it was for me to gradually go from going flat on my feet from going straight downhill to on my toes. It worked my feet a lot, which I was not used to. Eventually though, once I was able to do this easier, I enjoyed snowboarding, but I like skiing better, even though I slipped on the snowboard and cracked my kneecap slightly.
Snowcycling?
Snowcycling is not something that is seen often and in many ski areas. It is basically a bicycle who's wheels are replaced by skis.
At first it took me a while to get used to the sliding of the back ski, as I felt that I was going out of control. I didn't like it as much as I thought as I would have, as I don't like riding bikes, and this was quite similar, however I was starting to like it at the end of the session. It was hard for me to learn how to turn, as I needed to shift my body weight uphill, but if I leaned too much, then it was easy for me to catch the edge of the ski and turn too suddenly, throwing me off balance. I did however learn a bit more about skiing as well as learning how to snowcycle.
Overall...
I did learn more about snow sports in general, and I did improve my skiing, even managing a jump by the last day when I traded in my snowboard to go skiing again. This was a great experience, and I want to try snowboarding again, maybe next year if I go again.