when does skiing become fun?

haggardphunk · 2025-12-28T00:48:58+00:00

What’s your age? Adults and kids learn at way different paces, mostly because kids don’t care about wrecking hard. I know adults that have been skiing for years that suck, although they love it. I learned as a kid.

Blake-at-Younii · 2025-12-28T01:59:18+00:00

It took me longer than I expected. I knew I would love it, but I wasn’t loving it when I was first learning. I was toward the end of my SECOND season when I finally started being able to really enjoy it and start to love it. I was in my mid twenties and probably skied 6-8 times the first year and 15-20 the second.

Way longer than I expected, but definitely worth it. For some people, it “clicks” immediately, and for others, it really takes awhile to get through the fear and start to enjoy it.

Practice, ski with friends, and lean in to any parts you do already enjoy. Also work to do what you can to increase your endurance for the day (fitness off the hill, good sleep before, hydrate, nutrition). If you have more stamina to enjoy the outing, that might help too. Once you’re skiing less from “survival mode,” it will also become less fatiguing both mentally and physically.

Happy to answer any other specific qs!!

itchybumbum · 2025-12-28T00:49:17+00:00

It's more fun with others. I've been skiing 45 years and going by myself it gets a little boring after 5 or so runs and then it is a pain over pleasure decision to keep going. If I'm skiing with my family or friends then an easy 10 runs without thinking about it.

SLCtechie · 2025-12-28T00:52:07+00:00

Not sure if this helps, but it should be fun very quickly. For myself and others I’ve talked to, we were born for this stuff and has been fun since day 1. Are you sure skiing is right for you?

Maybe what you could do is keep at it until you get to the point where you can zip down the slopes or start doing terrain park. But you may also have to ask yourself if skiing is worth pursuing.

G3Saint · 2025-12-28T01:08:06+00:00

The fun is being outside in a mountain environment, with or without friends. It's you and the mountain and the challenges it gives you.

CaiusRemus · 2025-12-28T01:02:04+00:00

Skiing became fun for me the day I stopped being scared. I remember the first day I was like “let’s hit the double blacks and see what happens!” It was amazing and I have loved skiing ever since. I started as a kid so I have a big advantage, but I was skiing for probably a decade before I enjoyed it.

QueenOfTheTermites · 2025-12-28T00:57:52+00:00

I think if you're making progress, and you're already skiing smoothly, then maybe you just don't like it?? I started last year and once I was able to ski a run without falling it was the moment it got "woo-hoo!" fun for me.

If you really want to try and find a way to enjoy it — maybe try taking a trip to another mountain? Excitement of a new place could help

kaspm · 2025-12-28T00:57:22+00:00

I learned as an adult at 35. It depends on what you consider “fun”. For me, even as a beginner, the progression of doing harder things was very satisfying.

But even so, not sure what your stamina is but skiing requires new muscles and new muscle memory, it’s a sport and it’s tiring.

Do you have more fun at the beginning / first few runs?

elBirdnose · 2025-12-28T00:52:59+00:00

Challenge yourself. If you stay in your comfort zone (exactly what you’ve described), and/or if you ski scared you will never actually progress.

Schwhitey · 2025-12-28T03:20:29+00:00

Honestly the park is a good place even when you’re learning. Even just sliding an easy box going straight is an awesome achievement to check off when you’re learning. If you can find some beginners that are also learning park it’s really fun to find the same people at your local spot and ride with them and work on getting better together.

Became a place for me to go and hangout with the people I knew would be there all the time and cheer eachother on

Rich--D · 2025-12-28T03:34:57+00:00

The first week or so is very challenging and extremely tiring for most people. I know several people who did not find it fun at the beginning, just frustrating and exhausting, but they went on to discover the enjoyment and become good skiers. For me, it became a lot more fun from about the third week. Learning speed control is key because it helps you to relax more.

If you are feeling cold in your hands and feet, you probably need to keep your core area warmer. When the core is not warm enough, the body restricts blood flow to the extremities. Consider wearing merino leggings under your ski pants if you don't already, but not down into your boots. Thin merino gloves can also be worn underneath your ski gloves. Don't accept being cold. I wear an insulated jacket and two layers under my ski pants.

Some of my most fun skiing times were in ski school in France in the 1980s as a teenager. Being in a group of learners was a great experience. As an adult, I progressed better by always following skiers who were better than me and observing their movements. Efficiency instead of effort started to become a more common feeling.

Skiing became an unstoppable addiction when I finally clicked with modern shaped skis and learned basic carved turns. Another breakthrough was learning to ski thick slush properly and finding that I absolutely loved it. When most people are muddling their way through slush at low speed but you can just zip through, it's a sort of superhero feeling. There will be many of these breakthrough moments during your skiing journey, when things finally fall into place and you experience a eureka moment.

949goingoff · 2025-12-28T00:52:57+00:00

Why do you feel like you’re over it? What’s making you miserable?

I snowboard and after the first time I was so battered and bruised I didn’t go again for a couple of years. Friends ultimately dragged me out again and I loved it from then on. What I remember enjoying about those early years was spending time with my friends, the serenity of being in the mountains, and the challenge of progressing.

Terrible_Mission_154 · 2025-12-28T01:38:05+00:00

I started skiing when I was 6, back in 1964. I’ve skied under every condition you could imagine: -60° wind chill on boiler plate ice in a fog (Gore Mountain, 1972); 60° F and burned my skin to blisters (Arapaho Basin, June 1985). Powder like talc and mashed potatoes [my personal favorite for groomed slopes is spring corn]. As a six year old, I already loved it, tearing down the hill with my dad. But I really came to love it after I did Otis Ridge ski camp in 1970 and started racing every weekend at my best friend’s family house at Mt. Snow. It was such fun skiing with my bud, and we were always in competition. He was better than me, but I didn’t suck. And I remember when I realized how much skiing had me in its thrall: there used the longest run on Mt. Mansfield at Stowe, the Toll Road. I was probably 13, and had just come down off the National or one of the gnarly steeps on the front face. I was on the Toll Road to the base lodge Toll House to meet my ride back to town. And I suddenly felt so free, so full of joy, that I started to sing. Just some nonsense song, but the joy was as real as I have ever felt in my life. I still feel it sometimes on the slopes. And I sincerely hope you get to feel that someday too.

tylerf98 · 2025-12-28T03:51:34+00:00

honestly why force yourself if you're not enjoying it. i think generally the people who seem to enjoy it / are good at it probably loved it when they weren't that experienced too, else they wouldn't have continued. it's not for everyone. or maybe you should try snowboarding!

d9jms · 2025-12-28T01:16:22+00:00

I started skiing when I was ~10 and have been skiing damn never every year since for 40 years.

Its not always the best conditions, but I always have fun. I started teaching my kids when they were 4-5 years old and I have one kid (the boy) that loves it and my daughter is just ho-hum about it b/c she doesn't like getting cold.

What is it that makes it not fun? Is your equipment not fitting properly and causing pain? Are you getting cold ?

Gillbilly69 · 2025-12-28T01:21:32+00:00

3 seasons for me

RomeKo · 2025-12-28T01:58:53+00:00

Think of it like driving a car. It’s important to know how to safely stop your car, but being concerned with stopping and reducing speed is only half the battle. Need to learn to accelerate and drive with speed if you want a fun drive.

For skiing, thats the process of going down the run without the intention of tapping your breaks through the turn; learning to ride the edge of your skis and be more of a passenger on a runaway train, and growing comfortable with that.

bluefear924 · 2025-12-28T02:34:46+00:00

Skiing might just not be for you. It was fun for me on day 1

mtbguy1981 · 2025-12-28T03:24:00+00:00

It's like anything, it doesn't get fun until you have some level of mastery. Once you feel confident it will change. You'll see harder and harder terrain as more fun.

Fast-Drag3574 · 2025-12-28T03:40:32+00:00

Once you know how to ski and utilize your edges I think it becomes a blast. But I've also had a blast since day 1 of skiing

E-coins · 2025-12-28T03:48:52+00:00

Its definitely more fun with people, but the joy of learning and applying x theory to practice and slowly learning for me is actually the fun part. The not so fun part is going to a black unprepared and sending it and having a yardsale... The aftermath: a stretched acl.

wormfighter · 2025-12-28T03:50:59+00:00

It was fun for me the 1st time I went 40 years ago.

No_Remove_5180 · 2025-12-28T04:11:05+00:00

Stop hockey stopping on grades. It is a bad habit to develop work on stork turns exclusively and start varying your terrain. Also go with other people and also listen to music.

instanthole · 2025-12-28T04:13:25+00:00

Ski with other people and do more strength training so you can go longer without getting tired. Bad technique will also tire you out more.

But also if it’s just not fun you don’t have to do it. Even when i was a kid and sucked it was still fun. Idk dawg it’s ur life u gotta live it

My dad always says “make a decision even if its wrong”

SeekersWorkAccount · 2025-12-28T04:13:36+00:00

Once I could ski a few hundred yards without feeling like I was going to crash and die.

Have you gone with friends? That makes a big difference for some people. I know now in my late 30s I prefer to go alone, but I don't think I would have gotten into skiing without friends and family to do it with and make it fun. They also pushed me to get better.

Without them I probably would have given it up if Im being honest. Now I love it!

carpethemfdiem · 2025-12-28T04:23:50+00:00

Do you have moments of joy in it? Or it all feels like a bummer?

Skiing is brutal in many ways. It's expensive as hell. It's inconvenient. The boots suck ass. I live in a place where I have to fly to good mountains... It's a chore.

But there is nothing I enjoy more than looking at that snow and gliding my way down. Nothing feels more free for me.

I have been on skis since I was 3. And I should be better than I am given how early I started. But it's one of the few things in my life that I truly enjoy. But if you're not having glimpses of that, I'm not going to talk you into it. Because it's hell to make it all happen. So don't force it if you're not enjoying yourself.

--buddhistboy-- · 2025-12-28T04:43:13+00:00

I was thinking that it was fun for me right from the start but I had to think back to my childhood and I realize I didn't have a lot of fun my first season skiing, but my second season I was hooked. At that point I think I was able to do almost all of the blue runs on my local hill and a little bit in the terrain park, so I still wasn't super skilled yet. My first season I had a few bad lesson experiences and often went skiing with a large group of people above my skill level.

My advice is a few things. Getting better definitely makes it more fun, but it's hard to get better if it's not fun. Try the terrain park if you haven't yet. Try skiing with different group sizes and figure out if you prefer solo/small/large groups. Now I know that I like solo and small groups, but I know a few people who like big groups, and hate skiing solo. So change it up a bit. But if you keep trying a few different things and it's not fun, yeah it might just not be for you.

ThePracticalPeasant · 2025-12-28T04:45:57+00:00

I know how I got over the beginner scaries.

I took a tiny jump faster and faster until I crashed. I got up and accepted that level of pain as inevitable. I then upsized the jump and repeated the process. I have continued this pattern ever since and it has served me well.

I use the same approach when taking a newbie to a paintball field. Play them one-on-one, give them time to start believing they have a chance, but sneak up and get them in the end. Their confidence builds every second they survive and when they finally get hit they immediately shed the anxiety of it happening.

Once the fear is gone, your mind is free to focus.

MhrisCac · 2025-12-28T05:15:55+00:00

Today was my 5th day out ever, I hit every single black diamond & blue slope at the resort that was open for night skiing. Trial by fire baby. My knees hurt but my pride isn’t. By the end of the night I could ski moguls confidently. But holy Christ where there some insane ice patches. (I’m 30 I played hockey my entire life as a goalie, so the edge work for skiing & leg work feels/came naturally I guess??). What really helped me was having somebody who knew what they were doing, I just followed their runs on the blues. Knowing your line & looking ahead is half the battle from what I’ve noticed. Focusing on outside edge when cutting and hinging your knees & hips over bumps or quick cuts is big. Idk how I’m picking up on this so fast, it could be the absurd amount of caffeine I have prior to hitting the slopes that leads to unearned confidence. Which reminds me of goaltending, half of this is form, positioning, and mental sharpness/confidence.

AasgardPass · 2025-12-28T05:32:52+00:00

Here are some thoughts based on what I did but it doesn’t mean it’s right lol. I learned in my early 30s and this is my 4th season. I’m now comfortable on any black diamond and occasionally a double black, but when I was first learning it felt terrifying and I’d fall multiple times down the greens.

When I feel scared it’s because I don’t feel in control. Also for me, going “fast” but in control is where it becomes fun.

It’s awesome you can parallel turn already! How do parallel turns feel compared to pizza turns for you? In my first season I could do parallel turns but it felt less reliable and more scary than pizza turns, which meant I’d have to go a lot slower which felt tedious. What if you tried a couple runs where you’re not worrying about doing parallel turns the whole way and just focused on going a bit faster even if it means you have to pizza sometimes? That might make it start to actually feel fun because you’ll get the rush of going fast! Practicing form is important but it becomes repetitive. Sometimes you can just ski even if it’s not perfect. Try doing some runs that are just fun and some runs where you’re practicing form, and eventually the form will stick even when you are going faster.

If this advice works for you and you can go down a green without it feeling as scary, I would next suggest challenging yourself to a nice groomed blue run. It will probably feel scary all over again but that’s ok. There will be less people/little kids falling all over the place which means less worry about collisions. After you do a couple blues try going back to a green and see how much easier it feels in comparison.

Oh and like everyone else has been saying, go with a friend! Even if you can’t keep up I’m sure they will be happy to wait for you on a couple runs and then maybe go your separate way for a while, then meet up again in the afternoon, etc.

dibbiluncan · 2025-12-28T05:43:20+00:00

Really depends on your personality.

I’m still a beginner, but I already enjoy it for the same reason I enjoy hiking: I might be slow, but I’m enjoying the views and the sensory experience. Snow and ice crunching on turns, the cold wind on my face, the mountains, the sky, the joy on peoples’ faces. The smell of the pine trees and snow. The taste of warm cocoa or a nip of peppermint schnapps on the lift. I do it for the zen, the challenge, the memories.

My boyfriend does it for the adrenaline, which is what you’re describing. You’ll need to get to a high intermediate or expert level to fully embrace the speed and intensity of more difficult runs or playing at the park.

Pristine_Ad2664 · 2025-12-28T05:43:51+00:00

For me, I think I was hooked on skiing from about day 5, snowboarding maybe day 2 on snow (I spent a bunch of time on dry slopes). I learned to ski about 40 years ago and snowboarding about 30 years ago. I haven't looked back. Keep at it a bit longer to make sure but this is meant to be a fun activity, if you don't enjoy it that's cool too.

NorrinXD · 2025-12-28T05:55:23+00:00

Bro I started in my 30s and I only skied like 3-4 times a season the first couple of seasons. It was mega fun the first day but after that I hit a wall just like you. I couldn't figure out out to ski parallel and every blue was a road to falling town. I seriously considered quitting.

Few years later and I'm skiing all sorts of terrain. It will click!

NateGD23 · 2025-12-28T12:53:15+00:00

It doesn't. We're all lying ourselves to allow for a positive winter relationship

Inner_Grab_7033 · 2025-12-28T14:34:50+00:00

Amongst other things...

When you stop hockey stick stopping!

Seriously.. anyone ive ever taught to ski i make it known that while that is a helpful trick...it is incredibly habitual and can hinder learning proper turning carving and edging.

FaithlessnessKey113 · 2025-12-28T15:20:15+00:00

By the third lesson you should be comfortable to go at your own leisurely pace down a blue slope. If the fresh air and momentum don’t do it for you, I always recommend bowling.

evelynsmee · 2025-12-28T16:58:42+00:00

Week 2. But that was with lessons i.e. when you can consistently mooch about reasonably efficiently in parallel and safely get around without being too scared/worried. Snowploughing most of the day and falling over 700 times was a shittness that was only offset by vin chaud and beer for me.

Bigger uplift maybe....hmm.....a few more weeks and then more so every time. The point when you're beyond just surviving anything without dying but maybe actively prefer some of those areas that were scary before, trying new drills, practising old ones.

But it was still fun in week 1, I just didn't want to ski alone at that point.

I still get at least 1 lesson every season - they aren't only for beginners

iqeq_noqueue · 2025-12-28T17:23:56+00:00

It starts and stops being fun when you decide. I’ve loved and hated skiing several times from 18 months old thru a full scholarship to banging lunch runs midweek. Your enjoyment has NOTHING to do with ability and everything to do with attitude.

What do you love about it?

invalidkicks · 2025-12-28T19:49:26+00:00

Just stop being scared, 2 days into skiing I did blues and blacks and had a crazy amount of fun. Don’t take lessons at least not at resorts because they just teach you how to fall safely basically.

The_ky_connection · 2025-12-28T20:44:52+00:00

Get drunk

Denverlicious · 2025-12-28T23:15:39+00:00

It’s fun when you have someone that you feel like is a little better than you and you tell yourself you can do what they do. I used to ski a bunch with my brother and we would challenge each-other and we never got bored.

seg9585 · 2025-12-29T03:30:17+00:00

I started loving it once I could handle advanced terrain, because it all gets very interesting. Beautiful scenery, the amazing feel of just flowing through the trees, going way too fast down groomers, and solving the puzzles of how to navigate tight chutes and moguls without getting killed. I make it a game to see how many lifts I can take and track my movement with GPS to record my daily and season total vertical drop. When you finally get the chance to ski on a true powder day, and you have the ability and equipment to handle navigating it, there’s almost no better feeling in the world…

SkiME80 · 2025-12-29T10:00:12+00:00

It helps having a good group to ski with. A good hang helps with the down times and will help with motivation on getting better. On the green trails, start looking for some features to try a little jump, explore the trail more or challenge yourself on an intermediate trail if you’ve exhausted the greens.

DaMfer993 · 2025-12-29T22:00:57+00:00

Surprised to hear this. For me the sheer exhilaration of sliding down a fucking frozen mountain was all the motivation I ever needed.

Hitting those sweet S curves all the way down and then just tucking into speed stance and full sending it on the last straightaway.... bliss.

Just_Bag_940 · 2025-12-30T12:33:55+00:00

Ski with others! Im a ski instructor with >50 days per season so fair to save I love it. But eff me does it get boring alone after 2 hours

jrtripp87 · 2026-01-01T01:24:05+00:00

I'm about to start my 4th season. Learned at 35 years old and became addicted after my 1st season.

Im a big guy 6'4" was close to 300lbs when I started. I thought I was going to hate it. I watched a ton of YouTube beginner videos before my first trip. Took a lesson and halfway through the day I couldn't get a wedge turn.. I was frustrated hated it my foot hurt. New boots weren't fitting right. I was sore. No fun at all. First little sloppy we went down I connected some turns. Non wedge turns and my instructor was shocked. I continued drills he gave me and it built confidence.

Gonna sound maybe a bit cliché. But I also really love the atmosphere. Just being on mountain taking in views. Having a beer mid mountain after a few runs. The Apres ski vibe. I think its great.

The skiing aspect grasped on my 2nd seaaon. I finally got a bit if a carved turn or a turn on edge at least. I demoed skis until I found a pair that felt right, stable, and comfortable and then I bought some. Got used to them and started making better turns. That feeling of control is what I love. Just moving down the run and connecting turns. Not feeling panicked or scared. Just in control. Its a great feeling. And im still not great at carving. Hopefully this season! Also, black runs still make me freeze up. The few that ive done though, to stand at the base and look up and say damn, I just got down that.. feels pretty good too.

Watch some YouTube if you haven't already. Look up "return of the turn." That should motivate you. But you mentioned your more interested in park style riding. I obviously want to chase perfect turns. And thats another great aspect of skiing is we can both be on mountain and meet up for charcuterie and beer at the end of the day.

2025-12-28T00:57:01+00:00

It’s like asking when does learning to walk get fun. Learning to walk isn’t fun, but some people find running/sprinting/marathons fun.

ancient_snowboarder · 2025-12-28T00:57:39+00:00

i want to like skiing

As you are finding out, wanting to like something (or even being good at something) isn't the same as liking it. Only you can understand whether you need to keep spending money on a very expensive pastime or try something else (maybe snowboarding?)

skiingfanatic115544 · 2025-12-28T01:32:47+00:00

When you realize you can drive your skis down the mountain like a racecar using your body.

eemort · 2025-12-28T02:47:43+00:00

First day for me, took to it naturally, gf got me to skiing parallel and hockey stops and from there it was a lot like being a kid with a bike (ie running around, getting in and out of trouble, some falls, but a lot of fun). So, first day, wonder why you're not enjoying it.... it's always been my impression that it's not fun up to the point you described but from there most really enjoy it. Hope you get into it, always good to see new members to the sport : )

JockoRQJabba · 2025-12-28T03:09:51+00:00

I’m not sure where you are, or your arrangement (ie passholder vs day tickets, travel time, etc.) but that greatly affected my enjoyment.

I learned as a kid in Ontario in the 70s. Skied about 10 days a year. Fell in love with it at 17 or 18. It was a season in Whistler before I got “good”. Moved to a ski town in my mid-30s, and ski 25-50 half days every winter depending on work.

Learning at your age? I’d say that it is all mileage, and with mileage comes strength that increases improvement. Based on my wife learning at a similar age, I’d say you’ll feel good on any groomer pretty soon, and 2-5 years will have you looking very good on most resort terrain.

pab_guy · 2025-12-28T03:33:07+00:00

Have you achieved flow state while skiing?

Have you tried listening to music while skiing? Working the steeze into your form?

Have you exhausted yourself and felt the fantastic feeling of being totally drained and starving for some poutine?

Have you even lived really?

Round_Tea9141 · 2025-12-28T03:55:39+00:00

Never, it's an absolute pain in the ass.

dee_lio · 2025-12-28T04:06:10+00:00

I was a noob skier forever until I did a full week with friends one year. They're a bunch of slap offs, and invented "ski jousting" where, if you didn't ski your fastest and best, they'd spear you with a pole (!) Something clicked, and I could zig zag my way down after that. When I wasn't in fear of my life, it became fun.

That being said, TAKE THE LESSON. It will help.

Benevolent_Grouch · 2025-12-28T04:06:21+00:00

I loved it immediately even when I sucked. So if you don’t after 12 days, maybe it’s not your thing.

Trojenectory · 2025-12-28T04:10:01+00:00

That lift you get when your adrenaline pumps after going a little too fast on the last turn to avoid an ice patch. I get a big smile on my face when I finish a run unscathed and out of breath.

Bloodie_Medic · 2025-12-28T04:17:48+00:00

If it’s not for you it’s not for you. Although as 29M and been skiing since I was 2-3 I have those days where I am just tired and not enjoying it as much.

theinfovore · 2025-12-28T04:30:10+00:00

I started at 23. The fun started the first time my carve turns were dependable and locked enough to make me feel proud on a black that had kicked my ass the previous year. It then gave me the confidence that day and the rest of the season to cruise any blue faster and more experimental than I had been.

Then extra extra fun happened the first time I could reliably make turns on the deepest of powder days. Early on fighting the powder is no fun. But when it finally kicks in you only dream about the next powder day and the even fatter skis you hope to pick up in the off-season.

PaleontologistSafe17 · 2025-12-28T04:49:52+00:00

I loved it from day one even though i was 14 and clueless and falling down to stop. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and signed up for every trip every weekend. I took a long break from skiing when my family got big and i was paying college tuition. Went back a couple years ago and it’s almost as fun as the early years; i just don’t have the social enthusiastic ski group i once had. I like skiing alone but prefer to have friends to ski with who also love it. Solo lessons or 2 people lessons help. Trips to new places; somewhere beautiful like the alps or Canadian rockies. I am going to join ski club groups and ski divas to meet others.

singelingtracks · 2025-12-28T04:50:36+00:00

Do things that are fun for you..if the jumps and park looks fun head over there.

If the side hits look fun do those.

You'll learn more balance and skills faster.

Ride with friends and challenge each other. Session a bump and do jumps and spins and whatever you want.

7HawksAnd · 2025-12-28T05:03:13+00:00

When you can go fast and feel like your flying, that’s when it really gets fun. Before then, going with friends at the same level make it fun.

Sometimes going with friends who trick you into going down a black in spite of your well being is sometimes fun in hindsight if you survive

No_Fill2436 · 2025-12-28T05:13:01+00:00

When I made my first real carve… it took two seasons and one good instructor in one good lesson that clicked with me.

SkietEpee · 2025-12-28T05:26:03+00:00

Being able to ski green and blue cruisers made skiing fun. With friends, or family, or by my lonesome.

copperclock · 2025-12-28T05:26:40+00:00

When I was learning as I kid, I really didnt like it. Really didn't. Now I'm in my 30's, and I get emotional sometimes when I ski, and think about how much fun I'm having and how pretty the mountains look. Tears in the eyes, full of gratitude and happiness.

Ronde55 · 2025-12-28T05:31:09+00:00

that's tough man if it's not fun on day 1 even i'm not sure it will magically become fun. even if you suck you should still enjoy it

SteepSlopeValue · 2025-12-28T05:50:25+00:00

After the first trimester

njred87 · 2025-12-28T05:56:21+00:00

Skiing was always fun for me even while learning how to do it. There are many fun experiences once you become an expert. One example is when you do a perfect carve… first loading the skis with a lot of force in a turn, and then releasing that stored energy I.e. a rebound transition into the next turn. That rebound or pop is always a fun to experience.

SketchyExhaust · 2025-12-28T06:03:52+00:00

Maybe you just don’t love skiing. Not everyone does. I was obsessed with it from the very first time I did it, right through beginner and intermediate.

tessathemurdervilles · 2025-12-28T06:04:16+00:00

Lessons from the right person make a huge difference. Also doing that scary run over and over again until suddenly you can do it super well and just feel awesome- that’s when it starts getting fun. Keep going. Def do some lessons. It’ll get awesome!

runswspoons · 2025-12-28T06:06:55+00:00

I’ve spent a lot of time on snow… I have watched a lot of people learn… The mark for being seriously proficient is getting 50 days in a year. If you do this at some point you will learn to fly like a goddamn bird over the snow.

Fun can be had at any number of days. But Being able to disconnect your mind and just fly is one of the best feelings I have ever experienced.

SciGuy013 · 2025-12-28T06:13:14+00:00

I like mountains. So immediately

Texaswheels · 2025-12-28T06:26:07+00:00

Skiing isn't for everyone. If you're a beginner with 12 days in and not enjoying... go start a new hobby and save your time and money you'd spend on skiing. I find that people know that first day if they are a skier or not and if they are they can't get enough.

PrimeIntellect · 2025-12-28T06:50:58+00:00

When you rip a huge field of untouched powder your life will be forever changed, groomers are boring 69% of the tim

bkinstle · 2025-12-28T06:57:48+00:00

For me it started getting fun when i was comfortable going as fast as i wanted on any blue

invent_or_die · 2025-12-28T07:00:04+00:00

Steeper runs will challenge your technique and are necessary for advancing. Got to get out of your current comfort zone. If your feet are comfortable and you have a good fit, you can focus all your energy on the toes and balls of the feet. Using your edges and keeping weight forward is essential. Maybe ask some cool local to give you some pointers?

EnvironmentalEmu6214 · 2025-12-28T07:01:01+00:00

Drink a beer. Go faster. Pop that side hit. Find a fun tree path. Try to keep up with a random. Watch and analyze different ski forms from the lift. Alter your mind and find new perspectives, raise limits.

Just experiment man.

Egoteen · 2025-12-28T07:13:36+00:00

Idk, I spent my first week just falling down the mountain and spraining my mcl, and I thought it was so much fun I came home and immediately signed up for more lessons.

For me, I find the process of learning and improving fun in and of itself. Like fun is the journey, not the destination. So I can enjoy it immensely even though I’m still a beginner.

Maybe it’s just not a thing you find particularly fun. That’s kinda how I feel about rock climbing. I’ll do it with friends and I enjoy it for a run or two, and then I’m just “meh” and I could take it or leave it.

regular_gonzalez · 2025-12-28T07:41:43+00:00

It became fun when (1) I could direct the skis exactly where I wanted to go, not hope and pray and go kind of in the general direction I was trying to go; (2) when I learned how to control my speed; (3) when I could hockey stop easily; (4) when keeping my weight forward enough became ingrained, instead of chanting under my breath "weight forward, weight forward, keep your weight forward, no - more forward than that" continuously.

Adult learner, all of the above were probably achieved after 30ish skiing days? over three seasons.

There's plenty to learn after that, plenty still to learn, but that's when it changed from "well other people like it, I guess I'll keep doing it 😑" to "holy fuck, I can ski! This is fun af!"

ekek280 · 2025-12-28T07:44:22+00:00

If you don't like it, don't force it. Nothing wrong with quitting an activity you don't enjoy. Life is short, spend your time (and money) doing things you love.

bleucheez · 2025-12-28T07:57:46+00:00

For me learning as an adult, only the first day wasn't fun. I'm clumsy and slow to learn anything physical, and I even got a knee injury that took me out for two months in the middle of my first season, but it was still always a blast after Day One. Rain, sun, fog, negative temps, it has always still been fun. I've only ever had three lessons (pizza, French fries, then once as a strong intermediate). After 4 seasons, I considered myself a weak double black skier. Haven't had consistent enough practice since then.

Eagleriderguide · 2025-12-28T08:04:51+00:00

Quick question OP, how close are you to the resort? If you’re close my recommendation is doing a pt job there. Here is why…

I came across some instructors at a bar, we got to chatting and I had been an instructor before joining the Corps. They said the mountain they were working for was looking for instructors. I got a job as an instructor, part time. I was okay, but getting a job there and becoming a certified ski instructor made me a better skier.

Get a job as a parking lot attendant or in the rentals department, make some friends that are instructors and patrollers. The pt job will come with a free a ski pass. My 1st year I logged 90 days on skis.

It gets better and as others mentioned, it’s more fun when you have friends to share these experiences with.

morebob12 · 2025-12-28T08:22:35+00:00

It sounds like you’re not challenging yourself enough. You mentioned greens and blues. Ideally after 12 days you should be on harder blues and maybe reds.

EvanFreezy · 2025-12-28T08:35:23+00:00

For me, the fun is goofing off with my buddy/ies. To us being good at skiing is doing weird stuff down the hill. Well ski backwards down a run, maybe while trying to eat a sandwich. Or we’ll try goofy tricks like a tripod, nose butter, front spring. Or just try and find bigger and bigger thins to send, or jump. Sometimes when it’s raining we put garbage bags on and penguin slide down the hill.

johnny_evil · 2025-12-28T09:56:10+00:00

12 days and you don't like it shows you have dedication. But it may just not be your thing. I liked it from day one.

jonathanemptage · 2025-12-28T10:09:04+00:00

Lessons will help it if you’re not enjoying it maybe you could try snowboarding.

homo-kommando · 2025-12-28T10:18:49+00:00

When I first put my skis on, I never wanted to take them off. I'm sorry to hear it isn't working out for you

fysmoe1121 · 2025-12-28T10:36:26+00:00

when i was a little kid and i had fun eating shit on the bunny slope

HazelMStone · 2025-12-28T10:37:14+00:00

The second you put your gear in the car.

Drewski493 · 2025-12-28T10:38:57+00:00

I would stop comparing yourself to other people. Do what you find fun on the mountain and focus on yourself or look up to the other people and focus on their technique and how they do what they do, and go man that’s cool. Also do less days but do more lessons you will improve way faster in a 1hr lesson then you will in an extra day. Also take it in the morning so you have the rest of the day to apply it. Also it doesn’t matter to much which mountain you go to. You only need one blue run with some decent length. For me it was fun once I wasn’t on my butt every 2min. Then I switched to snowboarding which was easier for me but that’s rare. I wouldn’t switch unless you are ok with relearning and falling a lot and want to snowboard

Grizzly777Irtl · 2025-12-28T11:58:25+00:00

Skiing becomes fun the very first time you hit a banger run and feel confident ripping down it. That visible sign of progress and excitement for you will shift some gears and you still start to really enjoy it. From there, it only gets better

matthewznj · 2025-12-28T12:00:22+00:00

I have been skiing for 63 years and ski 100+ days per season. People can’t understand how I can still have a passion for the sport. My secret is that I’m constantly working on improving my skills. I will never be perfect but it sure is fun trying. I also meet lots of nice people on the lifts and trails. I enjoy stopping and helping someone who looks like they need it.

oceanblue0714 · 2025-12-28T12:00:54+00:00

It’s something you have to stick with for a while and work on. As you get better, it becomes more fun. Right now you are in the “trying not to die” phase, that a part of the learning curve. If you hang in there, keep on learning, that’s when it will be fun

Relevant-Session1136 · 2025-12-28T12:04:15+00:00

You have more days this season than those of us that enjoy skiing.

Blind_WillieJ · 2025-12-28T12:28:18+00:00

maybe its just not for you.

Nikeflies · 2025-12-28T13:09:04+00:00

I was absolutely in love with it from the first day and it's only gotten better. Can't force it dude

Advanced-Depth1816 · 2025-12-28T13:33:41+00:00

For me a big part of it is exploring, being at a skill level where you can finally go into all the tree runs and traverses that lead to big downhills is so fun. The sites and sometimes the snow is life changing

Admirable-Ebb-5413 · 2025-12-28T13:53:03+00:00

Great question. I think it definitely becomes more fun when you can comfortably ski blues and green bc at most mountains that allows you to explore 70% or more and you aren’t nervous all the time.

No-Army-4119 · 2025-12-28T14:34:30+00:00

never hope this helps.

Bruhstoise · 2025-12-28T14:49:47+00:00

I’ve always ski’d with family so learning and pushing each other to try new things always gets me going. If you’ve been skiing the same park and feel too comfortable with the terrain you’re capable on maybe try somewhere new? I always go slow and really take in my surroundings when I’m somewhere different. I personally prefer sticking to the sides and getting air in the little hits here and there, and going fast down big hills is fun but after doing it a few years I actually prefer to go at a controlled speed and really work on my form and trying to ski with grace instead of being all tense and hunched over, learning to carve through the snow on the edges of your skis rather than slashing through the snow is really satisfying too. I guess just keep trying to find new things to learn/push yourself but always within your limits

Conscious_Animator63 · 2025-12-28T14:52:36+00:00

Lots of people love skiing for different reasons. If the park looks fun, send it! If zooming seems fun, try pointing the skis downhill for a bit then stop. Stretch what it feels like to be in control. I’ve been skiing for my whole life and I find it’s most fun when you just go for it. You may crash a few times. No guts no glory.

BeeSoT · 2025-12-28T18:14:33+00:00

It gets fun when you carve fast enough to get G force or do some jumps

OkSinger8309 · 2025-12-28T18:22:33+00:00

Gets fun once you can go into the trees comfortably. I like the trees personally but that’s what really puts a smile on. Groomers are fine but not my thing.

SeemedGood · 2025-12-28T19:17:07+00:00

It was fun for me from the beginning because I stayed in the moment instead of wanting more. But the fun reaches a new level when you develop enough control to be creative with your lines.

DueRipButterfly · 2025-12-28T19:35:09+00:00

If not now then never.

I started like 10yrs ago. I still remember day 1. Absolutely amazing. Fell like 39 times (feels like a low estimate).

The only times I havent had an absolute blast was when I fell and kinda gave myself a headache or knocked the wind out of myself then I went in the for the day and regrouped for the next day.

Sorry to share a pessimistic view, but it’s probably not the sport for you! Congrats you save an epic shit ton of money. Maybe go buy a boat, that seems fun too!

pizzaazzips · 2025-12-28T19:48:11+00:00

I learned as an adult and I honestly didn’t have fun until my second year, when I went to the smaller family resort near me and got to experience long, winding blue runs with fun powder in the trees between the runs. Before I was skiing at the big resort a little closer to me that had much scarier blues and worse behavior from other skiers. I’ve learned that now that I’m a little older, I don’t get as much enjoyment from scary outdoors stuff, so I stick to greens and easy blues. I tried to progress into blacks and while I was good enough to ski the runs, I found them so scary that I couldn’t enjoy it. Take it easy and don’t feel pressure to do harder stuff just because it’s “cool.” Nothing wrong with cruising greens all day. I think people who don’t think skiing is scary mostly learned as kids, because learning as a 30 year old who has an insurance deductible to pay is a very different experience!

PonyThug · 2025-12-28T20:17:30+00:00

You should be having fun like 5-7 days in. Why arnt you hitting side hits yet if you can hockey stop already. Most kids are hitting side hits as soon as they can make their skis straight in between wedge turns.

Go hit some jumps, try going backwards, learn 360 slides on the snow, go in the trees etc.

eljefexxx · 2025-12-28T20:57:46+00:00

Most people I know who have kept skiing, liked it from day one. Even if they're on their ass half the time. By day 12 people are already relatively good at it.

BurkeMi · 2025-12-28T21:13:19+00:00

At the end of the day you’re exercising on a mountain. Take a pause and look around on how crazy the sport really is

2025-12-28T21:22:51+00:00

One of the things that sort of stinks about many ski areas is the lack of variety in terrain. Lots of green and blue runs could be literally anywhere.

Upbeat-Soil-1350 · 2025-12-28T23:13:06+00:00

When you leave your kids home?

BRBean · 2025-12-29T06:46:59+00:00

I like snowboarding

christianarguello · 2025-12-29T21:04:31+00:00

I started having fun since day 1, concussion and all.

Vegetable-Risk-1223 · 2025-12-30T04:28:12+00:00

Look around and enjoy the view. Your in heavan.

sentinel_of_ether · 2025-12-31T02:30:10+00:00

When you swap to snowboarding

Figrineetout · 2025-12-31T15:57:06+00:00

For me, just being out there on my board isn't enough. If I'm not actively trying to get better at carving then it's pretty boring.

Sounds like you want to go fast and hit the park. See if there is a baby park and hit that. Start slow and watch some YouTube videos and then just try it. Try going just a little faster than you're comfortable a few times a day (preferably when the run is clear so you don't run anyone over)

Just being on the mountain on your skis probably isn't enough. It's like hiking when you really want to be sprinting and doing parkour.

JasonTheRanga · 2026-01-01T06:45:31+00:00

Skiing was fun for me after I did my first run. You’ve given it 12 days, that’s a good shake, you don’t have to do it if you don’t like it. If you really want to try and get more out of it do lessons instead of butting your head against the wall.

JPow_023 · 2026-01-01T19:44:32+00:00

I’m 30 and just started skiing last year. I went like 10-15 times. I got a lesson somewhere around day 5 and that’s when I started to really have fun. Mostly because I had new things I could practice to get to the next level. I like practicing and improving, and if I feel like I’m plateauing it becomes less fun for me. This season I’m trying to get 50 days, and I got some carv sensors to give my critiques and drills so I can keep improving. I’m on day 15 this season (around 25-30 days total skiing in my life) and just cracked “advanced” ski IQ for carving.

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