I am hoping that August will be the month I pass my Level Five and be signed off to ski on the main slope unsupervised. It has also been decided that if or should I say when I pass it, that we will book a ski holiday for me, no pressure, but I do want to be able to go on one ski holiday.
Lesson Eight - Level Five
After a full day at work, we head off for a late level five lesson. We head up the Main slope at the top we recap details from the previous level and start completing our runs as the group spreads out we start to be given individual instructions with the aim of helping us improve.
I am getting used to skiing the main slope as well as the button lift all be it with a few wobbles. My skiing is getting better my confidence is slowly growing and I am feeling confident about passing level five. As per usual we head to the bar for our feedback. I am given positive feedback that I am doing well but I need to gain more confidence and advised to repeat the level again in a cruel to be kind way
Reflection: Firstly note to self don’t try doing a lesson after work my legs were killing me. I wasn’t surprised by the advice to repeat level five and my confidence does need to improve especially if I am to progress and the positive take away was that my skiing is at an acceptable level.
Lesson Nine - Level Five Repeat
We arrive early to the Snow Center for something to eat before my lesson at 6pm. We sit at the benches where you can view the slopes. I am surprised to see moguls on one half of the main slope, but assume that something will happen to correct this before the lesson. After dinner we head off so I can get ready for my lesson, today there is only three of us.
We head to the slope and the moguls are still there. We head off up the slopes and are told to try a run down. I go last and stack it, the half that isn’t moguls is like sheet ice, I get back up and the instructor asks if I am OK to continue and I say yes, I am not the only one in the group that stacks it.
I later find out that if your stance and balance are not perfect on ice you are likely to stack it. We give it another go with another failure, time for try number three it is slightly better be I start to head into the moguls and fall on to my stomach with my skis crossed, I try to recover myself but end up tweaking one of my knees, but with assistance I get back up.
On return to the top we are advised to try and stay in the middle of the slope where there is still some light snow covering, and we are shown how to do short turns, this is a technique where you face your body down the slope whilst moving and balancing to turn making use of the limited space we had. We were offered the chance to try the moguls but we declined. After a few runs we were allowed to continue with supervision from a distance.
At the debrief we are advised that the conditions on the slope were similar to a black run and due to the moguls people wanting to just ski had been using the other side all day making the icy conditions. As we had managed to ski these conditions and were completing runs on our own we all pass our level five. We are now able to buy lift passes and ski the main slope on our own.
Reflection: I have only gone and done it. it has certainly been a challenge getting here but I am giddy that I have, at times I didn’t think I would make it despite my determination, I now have the skills to gain more confidence and start to progress.
Main Slope Solo
My solo Main slope skiing session has arrive, as I am putting my equipment on I am feeling a bit nervous, but I am reassured to see a couple of my previous instructors are on the slopes today and maybe some help if needed. I have booked a two hour lift pass for today’s session.
I set off up the lift and get to the top, I pause take look down, calming myself down, going through everything I have been taught in my head. Saying “you have done this before just take your time and you will be fine”. I set off traversing across the top of the slope which is the steepest part, and slowly work my way across and down the slope occasionally stopping, but I make it down without falling.
Now my first solo run is out of the way, I make a few more runs, with passing advice from my previous instructors, about my balance and stance. I make it an hour on the slopes but feel tired. As my lessons were two hours, I thought a two hour lift pass would be ideal, forgetting that in lessons you are constantly completing runs.
I also asked my partner to film me skiing, as an exercise to see if what I thought I was doing is what was actually happening. The first video of me skiing lasts 1 minute 44 seconds, and I know have a reference point at the start of my solo skiing.
Reflection: I managed to over come my nerves and had a few albeit slow but successful runs without falling over. I also need to progress for my 2026 ski holiday, well what I thought was going to be my 2026 holiday is actually going to be 2025. So I need to make some progress in the next four months.
Lessons Learnt
Keep going
If you want to ski you need to keep going with the lessons, it you keep going you will get there, it too me nine lessons to pass my level five but I achieved it, you could also take private lessons if needs be.
Deep Breaths
Don't let your nerves get the better of you, take a deep breath or two, look down the slope make a plan in your head on how you are going to ski it. Then take your time don't rush or panic and you will be fine.
Accept Challenges
I received the challenge of my first ski holiday being booked a year in front of where my head was thinking. So I have now got a specific date to aim for and get my skills up.
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