Hi there,
I live in England and having struggled for 5 years skiing in Europe, trying to use traditional skis (150cm) and having god knows how many lessons from a variety of instructors in each resort. I told my husband that the feeling of fear and panic when I took the slopes (blue ones at that) was now so bad that I didn't want to go skiing again. 2 weeks ago a new indoor snowdome opened an hours drive away, and I plucked up the courage to try the snowblades, Salomon's 99.9 long. One of the ski instructors there did everything he could to discourage me, saying they were "girly" not "proper" skis! and that he could get me to ski where others had failed. But I stuck to my guns, thanked him and put the blades on - wow, for the first time ever I have felt what it is like to ski. I cannot believe that after 5 years of fear, panic, anxiety, and being tense from head to toe, it vanished in 5 minutes. I have been back since, to make sure it wasn't a fluke, and can now race my husband and son to the bottom of the slope without so much as a wobble!

I can't think why one of those instructors seeing how distressed I was, didn't suggest them rather than lose me from the slopes altogether.

PS. Great site!

Sharon,
England
Age: 50