I went skiing in Dublin and it proved tougher than I expected, but was a wonderfully rewarding experience.
Ireland's temperate climate doesn't afford us the opportunity to go skiing like we can in places like Switzerland, France and Italy, but the team at Ski Club of Ireland make sure that we can still learn how to slide down the slopes in style ahead of any ski trips. Having never had the pleasure of going on a ski holiday, I was a complete beginner when arriving at the impressive manmade ski slopes in Kiltiernan.
The Ski Club of Ireland operates out of the National Snowsports Centre for Ireland. It is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion and development of skiing and snowboarding through the provision of classes and training facilities for all standards of skier or snowboarder, from expert right down to beginners like myself.
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Meeting the friendly team which included ski instructor Tara, I got my boots, was given my skis and made my way to the slope with others in the beginner class. As you can imagine, getting used to the weight of the skis on your feet is a feat of its own.
The class was 90 minutes long and in that time, I went from someone who didn't know how to walk forward in a pair of skis to someone who was rather enjoying making his way down the slope, manoeuvring myself from side to side.
Speaking to ski instructor Tara Murphy, who is one of the dedicated volunteers who run the Ski Club of Ireland in Kiltiernan, she revealed that those looking to learn how to ski should do around four lessons before going on a ski trip. She explained: "Most of our clients would be people learning to ski for the first time.
"When you take your first lesson, it's tough. If you have four lessons here, by the time you get to your ski lesson (on holiday), you've got all of the hard bits done.
"You'll see more of the mountain. If you're just a complete beginner, you can often end up on the baby slopes for the whole week. if you've got your lessons done here in advance, you get to see more of the mountain and you can go further afield."
Tara is one of the many members and instructors here who have been involved from the get-go. Tara has been coming to the Ski Club of Ireland since she was a child. Meanwhile, many of the instructors here have had children who have also gone on to become instructors.
Anyone who has a skiing trip planned or is thinking about taking to the slopes in the near future, a lesson at the Ski Club of Ireland will prove just how tough it can be. But by the end of a lesson here, you will feel a bit closer to stepping off the baby slopes and nearer to the more daring slopes in your resort.
It should also be noted that a certain level of fitness is needed to get the most out of a ski lesson. While gliding down the slopes might resemble a relaxed saunter, making your way up and down the slope in the skis is tougher than it may appear and you'll find it to be somewhat of a physical challenge.
Lessons at the Ski Club of Ireland can be booked at skiclub.ie. One class will cost adults €55 while booking four together will cost €175. Meanwhile student and child/youth lessons cost €40 (or €130 for four).
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