Skiing is Scary (but you should do it anyway)

Canyons Village, Park City, Utah

Learning to ski as an adult is challenging but oh so worth it. 

Never been skiing as an adult? No problem! Neither has roughly 80%* of America (here's another stat that went into my guesstimate). Maybe you met new friends, moved to a colder climate, earned more disposable income, or something else altogether inspired you to go on a ski trip.

However, before skiing is fun, it’s scary. Like, completely terrifying, “will I die if I go off that cliff?” question raising, and fear inducing. Because yes, you will die if you go off that cliff. Learning how to ski as an adult is scary. Period.

"Don't compare yourself to toddlers...Your instinct to go slow is why they require parent supervision and you don’t."

Okay, now that we’ve qualified your fear, here’s how we get over it.

1. Take a lesson. If you think you don’t need one or you’re cash conscious, it is possible to have a friend teach you, but only if they dedicate themselves to this task and are incredibly patient. I never recommend a significant other teach you. (“Babe, you’re doing it wrong” X 1,000 is psychological warfare).

2. Don’t compare yourself to the toddlers flying down the hill! Here’s why: Your brain has taken decades to develop. Theirs hasn’t. That healthy sense of fear you have is for survival. Your instinct to go slow is why they require parent supervision and you don’t.

3. Sorry I brought up the cliff earlier. Here’s how you avoid that terrifying accident: Look where you want to go and your body will follow. Again, refer to #1.

4. Bunny slope and green slope all day. DON’T go on a blue and especially not a black unless you are ready-- for everyone’s sake. If you accidentally go down the wrong slope, keep calm and side-step down the whole way. There’s no shame in taking care of yourself. It’s embarrassing, but an ego hurts a lot less than a broken leg.

5. LEARN HOW TO STOP. Again, refer to #1 and #4. Skiing is all about turns, and a turn is essentially just a slow stop. If you turn fast and hard, then it’s a fast stop. The better you become at stopping, the more confident you will become (and rightfully so). The only way to get there is through practice.

You know what's more embarrassing than side-stepping down an entire ski slope? Sharing it on the internet.                

Safety > Ego.

The first couple times you go skiing won’t be the best time of your life. But the third, fourth, or fifth time might be. Muscle memory and skiing instincts take a hot second to form, though once you do, it’s an amazing way to spend quality time with family and friends, visit beautiful places, and it's a cool challenge you can keep coming back to year after year. Now, get out there and try on some skis (or a snowboard)! Let us know how it goes. 

A first timer and a third timer staring at the Blue slope they refuse to go down. Solidarity, my friends.

Did you learn how to ski as an adult? Have any other tips you have for first timers? Share your experience in the comments below.