Myths about skiing held by non-skiers

If you've spent years nagging your significant other/family member/friend to ski and they just won't see the light, this is the year you'll finally defeat every last one of their arguments! From the price to the crowded ski resorts, the unique après-ski scene to the "danger" and everything in between, there are a lot of misconceptions about our beautiful sport circulating out there. We've compiled a list of myths that non-skiers have been propagating, and debunked every one of them for you. They don't know what they're missing! Here's to many more years of skiing together.

Skiing and snowboarding are terrifying and dangerous sports

I can personally attest that I have a crippling fear of heights, but skiing doesn’t scare me. It’s something to do with the fact that I’m in control, and it’s not a free fall. Some people do get scared on the slopes, but the more you practise your skills and how to avoid an accident, the more confident you’ll feel and the better skier you’ll be. Please don’t be like my friend who was so terrified on her first time skiing that she closed her eyes, crashed into a tree, broke her thumb and then went around telling everyone how dangerous the sport is!

I'm going to break a leg

Breaking a leg used to be a classic skiing mishap, but innovations in skis and bindings mean that very few people today suffer this injury. You’re more likely to tear an ACL – although that won’t necessarily happen either if you stay in control and don’t overreach on ability. Stick to slopes that you feel you can tackle until you master the skills to progress to the next level. Tip: if you do tear your ACL, check out this new surgery that's making waves among skiers in Britain.

Ski lessons aren’t worth it for adults

Understandably, it seems like you’re never going to be able to catch up to those little whippersnappers who are constantly gunning it past you down the slopes. Why invest in ski lessons when there’s obviously no hope for you anyway? Well, believe it or not, there are plenty of stories of people older than you learning to ski – and skiing well. Don’t give up hope just yet - it's not too late! Tip: if you want to learn skiing before making the trek to the Alps, consider taking lessons at one of Britain’s indoor slopes or ski areas. That way you can save money and see if the sport is for you (of course it is).

Take the plunge and learn to ski... you won't regret it!

Ski boots are the devil incarnate

Ski boots come in a variety of shapes and sizes nowadays, and most of the good ones offer some way of moulding them to your foot post-purchase if you suffer from bunions, etc. Ski boots SHOULD fit tightly, for optimal control, but snug doesn’t have to mean uncomfortable. In fact, many of us skiers have developed a weird soft spot for ski boots. Truth.

Ski clothes aren't worth the investment

If you don’t happen to own a state-of-the-art ski suit and you’re worried about investing in a wardrobe that you might never use again if you tear your ACL, fear no more. Plenty of companies like Ski Chic offer the option to rent your clothes and have them delivered to you at the resort – what could be easier? Of course, ski equipment is also dead easy to rent at any major resort - you can save time and money by doing this online. And if you have friends or family who ski – which is likely because they’re probably the ones forcing you on these ski holidays in the first place – the least they can do is lend you some gear.

Ski holidays are insanely expensive

The term “ski holiday with the family” conjures up images of crowded slopes at big-name resorts with overpriced everything. But it really doesn’t have to be like this! Ski holiday tour operators often offer amazing deals, as do the resorts themselves, and if you poke around, you should be able to find reasonable prices. Investigate smaller budget-friendly ski resorts and resorts in countries like Norway or Bulgaria, and consider spring skiing, which offers very attractive prices, uncrowded slopes and loads of interesting spring events. Check out tips for booking a budget-friendly ski holiday and see cheap ski resorts in the Alps >

Skiing is hard on the piggy bank © Marco Verch (Flickr)

It's too complicated to take my kids

It sounds like a nightmare – lugging around extra ski equipment, braving the long journey to the Alps, looking for family-friendly lodging and ski areas... But these days, ski resorts have made it easy to bring the kids along, placing a special emphasis on teaching kids to love the snow so they will happily accompany their parents on the annual ski holidays. How do you think those little whippersnappers got so good? Dedicated children’s ski areas, slopeside day nurseries, family deals, affordable ski lessons... you’d be crazy NOT to bring ’em!

Sounds like an exhausting holiday

Whether you choose skiing or snowboarding, it’s true you’ll probably discover muscles you didn’t even know could hurt. You might feel out of breath in the thin mountain air, and you’ll probably be reeling from a massive après-ski-induced hangover. But skiing has its own set of benefits that are hard to beat, not least to do with the sheer adrenaline of it all. You’ll be aching in every bone of your body but you’ll have never felt so good. Trust us.

Discover your inner child

There's nothing else to do up there if the weather turns

Are you kidding? Sometimes we wonder if anybody actually skis anymore, what with all the alternate activities on offer! Try ziplining, dogsledding, shopping, roasting marshmallows by the fire, checking out the Christmas markets, ice skating, paragliding, roller coaster-ing... there’s no way you could ever get bored in most alpine ski resorts, even in poor weather. Far from being stuck in a remote mountain town, you’re dead centre in the middle of a winter wonderland!

The après-ski music is corny

Mmm debatable.

If you've spent years nagging your significant other/family member/friend to ski and they just won't see the light, this is the year you'll finally defeat every last one of their arguments! From the price to the crowded ski resorts, the unique après-ski scene to the "danger" and everything in between, there are a lot of misconceptions about our beautiful sport circulating out there. We've compiled a list of myths that non-skiers have been propagating, and debunked every one of them for you. They don't know what they're missing! Here's to many more years of skiing together.

Skiing and snowboarding are terrifying and dangerous sports

I can personally attest that I have a crippling fear of heights, but skiing doesn’t scare me. It’s something to do with the fact that I’m in control, and it’s not a free fall. Some people do get scared on the slopes, but the more you practise your skills and how to avoid an accident, the more confident you’ll feel and the better skier you’ll be. Please don’t be like my friend who was so terrified on her first time skiing that she closed her eyes, crashed into a tree, broke her thumb and then went around telling everyone how dangerous the sport is!

I'm going to break a leg

Breaking a leg used to be a classic skiing mishap, but innovations in skis and bindings mean that very few people today suffer this injury. You’re more likely to tear an ACL – although that won’t necessarily happen either if you stay in control and don’t overreach on ability. Stick to slopes that you feel you can tackle until you master the skills to progress to the next level. Tip: if you do tear your ACL, check out this new surgery that's making waves among skiers in Britain.

Ski lessons aren’t worth it for adults

Understandably, it seems like you’re never going to be able to catch up to those little whippersnappers who are constantly gunning it past you down the slopes. Why invest in ski lessons when there’s obviously no hope for you anyway? Well, believe it or not, there are plenty of stories of people older than you learning to ski – and skiing well. Don’t give up hope just yet - it's not too late! Tip: if you want to learn skiing before making the trek to the Alps, consider taking lessons at one of Britain’s indoor slopes or ski areas. That way you can save money and see if the sport is for you (of course it is).

Take the plunge and learn to ski... you won't regret it!

Ski boots are the devil incarnate

Ski boots come in a variety of shapes and sizes nowadays, and most of the good ones offer some way of moulding them to your foot post-purchase if you suffer from bunions, etc. Ski boots SHOULD fit tightly, for optimal control, but snug doesn’t have to mean uncomfortable. In fact, many of us skiers have developed a weird soft spot for ski boots. Truth.

Ski clothes aren't worth the investment

If you don’t happen to own a state-of-the-art ski suit and you’re worried about investing in a wardrobe that you might never use again if you tear your ACL, fear no more. Plenty of companies like Ski Chic offer the option to rent your clothes and have them delivered to you at the resort – what could be easier? Of course, ski equipment is also dead easy to rent at any major resort - you can save time and money by doing this online. And if you have friends or family who ski – which is likely because they’re probably the ones forcing you on these ski holidays in the first place – the least they can do is lend you some gear.

Ski holidays are insanely expensive

The term “ski holiday with the family” conjures up images of crowded slopes at big-name resorts with overpriced everything. But it really doesn’t have to be like this! Ski holiday tour operators often offer amazing deals, as do the resorts themselves, and if you poke around, you should be able to find reasonable prices. Investigate smaller budget-friendly ski resorts and resorts in countries like Norway or Bulgaria, and consider spring skiing, which offers very attractive prices, uncrowded slopes and loads of interesting spring events. Check out tips for booking a budget-friendly ski holiday and see cheap ski resorts in the Alps >

Skiing is hard on the piggy bank © Marco Verch (Flickr)

It's too complicated to take my kids

It sounds like a nightmare – lugging around extra ski equipment, braving the long journey to the Alps, looking for family-friendly lodging and ski areas... But these days, ski resorts have made it easy to bring the kids along, placing a special emphasis on teaching kids to love the snow so they will happily accompany their parents on the annual ski holidays. How do you think those little whippersnappers got so good? Dedicated children’s ski areas, slopeside day nurseries, family deals, affordable ski lessons... you’d be crazy NOT to bring ’em!

Sounds like an exhausting holiday

Whether you choose skiing or snowboarding, it’s true you’ll probably discover muscles you didn’t even know could hurt. You might feel out of breath in the thin mountain air, and you’ll probably be reeling from a massive après-ski-induced hangover. But skiing has its own set of benefits that are hard to beat, not least to do with the sheer adrenaline of it all. You’ll be aching in every bone of your body but you’ll have never felt so good. Trust us.

Discover your inner child

There's nothing else to do up there if the weather turns

Are you kidding? Sometimes we wonder if anybody actually skis anymore, what with all the alternate activities on offer! Try ziplining, dogsledding, shopping, roasting marshmallows by the fire, checking out the Christmas markets, ice skating, paragliding, roller coaster-ing... there’s no way you could ever get bored in most alpine ski resorts, even in poor weather. Far from being stuck in a remote mountain town, you’re dead centre in the middle of a winter wonderland!

The après-ski music is corny

Mmm debatable.