Bulgaria Ski discussion board

No.

The technique required to ski in Alpine conditions are very different from skiing down in an indoor arena under ideal conditions. I would certainly recommend you give Tamworth a go as it will enable you to gain some basic diciplines, but no way will it give you the skills to ski down a mountain in just a couple of hours, and to learn from a professional instructor in the resort will not only be more fun (first day on the slopes is the best day ever) but you will also get the right guidance for the slopes to come later in the week.

Don't rush what will be the most memorable day in your skiing life. Your first day on the slopes!

Ummm, Pete, very broad statement there, and definitive....
As this is a discussion board i will disagree in part, to achieve the basics to snowplough turning back in the UK will allow you to most likely be placed in an intermediate group on the mountain. This again most likely will get you off the nursury slope and give you the opportunity to explore more of the mountain with your group. The technique on artificial snow is the same as on real snow (lets be honest, Bansko is covered in the stuff at the moment) and i feel that it is a reasonable investment to take lessons. It also allows you if you have your own equipment (boots especially) to iron out any fitting problems... I will say that the likes of Tamworth are not cheap, but then your time in the mountains is not either, and you have the further consideration of limited time...
Only my opinion Pete, not having a go

Hey Karen,
I think Its good to have a few lessons before you go,my wife and daughter are learning on the dry slopes. you will benefit, Just to know how it feels to have skis feel on your feet and to get familiar with the procedure of putting your boots on and clipping your skis on, how to snow plough, get used to falling over,how to get up, all simple things, but getting used to them will help you to concentrate on how to ski when you get there, you will be able to enjoy the snow straight away as a soon as you get to your resort.
Nige

Fair point Steve C - my main concern is that by not joining a beginners group (Karen didn't say if she intended joining another group or not) she will not have any idea of the mountain or slope gradiants. If she does join an intermediate group (which I still think will be tough for her) then fair enough, but an instructor will surely be the best person to advise on what group she should be in and they will soon move her up a grade if necessary. Better to start low and move up than start high and have to move down I think.

A few hours at Tamworth is not sufficent to learn how to ski from the top to the bottom safely (in my opinion.) especially if she intends to do it without any instruction.

no because that would make her a Russian again this year we came across some Russians who had never skied before, top of the martini baraki Chair with the @how hard can it be' attitude, if it werent dnagerous for the restof us it would be hilarious! (ok so there is something funny in someone trying to 'walk' on skis and just falling a over t with every turn )

As i instruct on artificial, id say yes get some in, because it will prepare you, plastic is actually harder to control on than nice snow, ice is an exception, and you get used to all the kit. Indoor ive found to be no differant to snow that we get the majortiy of time in BG, and is great practice, apart from anything else get past the 'sidestepping' bit and youre laughing. They do tend to do this far longer than necassary in the classoes in BG so do the lessons get to the level where you can use a lift and at least 'step turn' and then youll not be far off advanced level (being a Brit!!