They tear off the bindings, toss the snowboard to one side and sink into the snow, refusing to budge another inch. If an ordinary mini-break or beach holiday can spell stress for a relationship, a ski/snowboard holiday is taking it to a whole new level, especially if only one of you knows how to ski or snowboard! But we love the sport and we love our loved ones, so we persevere anyway (in many ways, winter sports fans are kind of masochistic). Whether you’re two young lovebirds or an old married couple, if you need some tips on how to get through the week, we have some ideas on how to battle any problem.
Granted, from a beginner’s perspective, strapping thin wooden planks to your feet and sliding down a snowy, icy mountain has to sound like a bit of a foolhardy idea. We veteran skiers have forgotten our fear of heights, but our partners are still waking up in a cold sweat after nightmares of turning into a human avalanche as they careen down the steep slopes.
Falling is a natural part of skiing and we all do it from time to time. Usually, it doesn’t hurt as much as it looks – how many times have you nose-dived into a big mountain of powder snow, lost both skis, and just sat there laughing and laughing? If you want to make your partner feel better, share some stories of that time a tree branch sent you spinning out of control, or the time you bailed getting off the lift. This will lessen the tension and build their self-confidence.
Aww, ski school. It’s so cute to see all those four-year-olds with their colourful ski suits and stubbly little legs, cautiously but determinedly steering their way through fields of squirrels and bunny rabbits. Oh, wait, hang on a sec – is that your partner swerving through the middle, knocking bunny rabbits and squirrels aside on a desperate mission to master the perfect snowplough? Not exactly the most romantic light to be seen in by your loved one.
Lay off on the humour a bit for this one – you don’t want to make them even grumpier. Stroke their ego a bit and when in doubt, always agree with them: “I know, darling! That little whippersnapper came out of NOWHERE!” Remember, they are putting themselves through a lot of pain and suffering to indulge you in your crazy love for the mountains. You owe them one (but also, like, skiing is the best sport ever and they will thank you later!)
Here's a completely opposite problem: your partner already thinks they’re an Olympic athlete! It’s difficult enough to keep a straight face during après-ski when they refer to their skill level as “intermediate”, but what are you supposed to do when they want to tackle the Streif on their very first day? Overconfidence is one of the leading causes of ski accidents...
If you’re clever, you’ll keep silent on this one and let them discover the truth for themselves. You can’t possibly be blamed for them crashing into a tree, or having to hike halfway up the hill to collect their skis and poles. What you CAN do is gather some photo evidence, which is always a nice bargaining tool. “Go with me to the Ed Sheeran concert or I’ll show your buddies how you fell off the children’s lift!”
So, your partner has successfully made it to the bottom of the nursery slope without breaking an ankle. Just when you’re starting to think this holiday might just work out after all, it’s time to board The Lift. They take one look and back away slowly. You expect them to get on that terrifying contraption, that rises to such dizzying heights above the cloud line? (remember: we’re talking about the children’s magic carpet). Excuses abound and there seems to be no persuading them. What do you do?
The first thing that comes to mind is just to blindfold them and force them onto the lift, amirite? But this might not be a very good way to ensure a second ski holiday in future. Instead, we recommend doing it the sneaky way: soften them up with a nice mug of hot cocoa and a shot of Dutch courage. Then blindfold them and force them onto the lift (just kidding). But in all seriousness, this will help their confidence and their level of tolerance for free-floating means of transport.
No matter how good a skier you are, it’s important to do some stretching and strengthening exercises before diving into your ski holiday. And if you’re going with a beginner, it’s probably best to choose a ski resort where you don’t have to jump straight out of a helicopter... if you need some help choosing, we’ve made a list of the best ski resorts for beginners. Remember: stay relaxed and have fun! Here’s to many more years of ski holidays as a happy, loving couple!
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
