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#1
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Ski lessons at Lake Tahoe for a 14 year old first time beginner?
What are the good places where our 14 year old can go off safely with
the instructor for a lesson and learn comfortably? Do we need to invest in semi-private / private lessons or are group lessons fine? We are planning to spend 2-3 days (weekdays, not weekends) on the slopes and some of the places being considered are Sierra at Tahoe and Heavenly (expensive?); No one at our home knows how to ski and we will appreciate any suggestions that you can pass on; Thank you, AS |
#2
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All ski resorts offer lessons; the cost, group size and makup, and instructor quality depends largely on how much you pay. If he has never boarded before, then usually private lessons are a waste of money - go for the group lessons (and it's a good way for him to meet people!). Most resorts offer a package price - includes equipment hire, lessons and some sort of "free lessons until you get it" guarentee. It's a good deal. You don't need to worry about going for "big" resorts, nor the ones with the most expensive ski-passes (after all, all he will be skiing on is the "bunny" slopes" - he won't be going all over the mountain). Of the resorts on the south end of the lake, I suggest going for Sierra at Tahoe .. IMHO the staff there are better. If you can get to the north end of the lake, go for Boreal (or one of the small areas around there, and is a real boarder dude place) or Northstar. "as" wrote in message oups.com... What are the good places where our 14 year old can go off safely with the instructor for a lesson and learn comfortably? Do we need to invest in semi-private / private lessons or are group lessons fine? We are planning to spend 2-3 days (weekdays, not weekends) on the slopes and some of the places being considered are Sierra at Tahoe and Heavenly (expensive?); No one at our home knows how to ski and we will appreciate any suggestions that you can pass on; Thank you, AS |
#3
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I think the water at Tahoe may be a little cold.
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#4
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as wrote:
What are the good places where our 14 year old can go off safely with the instructor for a lesson and learn comfortably? Do we need to invest in semi-private / private lessons or are group lessons fine? We are planning to spend 2-3 days (weekdays, not weekends) on the slopes and some of the places being considered are Sierra at Tahoe and Heavenly (expensive?); No one at our home knows how to ski and we will appreciate any suggestions that you can pass on; I have not been to that ski resort but have been to others. When it comes to prices for ski vacations, the sky is the limit. I certainly don't recommend outfitting the whole family with skis, boots and the works before finding out if it is for you. Let's just say that if you are old enough to have a 14 year old kid, you are going to be one of the oldest people on the hill. You are looking at some serious costs if you use daily rentals and lift tickets. I have not skied for a couple years and prices vary, but I can tell you that the ski resorts around here charge up to $45 per day for lift tickets. There are morning only, morning and afternoon, afternoon, afternoon and evening or evening only tickets. Night is usually the cheapest, and personally, I always liked night skiing best. Afternoon tends to be the busiest, and you spend a lot more time in line at the lifts. Then there is the cost of ski rental, usually about half as much as the lift ticket, but that varies form place to place. Your best bet is to look for some sort of combination package. The resorts often have good deals on rentals and lift tickets. It is always much cheaper to get a multi day pass, so long as you get out there and use it. You may pay a premium for a room in the hotel at the base of the mountain, but the savings on rental and lift tickets may make it worth while. Be advised that skiing is exercise, and is especially demanding on the legs. You will discover some muscles in the back of your legs you never knew that you had before. You may only want to ski a few hours a day, and after 4-5 hours of skiing you will be looking forward to the hot tub back at the hotel. |
#5
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Let's just say that if you are old
enough to have a 14 year old kid, you are going to be one of the oldest people on the hill. I've met 70+ year old that ski. Just go mid-week, when all the tourists are at work. lower that age to 50+, and you are tlaking a sizable chuck of the mid-week skiing population. Don't let age - or percieved age - put you off. |
#6
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Dave Smith wrote:
...Let's just say that if you are old enough to have a 14 year old kid, you are going to be one of the oldest people on the hill. I call Non sequitur. |
#7
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lal_truckee wrote:
Dave Smith wrote: ...Let's just say that if you are old enough to have a 14 year old kid, you are going to be one of the oldest people on the hill. I call Non sequitur. Not entirely, but maybe I should have explained. It is a little more physically demanding that some people realize. There is more to it than just standing on a pair of skis and letting gravity do the work. It takes a lot of energy to counter gravity and keep yourself under control. I tried downhill skiing after more than 15 years of cross country skiing. That taught me some basics about balance, but I always thought that downhill skiing would be easier..... until I tired it. I had no problem on the bunny hill, thanks to Xcountry experience. I had no problem on the beginner hill. I set off for an intermediate hill. Half way down that hill for the fourth time I thought my thighs were going to explode. I was 43 the first time I tried down hill skiing, and I was usually twice the age of most of the people around me. I rarely ran into people my age or older. I attribute that to the physical demands. There aren't that many people over 30 who are in condition to even tackle the slopes, and those older people who do try it do only a few runs. Kids have a lot more energy and can easily spend a whole day on the slopes. |
#8
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"Dave Smith" wrote in message
... lal_truckee wrote: Dave Smith wrote: ...Let's just say that if you are old enough to have a 14 year old kid, you are going to be one of the oldest people on the hill. I call Non sequitur. Not entirely, but maybe I should have explained. It is a little more physically demanding that some people realize. There is more to it than just standing on a pair of skis and letting gravity do the work. It takes a lot of energy to counter gravity and keep yourself under control. I tried downhill skiing after more than 15 years of cross country skiing. That taught me some basics about balance, but I always thought that downhill skiing would be easier..... until I tired it. I had no problem on the bunny hill, thanks to Xcountry experience. I had no problem on the beginner hill. I set off for an intermediate hill. Half way down that hill for the fourth time I thought my thighs were going to explode. I was 43 the first time I tried down hill skiing, and I was usually twice the age of most of the people around me. I rarely ran into people my age or older. I attribute that to the physical demands. There aren't that many people over 30 who are in condition to even tackle the slopes, and those older people who do try it do only a few runs. Kids have a lot more energy and can easily spend a whole day on the slopes. Sorry, but I disagree. Most young people can't afford to ski often because it's an expensive proposition. I generally ski in the Northeast (Vermont mostly), and can't agree with your statement that most skiers are in their twenties or younger. I think all ages are pretty well represented on the slopes, and seeing a 70-something cutting a nice track is no more unusual than seeing a 5 year old first timer, or a 25-year old hot rodder. As for your legs hurting after a few hours, that means you're having trouble yourself - possibly with technique, possibly your equipment, maybe just hitting too much rough stuff. Unless the weather turns really awful, I always ski all day long, and I've been skiing for 45 years. Last year, in anticipation of my 60th birthday, my wife took me on a two week ski trip to 6 different areas, and we both skied all day for 13 of those days. It was tiring, yes, but not at all painful. I don't do the big moguls anymore because that does hurt, but I still like the little ones, and I like skiing in the glades. I don't think I'm especially fit either, and my knees bother me just walking down stairs. Skiing is a joy, and if it's not a joy for you then you should figure out why. If your legs hurt after a few runs, then something is wrong as I mentioned before. Downhill is absolutely different than cross-country, and I suspect you might be trying to translate some of your old technique to a different sport. k |
#9
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k wrote:
I was 43 the first time I tried down hill skiing, and I was usually twice the age of most of the people around me. I rarely ran into people my age or older. I attribute that to the physical demands. There aren't that many people over 30 who are in condition to even tackle the slopes, and those older people who do try it do only a few runs. Kids have a lot more energy and can easily spend a whole day on the slopes. Sorry, but I disagree. Most young people can't afford to ski often because it's an expensive proposition. Nor can they afford hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars worth of equipment, or the cost of a nearby chalet or hotel room. Their parents pay. I generally ski in the Northeast (Vermont mostly), and can't agree with your statement that most skiers are in their twenties or younger. I think all ages are pretty well represented on the slopes, and seeing a 70-something cutting a nice track is no more unusual than seeing a 5 year old first timer, or a 25-year old hot rodder. It must be a lot different there. From my experience, the majority are under 30. I won't say that I never say anyone over 70 on the ski hills, only that it is rare, probably more 5 year olds than over 70 types. As for your legs hurting after a few hours, that means you're having trouble yourself - possibly with technique, possibly your equipment, maybe just hitting too much rough stuff. Unless the weather turns really awful, I always ski all day long, and I've been skiing for 45 years. Last year, in anticipation of my 60th birthday, my wife took me on a two week ski trip to 6 different areas, and we both skied all day for 13 of those days. Great.... and you did say that you have been doing it for 45 years. It does require some degree of fitness. Skiing is a joy, and if it's not a joy for you then you should figure out why. If your legs hurt after a few runs, then something is wrong as I mentioned before. Downhill is absolutely different than cross-country, and I suspect you might be trying to translate some of your old technique to a different sport. It is indeed different from cross country. With cross country you have to use the skis and poles to get yourself moving and keep moving. With downhill skiing you are trying control the forces of gravity. |
#10
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Dave Smith wrote: lal_truckee wrote: Dave Smith wrote: ...Let's just say that if you are old enough to have a 14 year old kid, you are going to be one of the oldest people on the hill. I call Non sequitur. Not entirely, but maybe I should have explained. It is a little more physically demanding that some people realize. There is more to it than just standing on a pair of skis and letting gravity do the work. It takes a lot of energy to counter gravity and keep yourself under control. I tried downhill skiing after more than 15 years of cross country skiing. That taught me some basics about balance, but I always thought that downhill skiing would be easier..... until I tired it. I had no problem on the bunny hill, thanks to Xcountry experience. I had no problem on the beginner hill. I set off for an intermediate hill. Half way down that hill for the fourth time I thought my thighs were going to explode. I was 43 the first time I tried down hill skiing, and I was usually twice the age of most of the people around me. I rarely ran into people my age or older. I attribute that to the physical demands. There aren't that many people over 30 who are in condition to even tackle the slopes, and those older people who do try it do only a few runs. Kids have a lot more energy and can easily spend a whole day on the slopes. "Ski Resorts Catering More to Boomers" (http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbc.../512300329/0/0) .... "But the average age of skiers is creeping up steadily every year with some of the sport's fastest growth in the 45 and older demographic." .... "The percentage of overall skiers 45 or older had climbed from 21 percent to 31 percent between 1997 and 2004, NSAA reported." ----------------- I am 47 and just finished skiing a day with a bunch of high school friends of mine. I no longer do the marathon 10 hour ski days I used to do when I was in my 20s, but I can still usually handle 5 1/2 or 6 hours of ski time on a good day. I walk regularly and work out occasionally, but I don't consider myself in great shape. Most of the younger crowd (my daughter and her friends) seem to go more for snowboarding than skiing, though. That might partially account for the growth of skiing among older folks, as the younger demographic moves towards a different snow sport. I haven't noticed any decrease in the crowds at the ski areas I go to, so I think that the resorts are still attracting as many people purchasing lift tickets as ever, and the ski resorts seem to keep expanding and adding lifts. |
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