Overcoming her fears was easier than Joelle Thomson imagined in her wildest downhill nightmares, thanks to a top Auckland ski instructor.
No pressure. I'll be flying down the ski slope in no time. Apparently.
When I point out that nothing could be further from my idea of fun, my new ski instructor Vivienne Heering laughs knowingly, adding that she's sure I will enjoy it. Easy for her to say.
Vivienne first wore skis when she was aged three and hasn't stopped skiing since, tackling slopes as steep as the Matterhorn and as mild as Auckland's very own skifield, Snowplanet. This is where she teaches me, along with an eclectic mixture of others of varying ages, genders, cultures and experiences, how to ski.
I'm not good with heights, to put it mildly, but Vivienne suggested learning to ski would help me overcome two of my biggest fears - heights and downhill speed. And so, for the last couple of months, I've been going to Snowplanet at Silverdale, 20 minutes' drive north of Auckland City.
It is vastly different to being on an actual skifield. Aside from being closer to home, it's warmer, tamer in terms of steep slopes and, best of all, it's far easier for beginners.
"I never thought it would be my thing but I love skiing," said my enthusiastic 10-year-old, whose swiftly improving ski skills were part of my impetus to learn.
And with Swiss-born Vivienne as my tutor, I am bowled over - or rather I'm not since she taught me such good balance - by the fact I can actually ski.
Like many ski instructors, she's had more than her fair share of battle-weary (and wary) adults who have encountered a bad ski lesson and a cold wet day on a mountain, never to return.
Most of her days are now spent teaching everyone from 3-year-olds to completely novice adults that they can speed downhill on skis, confidently - and competently.
"Taking people out of their comfort zone and getting them to feel the passion of this sport while helping them to lose their fear keeps me driven.
"Taking people to a level where they think 'wow, I can do that' is extremely rewarding," she says.
After lesson one, I've learnt how to balance on skis, how to stop, how to turn slightly and how to avoid other skiers. I've skied down the learner's slope three times, haven't fallen over once and - surprise surprise - actually enjoyed it. Still, skiing proficiently from two thirds of the way up is another prospect altogether. Vivienne takes an average of three to four lessons to achieve this with co-ordinated adults - "which you are", she tells me.
It's hard to know whether to believe her or not but she says women and children are generally better ski students than men because they are more willing to use their arms and don't worry so much about what others around them are thinking.
A fortnight later I'm back for lesson number two. We recap, focus on stopping and learn how to embark on the "lift"; a hand-held one rarely found on actual ski slopes. Holding on while it pulls me up the ski dome's slope is easy. Getting off is not. Forget elegance. I'm just pleased I'm still standing rather than lying in a clump, skis around my ears. Each time we go up the lift, we go slightly higher. After lesson three, I am indeed skiing, turning and confidently going from a satisfying medium speed to a cool, calm and collected stop as I pull in at the bottom of the slope. There's only one slightly hairy moment when I misjudge the gradient and whiz frighteningly off too fast but Vivienne catches - or rather grabs me. I still haven't fallen over.
The snow is always the same here, making it easy to learn because the conditions are reliable.
For highly experienced skiers, Snowplanet offers an off-season training ground. For beginners and learners it's a complement to real mountains. It is, as Vivienne says, the motorway of skiing. Not only is it warmer, safer and an easier place to learn skiing than a mountain, it's faster. There's no waiting for clouds to clear, snow to fall and chairlifts to open. After four lessons, the idea of moving downhill at speed actually excites me. I can balance, turn, stop and I'm ready for the mountain. But first, a good espresso in the restaurant/bar at Snowplanet beckons. Roll on school holidays.
Learning to ski
Snowplanet offers individual and group lessons with experienced instructors who teach all age groups. The maximum group size is 10 but it usually ranges between six to eight people, compared to average learner groups of 20 on the mountains. Prices per lesson are $95 for a personal instructor and $92 for a group lesson. Both lessons run for an hour.
Be in to win
Mt Ruapehu skiing is offering early bird season passes until April 30 - adults, $415; youths under 18, $250. Ph 0508 Ruapehu (782 734).
We have 3 Early Bird adult season passes to give away, valued at $415 each. To enter the draw email your details to life@nzherald.co.nz with "Early bird skiing" in the subject line, by Thursday April 14.
