Learning to ski in dublin?

PokeHerKing

Hi folks,

Could anyone recommend the best place to learn how to ski in Dublin?

Google is bringin up the ski centre in Blackrock, which looks pretty decent but just want to make sure there's no better options?

Cheers

dzer2

Ski club Ireland Kilternan

Fattes

PokeHerKing

You have two options

Ski Club of Ireland - Outdoor actual slopes with Lifts, sensation of movement and a number of options for lessons, Full one day lessons from 10-4 or lessons broken down over a few weeks were you will ski for about 40-50 minutes of every hour


Ski Centre Sandyford- Indoor reverse treadmill device were the skier stays static and the mat roles underneath you. No Lifts and its indoors. Lessons are 10 minutes on 10 minutes off so you get 30 minutes skiing for every hour booked.

Enjoy

d2ww

I think what Fattes means is that who you will stand around watching the other 7 or so in your group slowly getting into position, then slowly snowploughing down a very short strip of slope, while you are looking at your watch, quietly fuming and wondering if you will get even one go before the lesson is over.

Whereas on the moving carpet, once the instructor has you on the carpet with your skis in the snowplough position and your hands on the bar in front of you, He presses the button and you're skiing and you keep on going!!
You will actually be skiing for 10 times as long in that hour on the carpet as you would on the dry slope,imo.
If you want to learn by doing then moving carpet, but if you want to learn by talking about it, possibly with Fattes who instructs there, then Kilternan is your best bet.

Fattes

D2ww; You have obviously never had a lesson with me Or have any idea who I am
My advice for lessons was a reasonable attempt to describe an average lesson at either facility, leaving 10/15 minutes out of an hour for explanation on a dry slope and from many friends and 1 family member that teach at the ski centre it is 10 minutes on 10 minutes off??

Not sure why you have felt the need to resort to attempting to criticising my ski instruction or myself.

It was an attempt to provide feedback on what the OP can expect at a session at either facility there was no bias or recommendation of one over the other.

Perhaps in future you can refrain from commenting on my teaching unless you have been in my classes??

Considering the high % of positive feedback I receive from clients and a large number of repeat customers I get.

I await your apology or at least the decency to remove your inaccurate analysis of my teaching

d2ww wrote: »

I think what Fattes means is that who you will stand around watching the other 7 or so in your group slowly getting into position, then slowly snowploughing down a very short strip of slope, while you are looking at your watch, quietly fuming and wondering if you will get even one go before the lesson is over.

Whereas on the moving carpet, once the instructor has you on the carpet with your skis in the snowplough position and your hands on the bar in front of you, He presses the button and you're skiing and you keep on going!!
You will actually be skiing for 10 times as long in that hour on the carpet as you would on the dry slope,imo.
If you want to learn by doing then moving carpet, but if you want to learn by talking about it, possibly with Fattes who instructs there, then Kilternan is your best bet.

flikflak

I would say the best place to learn is the place that is closest to the real thing which I think would be up at Kilternan on the dry slope as you get to experience not only the motion of skiing but also the things associated with it such as the lift.

Now I have never been skiing on a moving carpet I admit but I don’t see how it could ever properly mimic the conditions you will encounter on a real mountain? It’s not about just getting to a plough position and staying there when you are learning , if only, there is much more to it and I don’t see how a moving carpet could replicate this. Even having to hold on to a bar while in the plow position seems unnatural to me as you won’t be able to do that on a mountain. Also something as simple as learning how to dig your edge in to stand still on a piste which I learned in my first lesson is something I don’t think you can learn on a carpet but to my mind is essential when out on the mountain (just from my recreational skier point of view).

If it were me I would go for the dry slope just to get my head around all the equipment and rigmarole that skiing entails as a head start for your week of lessons once in resort.

CardinalJ

I'd go with kilternan. There is a certain amount of standing around and talking with any lesson, as you'll learn from lessons in a resort, but kilternan is the closest to actual skiing.

Personally, skiing indoors on a mat wouldn't be for me, and I presume when one person falls the entire mat stops, so I doubt its just 10 mins of non stop skiing followed by 10 mins of 'theory'.

PokeHerKing

Cheers for the replies folks, think we'll go with kilternan so.

NinjaTruncs

I've tried both, I'd recommend Ski centre in Sandyford over Kilternan.

From my limited experience with Kilternan it was as D2ww described, lots of waiting around and shuffling up a little incline, it was a beginners class though.

With Sandyford I felt like I got more skiing for my money.

I'd also say that Sandyford gave a more life like feeling than Kilternan, but the best thing to do is try a lesson with both and see which you prefer.

Edit:

Also if you fall over in sandyford it's much easier to get up the slop will be stopped by the instructor, while in Kilternan you have the chance to slide down and in effect miss your turn.

Fattes

if you fall over in sandyford it's much easier to get up the slop will be stopped by the instructor,

Just like in the real mountains the instructor will stop it for you

Lenmeister

Can't say I know anything about Sandyford or Blackrock(didn't know there was something there) but just as FlikFlak says the best place to learn is the closest to the real thing. So imo Kiltiernan would be best. The learning slope was resurfaced a while back and is nice for learning. The lessons are good up there and the instructors are sound. Do the 4 or 5 lesson thing with them and you'll be able to hit the real thing np without many problems. I think it's an 90 mins of teaching and then 30 mins or your own or something? Ages ago now so can't remember at all! Just remember, it's always easier on real snow

I'll have to check out this place in Sandyford for myself and comment on it.

Tommy Crowne

I took a number of ski lessons in Kilternan about 15 years ago. I went up for 6 lessons before a ski trip. I did this 2 years in a row. It was a good experience and really stood to me when I hit the mountain. Then I stopped going on winter breaks.

However last year, I decided to get back into the winter holidays and decided to try snowboarding. Due to the Ski club not being open during the summer I went to Sandyford ski centre. The instructors were great and the slope was very handy as a learing surface, especially as a complete beginner. I did a number of lessons there and when I got to actual snow this year was in a great position to hit the greens without too many falls.

Both are good learning surfaces in their own right. Sandyford is indoors so that's a bonus with the weather. Kilternan on the other hand offers a more realistic sensation of going down a hill.

I'd recommend both. Guess, which ever is easier to get to and offers the best deal at the moment.

Fattes

Just to be clear lads;

The instructors at both slopes are the same nearly all bar one or two teach at both.

d2ww

The goal here is to have the OP happily skiing down the blues by the Thurs/Friday of his/her first weeks holidays, which stepping stone they take to get there I don't think really matters. Both of these methods are a long way short of the real thing, real snow on a real mountain. But learning how handle the boots and skis and moving around is certainly useful and both of these will do that very well.
As TC said, they are both equally good and it just depends on who has the best deal on.
Fattes, my post was not about you. What I do know is that you are a very well respected and valued contributor to this forum, and that your opinion carries a lot of weight. So, when I saw what I perceived as a little bias towards kilternan, I decided to take a contrarian view, as much to stimulate conversation as anything else.

Fattes

but if you want to learn by talking about it, possibly with Fattes

^This was my issue, I believe in as much time on skis for my classes as possible anything above 6 in a class and after the initial intro they will be either side of me to double the runs. People pay way too much for lessons in any environment to be listening to an instructor talking crap.

I think the assessment of what to expect is fair for an average lesson at either facility. I am well aware of the advantages and draw backs of both and have never been shy about highlighting them to anyone in a fair manner. I do teach at one and not the other but I do so on a voluntary basis and receive no pay for it.

Skiing is about doing and having fun, not listening to a pretentions twat in a silly ski suit trying to show how good he is instead of improving those who are there to learn.

smootchio

Hi OP

I went skiing for the first time last year and loved every min of it. I am going again this year however there will be beginner and 3 very advanced skiers. So i decided to take some lessons before my trip. I too was unsure where to go and in the end I decided with Sandyford because it is the closest to me, I only live 5min away.

While I was unsure if I made the right decision as my uncle goes to Kilternan and finds it great, I am very happy with the choice I mad.

The instructors are lovely and passionate about what they do, always ensuring if you have a past injury and if so checking you are ok as the lesson progresses. I also like the idea of been able to see what you are doing as there a mirrors in front of you. So if you are been told you sitting back (or in my case forward) to much, your turning wrong because you are moving one foot more then the other, etc you can actually see and correct it without the frustration of I'm doing what you say but its not happening.

Also as you are on for 10 on for 10 it actually reminded me of my ski school lessons last year only this time you are actually skiing for full 10 min not just the 2 or 3 down a little slop. (yes it'a not real snow and its so easy to put the skis on here but that will be one of first things you learn). You can watch and learn from the other people in your class.

Each lesson is suited for you level, with a min of 3 in a class and max of 6. Also while you progresses the instructor can steepen the slop and speed it up allowing you to build up strength and stamina before you hit the slops!!

I have to say I have been impressed with the ski center, even one or two nasty falls!

Lenmeister

A little off topic here sorry but does anyone know if they teach tricks at any of these places? how to do 180/360s, grind rails and boxes etc. I know in Kiltiernan they do 1 day with jumps and boxes n stuff but do they have people showing you how it's done? I could never do any tricks at all I'd love to learn.

Fattes

Lenmeister; Ski or board? If you are on Skis just PM me before you head up some Friday night to the Freestyle sessions at the ski Club of Ireland and we can show you how to do some tricks.

We don't run structured lessons more a very casual approach to showing people how it is done.

Lenmeister

Ahh I board chief. Tried skiing, though boarding was more fun ^^

Fattes

Lenmeister wrote: »

Ahh I board chief. Tried skiing, though boarding was more fun ^^

No bother plenty of Board boys there every Friday who will be happy to show you how do do what you want.

Pop up any week and make yourself know

granty1987

Yeah there's always a decent group of us there on Fridays, a good mix of boarders and skiers. We usually take out the jump and the waven pipe and there's the odd ex instructor amongst us. Everyone there helps each other out an pushes you to progress and give tips etc
We'll be there at 7.30 tonight. Just wear gloves and a helmet. You can rent gear if you don't have any

Lenmeister

Ya it's a bit of a pain in the ass getting there as I've no car. I'll have to see if I can sting a lift up. Is it still 20/25 quid for the night?

Fattes

Try the Snowsport Freestyle Ireland page on Facebook there is always a chance someone can drop you to and from a spot if you are stuck. Practice Session is 28 Euro for the night.

Lenmeister

Cheers I'll have a gander.

TheoBane

Both place's are equally good, While Fattes teach in one place i teach in the other. Both Ski club and Ski Centre have strong points and weak points. It's up to each person, also most of the instructors that teach in the Ski Centre teach in the Ski Club.

Also we are not teaching Freestyle in the Ski Centre at the moment,

Also Fattes is a very good instructor, he know's exactly what he is talking about. That and he is the freestyle king of Ski Club.

But back about the topic of which is best is simple think of it of either jogging outside or jogging inside on a treadmill. They both achieve the same purpose, but slightly different ways.

Fattes

Both place's are equally good & bad in their own way :D:D:D

Agreed that the Instructors at both are excellent, and are shared so you are likely to have one or the other the same instructor.

Also Fattes is a very good instructor, he know's exactly what he is talking about. That and he is the freestyle king of Ski Club.

Humbled and embarrassed Thanks, much appreciated, from as fine an instructor as yourself TheoBane.

I prefer Freestyle facilitator, there are plenty that are far beyond my simple freestyle ability. :D:D

somepihelp

Just catching up here, d2ww that was quite rude and i dont think you apologised yet. 'Taking a contrarian view' is even ruder almost.

I had lessons on board (not with Fattes) and skis with Fattes in Kilternan before both of my first holidays respectively and it was fantastic. Added about 3 days to my holiday. I got to go a ski school that had aready 4 days under their belts and didnt look too out of place. Other wise i wouldve been on the baby slopes for those few days.

Just giving a contrarian view ffs

Edit - skiing down blues on the thurs fri? I was on blacks in San Anton on my second day and a lot of that was thanks to Fattes and his 'talking about it'

Lenmeister

Blacks?? You were carving that on your second day? Well frankly fu lol. It was a long time before it "clicked" for me, I didn't have the nerve to just throw myself at it, wasted half the fun on the mountain cause of that sure nvm, tis all good now! Never realised what I was missing out on until I was in Whistler and determined to get the whole carving thing down. Anyone I ended up teaching over that way I made sure I done my best to get that down for them. Soon as they can carve you can leave them to be imo.

Fattes

Somepihelp; Thanks for the kind words and I am glad you got some benefit from the lessons & that you did not go down the snowboarding route. :D


Lenmeister: I don’t think the word carving was used anywhere there Most people I see taking on steeper runs are not carving at all, they use a mix of parallel and skiddy turns to survive. Especially early stage skiers & alot of people who refer to themselves as intermediaries.

It is also interesting what a lot of people consider CARVING. Most people who think they are carving are actually railing. Tipping the skis on to their edge and just letting them run is not carving. It takes a lot of faith to trust your safety to 2cm of metal at high speed which is why it takes a lot of people time to get any comprehension of it.

This is Carving below! To carve properly you need to get the skis on an edge and actively work them properly through the turn. I see plenty of people who I teach or ski with who think they are carving but are not. They will scrub out the tails from time, they will tip the skis on an edge and hope that is enough.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.176.851.315/p851x315/68449_10151196220208440_447190898_n.jpg

Lenmeister

lol I know what carving is, besides I board :P

"Edit - skiing down blues on the thurs fri? I was on blacks in San Anton on my second day and a lot of that was thanks to Fattes and his 'talking about it'"

I'd presume he meant simple carving or turning. Doesn't count otherwise! :P Though the first time I went down a black slope it probably took me 30mins of barely moving to get down it, but after I could say least I had the guts to do it lol. Fail ^^

somepihelp

Ah no, im not saying i was any good but i wasnt falling every second, and quickly got out of snow ploughing.

Fattes really makes this forum tick, and has never been rude or pushy or anything but helpful. So i thought a little balance was in order.

Oh and dont hate me but my skiing days are over for now! Love my board!!
Altough that saloman skiing through the forest fire was probably the most awesome thing ive seen in a while!!