new member saying hi

Just thought I'd leave my first post, found this site recently don't ask how I'd missed it all this time but hay ho
Great to see so many like minded people out there, I like you all have everything crossed that this fantastic start to the season keeps going and that the hellish winter we had last year was a "one off"
Roll on 2008 !! :-D

:D hi,hope you are well and looking forward to another season on the slippy stuff,i think last year was bit of a blip in the weather as i dont prescribe to all this global warming rubbish.
The weather in he alps and world in general seems to go round in cycles,certain counrties get better snow than others but it all comes round to each eventually,in fact the last truly bad start to the season i ca remember was about ten years ago,i went to St.Anton one january (stayed in the small hamlet of Pettnaeu (not to sure of the spelling now) and it was blazing hot with green grass everywhere,up in St.Anton the snow was not very good,after acouple of days the teemperature dropped suddenly and overnight we had about a metre of snow.
If supposed global warmng means great snow at the start of the season..lets all install coal burning fires.

Welcome! :mrgreen:

Micktheloo,
Welcome to the very best ski site!

You will discover why it is so soon!Hope you have lots of questions,,,we love questions!
Like;
What is a ski bunny?
Are red boots faster than black boots?
Is Turtle fur real?
What is a ramp angle?
Why is Jan upside down?
Why does ise keep such a clean work bench?
Does weight make a difference in the downhill race?
How many points does a snowflake have?

Cheers guys for the welcome

What are your thoughts on ski school after a number of years ? my two kids have had four years "tuition" but last easter I took them to Kaprun and did'nt bother with ski school and personely think they came on leaps and bounds whilst skiing with me because I was pushing them (not literaly) but you know what I mean

I just think maybe ski school can have a negative effect espacially if the teacher is not that good what say you :?:

I forget what the real %s are for learning, but it's something like

10% of what we hear
20% of what we see
50% of what we do


To many instructors spend too much time explaining and not letting students spend enough time experiencing. Also in large groups the amount of "do" time is reduced. My guess is your kids got a lot more time just skiing.

Having said that, I'm sure they are perfecting the skills learned in the lessons. Finding the right balance is the key. My preference would be for an hour or two of private instruction followed by the rest of the day free skiing, as oppossed to all day instruction in a large group.

Trencher

80% of parents place their children in schools more as "day care" so that they are free to ski during their holidays!

In my area there is a small ski center and many many parents who do not ski bring their children there ( it is 5 minutes away from major city)! That is a great way to introduce children to skiing,,,but again it is a form of "day care"! Mother father go shoping while....

Now for the purely pedagogical reasons!
Children are in the stage where they are learning all sorts of values, activities and rules. Learning is central to their existence.They learn by "modeling" by imitating others so let them do rather than listen to....techniques!

If it is fun, they will learn!
I suggest first some basic lessons just to learn how to put on skis, walk with skis, fall down ( yes you should learn how to fall down) and get up!

Then let them have fun,,,,with supervision!
That is they key. With supervision since there are dangers in skiing! If on holiday you can hire a ski-sitter. A young lad or girl to just ski with children!

When my children were young, I would ski with them 2 hours , then my wife would ski with them 2 hours!


Free skiing is a great way to learn! When your lad goes off trail,,then you can suggest a way to stay on trail!

Follow the leader is a game all children know and you can do this in skiing! Is not follow the ski instructor the follow the leader game?

Children have a wonderful way to learn all sorts of new "activities" What they will remember ( which is the most important) is your attitude to their progress!Your attitude to sports, to family activities. These will bond you as a family so that as they grow into adulthood they will seek you out and ask you to ski with them and their children! The ultimate reward and recognition that you have done a great skiing job!

Just have fun!

A short post on ski school. Miles is smiles. There is no substitute.

You get intellectual with the telling, and visuals with the showing, but it's the doing that teaches the reflexes and muscles and finally imprints on the long term memory to get skiing to it's apex.

Kids leard quickly because they are less cereberal about the whole skiing thing they take an holistic approach. Getting down is the fun not the way you do it. Try it for yourself "just do it" is the motto of the day.

On memory: a shade off colour :shock: My fairy god mum said when I was born that I could have one wish, she said I could have a long memory or a long "hoo-hoo". I forget what I decided. :D

Just a short turn of humour on the site....