How to make the most of your first ski lessons: 7 things to know

A BEACH BUM’S GUIDE TO SKIING

Ready to take on the slopes for the first time? You do know that you will need lessons from a qualified ski instructor, right? If you don’t, and thinking of winging it, you are in the wrong place. There is another post where I explain why you need lessons from a professional ski instructor, head over there. However, you are in the right place if you are looking to find out more details about beginner’s ski lessons for adults from someone who had them not so long ago.

Hmmm, I should elaborate on that a bit. I started skiing a few years ago so this blog post is based on my personal experience as well as conversations with other people who started skiing… later in life. Clearly, I am not a ski professional nor am I affiliated with a ski school or anything like that. I am just someone who was in your ski boots not so long ago! So, here we go. Seven tips for finding, booking and getting the best use of your time with the ski instructor as a (brand new or advancing) beginner skier.

TIP NO 1. HOW TO FIND A SKI SCHOOL

Unless you have a personal recommendation from one of your ski buddies, the easiest way of finding out which ski schools operate in a ski resort is by checking the official website of the resort. Further than that, a general online search might be wise.

In case you are interested, I have personally used the following ski schools and was quite happy with the service (FYI, I have no affiliation with them). Quite a few other skiers I know have also had lessons with these ski schools:

• France (multiple locations) – ESF

ESF is the largest ski school in the world and the leading ski school in France. They have more than 17000 instructors (!) and can be found in 220 ski resorts (lessons available in several languages).

• Switzerland (multiple locations) – Swiss Ski School

The Swiss Ski School has been operating since 1932. They have more than 8000 instructors and can be found in pretty much every ski resort in Switzerland (lessons available in several languages).

• Canada, AB: Banff Sunshine Village ski resort – The Snow School

I believe that this is the ‘in-house’ ski school of the resort.

• Canada, AB: Lake Louise Ski Resort – Lake Louise Snow School

I believe that this is the ‘in-house’ ski school of the resort.

TIP NO 2. CHOOSING BETWEEN GROUP & PRIVATE SKI LESSONS

When I went on my first ski trip, I thought that I would be one of the few adults getting ski lessons. Wrong! There were so many of us! As it turns out, adult-only lessons are a standard and very popular service that ski schools offer in most ski resorts.

Ski schools generally offer two types of lessons:

• Group lessons: Group lessons are typically more affordable and, for that reason, the preferred choice for many beginners. During a group lesson, you and a handful of other beginners will spend anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day learning the basics of skiing. The maximum number of people in the group depends on the ski school but it is usually around 6 people. Therefore, group lessons are quite a sociable experience which is another thing that draws people in.
  
• Private lessons: Private lessons are typically more expensive than group lessons since you have the undivided attention of the instructor. For that reason their duration is usually shorter (1.5h-3h) than that of group lessons. Needless to say, the one to one setting gives the instructor and yourself more control over the pace of the class which will be tailored to your needs and goals. It’s worth noting that private lessons can prove more of a cost effective solution if you book with a friend since they usually accommodate up to two people.

SHOULD YOU HAVE GROUP OR PRIVATE SKI LESSONS?

MY EXPERIENCE WITH GROUP LESSONS

During my first and second ski trip, I did not really have a preference between group and private lessons. It just happened that in both trips, there was a friend who also a beginner, so, we got an instructor for the two of us. Do note that the two lessons were with a different friend and a different instructor at different resorts! Unfortunately, both lessons were a bit disappointing. I kept feeling that the pace was not right and the lesson, while not bad, was not that helpful. In fact, one lesson felt too hard whereas the other one too easy! Overall, apart from disappointed, I was also quite surprised; I never had any problems with group activities at school or work.

I can imagine what you might be thinking now. It’s only two lessons, this could have just been a random thing. It’s just too small of a sample to draw conclusions. You are right, it is. However, when I am in the mountains only for a week or two in a season, I don’t want to keep trying something that appears not to be working for me. Furthermore, if I was having this problem with only one more student in the lesson, what would happen in a larger group?

MY EXPERIENCE WITH PRIVATE LESSONS

Because of these experiences, I switched to private lessons and haven’t looked back. Private lessons worked so much better for me. Having one to one sessions provided me with the perfect environment to feel at ease while skiing but also progressively pushing myself to harder terrain. I think part of the reason why was that time was of the essence for me. Sadly, I can’t spend every weekend or so on the mountains so every lesson has to count.

When it’s just you and the instructor, no time is waisted. All of the instructor’s attention is on you. For some people this might be a disadvantage, since they would prefer a less intense approach to learning. For me, it was exactly what I wanted.

Last but not least, scheduling private lessons proved to be far easier than group lessons; more on that in tip No 4.

…& MY RECOMMENDATION

In my opinion, group lessons are best if you have significant budgetary concerns, you are in the mountains often so you have plenty of time to learn and improve or you just really enjoy the social aspect of them! It’s probably worth mentioning that while my fiancé was learning to ski at university, he actively preferred group lessons. However, if you are like me and think that you will benefit more from a personalised experience, private lessons will probably be better for you.

All in all, deciding between group and private ski lessons is a personal choice and you can easily change your mind about it along the way. If you complete a reasonable amount of lessons and practice, you will learn how to ski either way!

TIP NO 3. WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BOOK SKI LESSONS?

In most ski resorts and ski schools around the world, you can either book lessons online (or by phone) or in person at the resort. Most ski schools have an office or booth at the base (village) of the ski resort.

In my opinion, part of planning and preparing for your first ski trip is booking your first ski lessons. In other words, I would recommend NOT leaving booking lessons (private or group) to when you are at the resort, especially if:

• you are visiting a popular ski resort,
• there are not many ski schools at the resort, or
• your ski trip takes place during school holidays.

As a rule of thumb, take advantage of the momentum built from planning your first ski trip and book lessons right after making the rest of the bookings for the trip. This way, not only will you be certain of availability but you will have also made the commitment!

Nevertheless, even if you haven’t pre-booked lessons, don’t get discouraged from popping in while at the resort. Especially at larger resorts, many of the ski schools have plenty of instructors and last minute availability is more than possible. However, this might mean that you will need to switch instructors, be flexible with time or get private rather than group lessons.

TIP NO 4. HOW MANY LESSONS SHOULD I BOOK FOR MY FIRST FEW SKI TRIPS?

Ideally, for your first ski trip as an absolute beginner, if you are going for a week or less, you would book one lesson for every full day that you are there. If you are lucky enough to stay at the resort for longer, then you can take it a bit slower (ie. have a lesson every other day). However, this might be more easily done with private rather than group lessons.

When it comes to group lessons for complete beginners, ski schools typically have a pre-set schedule. Ski schools in Europe in particular hold their group lessons in weekly cycles and you simply cannot miss the first few. Typically, the first lesson for the beginners’ course is held on a Sunday or Monday since Saturday is changeover day for most large European ski resorts. For the rest of the week, the curriculum for group lessons is organised in a way so that, by the end of Friday, you are comfortable with the basics of skiing and able to tackle most pistes classified as ‘easy’ (green / blue depending on the country).

NOT JUST FOR YOUR FIRST SKI TRIP -MY RULE OF 3

Nevertheless, you may be reluctant to book a ton of lessons, group or private. In that case, I would suggest booking lessons for at least the first three days that you are there. For group lessons you should double check how those days coordinate with the ski school schedule. Whether group or private, three lessons will give you a good idea of what it’s like. Afterwords, you can see if you’d like a rest day, to ski a bit with your friends and/or continue the lessons. If something is not working for you, you can switch to private lessons (if you are in a group) or vice versa.

Further than that, my rule of three extends to more than the amount of lessons. In my opinion, when booking lessons (as a beginner or even later on), it’s best to book (at least) three lessons with the same ski instructor. I guess this is a no-brainer with group lessons, since you might not be able to drop-in and out of group lessons easily. In my experience, this is also very important with private lessons.

At the beginning of a private lesson, an instructor who does not know you will always start you off at easier pistes so that he/she can assess your competency level. This is a bit of a waste of time. You should be pushing yourself (at least a bit!) and trying harder runs during a lesson with a ski instructor, not going down the nursery slope again and again! Furthermore, when a ski instructor knows that they have a decent amount of time with you, they will be able to plan the lessons more efficiently and creatively, go beyond the basics and include more fun or challenging stuff!

TIP NO 5. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Making the most of your ski lesson is not necessarily something that happens only during your lesson. As with most sports (and things in life), practice makes perfect. The more time you spend on the slopes skiing, the faster you will progress. So, I cannot over-emphasise how important it is to ski with your ski buddies or even alone, before and/or after your ski lesson.

Spending a couple of hours before or after your lessons practicing what you have been taught is necessary for your progress. Going down the same pistes that you skied with your instructor on your own, remembering the advice you got and discussing it with your ski buddies will ensure that everything you learnt transforms into muscle memory.

For that reason, in my top 10 tips for adults learning how to ski, I talk all about how your ski buddies can contribute to your progression as a skier and, failing that, how skiing solo could also help. Make sure to check out this post once you are done here; it is definitely worth reading.

FITTING THE LESSONS INTO YOUR SKI DAY

Anyway, if you are wondering how to structure your skiing day for your first few ski trips, I would recommend arranging your ski lesson for the morning or the afternoon and practice with your ski buddies for the other half of the day. More importantly, make sure to have a nice relaxing break for lunch al fresco on the slopes or in a cosy chalet! Not spending enough time on the slopes will inhibit your progress. Spending too much time on the slopes can do the same. All things considered, it is important to make sure that along with having lessons and practicing, you are getting enough rest, fuel and you are having fun!

TIP NO 6. COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR SKI INSTRUCTOR

During your first lesson with a specific ski instructor, he/she will probably ask about your experience with skiing in addition to doing a couple of test runs on easy slopes. Clearly, your ski instructor is trying to assess your level and decide the best course of action so, be open and honest about your capabilities. Remember that they are just trying to do their job while also being responsible for your safety. No need for being shy or overconfident! That will just be a waste of your precious time on the slopes.

However, there’s more than just being truthful about your current level of skiing. Make sure to let your ski instructor know about any specific goals or apprehensions you may have. Moreover, if you feel like the pace of the lesson needs to slow down, spend more time on the basics or be more challenged, speak up! This is important for both private and group lessons in order to help your instructor figure out how to keep you engaged and learning.

All in all, ski instructors are generally good at reading people due to their training and experience in dealing with learners. Nevertheless, they are not psychics. Communicating openly and effectively is the easiest way of making sure that you are getting the most out of the time (and money) you invested on the lesson. So, whatever it is you are thinking (ski related naturally!) just talk it through with them.

This brings me to my final tip.

TIP NO 7. USING YOUR SKI INSTRUCTOR AS A RESORT GUIDE

This post is part of ‘A Beach Bum’s Guide to Skiing‘, a series of posts where I talk about learning to ski as an adult. In this part of the blog, I often discuss how experienced skiers can easily forget what it’s like for a beginner and underestimate the difficulty of a piste or the extra challenges that weather and snow conditions can pose. This situation can be exacerbated by the fact that your ski buddies (friends / family / partner) might not be familiar with the resort. When you are beginner skier, even pistes classified as ‘easy’ might not be that easy for you.

So, my advice is very simple. At the end of your lesson, ask your ski instructor for suggestions as to which pistes you should be practicing on with your ski buddies (or alone). Your ski instructor will have an excellent knowledge of the resort but also a good understanding of your capabilities so, take advantage of that! Note down the name / number of the piste so that you don’t forget. Better yet, ask one of your ski buddies (whoever knows the resort best) to join you on the chat so that you can all create a little plan of attack together.

Ski instructors are generally easygoing people (it must be that mountain air and exercise!) and they will happily keep chatting to you if they don’t have a lesson directly afterwards. Therefore, why not also ask them for recommendations for places to eat and drink? They are locals so they will probably direct you to places with the best value for money; that piece of information alone is invaluable in most ski resorts around the world!

FINAL THOUGHTS

That’s it! Hopefully, with this advice your first few ski lessons will go seamlessly and you won’t have anything to worry about other than perfecting your snowplough! If you are in full preparation mode for your ski trip, make sure to check out my ski packing list, my après ski essentials as well as my best tips for getting ready for ski season!

See you on the next one!