Nervous getting off ski lifts

[nervous]

I am a beginner skier and I have had two hours of group and 2 hours of private instruction at the Zell am See in Austria . At this point, I can go down bunny hills and a green easy hill making broad connecting turns. And I am happy with that. But there is a problem, I am terrified of exiting the chairlift.

I have done this only twice under instruction and both times the instructor held me up as we coasted a long ways all the while I was screaming, and terrified. On both occasions he told me to stand straighter and not hunch over so much. On the day described the off ramp was ice. Also on that day I fell three times exiting the off ramp of the Magic Carpet conveyor belt on the bunny hills. So my barrier to this sport at this point is the chairlift exit.

I would appreciate any comments that can be offered. :(

[joy]

Sadly the only way you are going to get better is by practising. Remember to relax when you are on the ski lift.

You can probably get one of the ski lift guys to make the thing go slower when you are getting on it . Just go to the top and then hold on to the pole when you are releasing it. In the past I've also seen ski trainers who had a test pole, they would pull people up the slope to get them used to having it between their legs.

If young kiddies can do it. Then you can do it too !

[guidon]

Alas all I can say is practise practise practise. There isn't any easy way, unless you go to a resort that has less drag lifts.

[ClaireBear]

Just tuck and roll, and launch yourself at the closest cute guy. That was my strategy when I started anyway :D

[off-piste]

I love those magic carpets . Sadly they are only on beginner slopes and only short areas of the piste.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Magic_carpet_uphill_loaded_P1437.jpeg/180px-Magic_carpet_uphill_loaded_P1437.jpeg

[xcountry]

Ski lifts and the trials and tribulations that go with them are simply a part of skiing. If you are worried about them it just means that you haven't had enough practise. Remember to try and hunch over the bar a little and put two hands on the pole piece, that way you will be more balance. Also at the start just go on them alone, so you don't bring anyway down with you.

[nervous]

Thanks every one for their replies, I hope that I can crack this the next time I go. I do have some wrist protectors which will be coming with me next year !

ClaireBear , your idea was the funniest, because that is what I did last year at val thorens.

[john510]

The only thing you can do is practise and try not to get nervous, nervous. Just relax and try to keep your balance. Don't worry you probably won't hurt yourself coming off a lift (unless you fall out of one of those chair ones).