Review: Ski with Confidence online course with Louise Pode
Alison, from the Peak Retreats team, undertook a course with ski with confidence coach Louise Pode heading into her January 2025 ski trip. Read about why she decided to do the course, what she got out of it and how she felt heading into her next ski trip.
I came late to skiing compared to some in the industry, I didn’t grow up skiing and didn’t do a ski season, so although I have been working in the ski industry for 24 years and been lucky enough to ski in over 30 resorts, I always felt a little bit on the back foot when in came to my skiing skills. That is until I met Louise Pode and took her Ski Confidence course.
I had always devalued my skiing, I was happy skiing at my own pace but always felt like I was holding the group back. This, on top of a long dramatic tumble, and I needed a mental reset!
In our first session Louise asked me to describe my skiing as I saw it and visualise how I wanted to ski. She questioned why I saw myself in a certain way and encouraged me to stop making assumptions about my skiing. We talked about my first snow sports experience – a New Year in Andorra when I was living in Perpignan teaching at the university. A friend at the time was sure they could teach me to snowboard in a couple of days away. Unfortunately she was anything but patient!
Louise’s calm and reassuring manner helped me understand my anxieties behind skiing – I am competitive, and love to win and to be in control but I didn’t feel like I was winning at skiing. Everyone’s concerns will be different but Louise carefully unpicks the ‘why’ and gives you tools to help change your mindset.
In session two, she gave me practical techniques to use on the mountain when I felt out of my comfort zone. We discussed ways of anchoring a positive feeling so that I could bring myself back to a calm state if I ever had a wobble.
By session three, I was already feeling excited about my upcoming trip rather than that excitement being peppered with a little knot in my stomach.
What I loved about Louise’s course was the focus on what you love about skiing; the amazing feeling that you can get swooping down a favourite run, the sense of exhilaration from taking on a slope that challenges you, the pure joy of skiing with family, that first run of the morning - what that might be is different for everyone but Louise manages to gently draw it out of you and shares her own experience too.
Heading up on the lift on my first ski day of the season a few days after finishing Louise’s course, I felt excited. Armed with practical techniques and a clear vision of how I wanted to ski, I was confident in my ability. I had rediscovered my love of skiing. I didn’t want to be the fastest, I was happy skiing at my own pace, happy to take the lead but also happy to follow. I realised that it wasn’t about winning as such, just by getting out on the mountain, being confident in your own abilities and connecting with nature, you’re winning!
Book the Ski Confidence course
Louise is running a Ski Confidence group course exclusively for Peak Retreats clients in January 2025. Whether you’re returning after an injury, feeling nervous about keeping up, or just want to enjoy skiing more, then we have the perfect course for you.
Find out more about what is covered, what you can gain and how to book on our Ski with Confidence Coaching Course page.