GF trying the 2 planks again... advice needed

[seatosky]

After 5 years on a snowboard the GF is interested in trying skiing again. She was a Nancy Greene kid on the EC, skied a bit in HS and then started snowboarding right after we met (and I started prodding her to get out on the hill more). All our snowboarder friends are bona fide rippers and she has major confidence issues on the single plank, so much so that she doesn't end up getting out there that much because she doesn't want to hold people back.

I think she's going to rent skis/boots/poles this weekend at W/B and see if she's still 'got it' - she's fairly athletic, but it's been a while.

Just looking for general advice not only on gear issues (what to rent, what to watch out for) but also how I can help her get used to the new gear and being on 2 sticks again, since she obviously has never skied on anything but old straight skis. I've got no instruction experience but I like to think I have a reasonable grasp on the fundamentals.

Any and all suggestions would be really appreciated. I'm definitely not looking to push her but I want to make sure she has as much fun as possible - with this year's epic season at W/B she's been a powder widow more days than either of us would like and she realizes that if she can just get a little confidence in either sport it'll make her want to get out there a lot more (she loves the mountains and especially likes the idea of getting into the BC one day).

[Beaver]

Fot the sake of your relationship do not attempt to teach her. Put her in a a ski school class and go bag some turns on your own.

[LeeLau]

Get her lessons and don't try to teach her. Trust me on that one. W/B has good lesson/tickets/rental packages. She'll be happier and you'll be happier.

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/ren...learntoski.htm

3 days of skiing, including lift tickets and gear rental, for $174.50

[watersnowdirt]

Someone else just posted something similiar. I'll give the same advice I gave there.

Tell her to transfer her SB skills to these new fatter skis (which take their inspiration from snowboards in part) as opposed to trying to remember how to ski the way she did on skinny skis. For me, going from a board back to skis was surprisingly easy, and I found that I actually ski better than I did when I gave up skiing. Things had changed so much, and so much of the movement was akin to snowboarding - carving, staying over the front of the skis. The fact that you're no longer expected to keep your skis tight together, and do tiny turns, was so liberating and helpful.

Keep in mind - I'm not a rockstar skiier, but this is hopefully just helpful advice from someone who picked up skis again after years of riding.

Hope you have fun!

[seatosky]

Get her lessons and don't try to teach her. Trust me on that one. W/B has good lesson/tickets/rental packages. She'll be happier and you'll be happier.

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/ren...learntoski.htm

3 days of skiing, including lift tickets and gear rental, for $174.50

Damn that's a good deal, for some reason I thought w/b ski school was way more than that. I see that one's 'beginners only' - I don't think she's quite that green and would maybe be better off in a 'weak intermediate' class - any options there?

Actually that's one thing I'm worried about - getting her in the right level class so she's not totally bored and not totally freaked out.

Ha teaching her myself can't be any worse than trying to teach her snowboarding with my 5 hours of snowboarding experience, but I definitely see your point.

[riderspro]

I haven't tried them yet, but I would guess the spatulas have to be the closest thing to snowboarding out there for two plankers.

And to third or fourth the comment, unless you have some laid back chick magnet steeze, don't try to teach her yourself.

In my experience, the smarter she is; the easier it will be for her to take constructive criticism (from you) and not get all emotional about it.

[seatosky]

In my experience, the smarter she is; the easier it will be for her to take constructive criticism (from you) and not get all emotional about it.

Ya she's really good with taking instruction and constructive criticism, that's the only reason I even considered teaching her myself. My main problem with teaching her myself isn't how she'll react to taking pointers, it's that I'm having trouble thinking of any pointers to give her other than 'weight forward, hands in front', ha. I guess it'd be a little easier once we're actually out on the hill but right now I'm sorta drawing a blank. As I said, no instruction experience - and the last time I had any instruction myself was highschool racing.

[ArmadaBC]

Took my gf to Utah this year, thought I could teach her ...... now I just jerk off alot