How many ski lessons does a beginner need?
The age-old question, with our answer usually being “how long is a piece of string?”.
Before going into any further detail, lets first decide what level most people look to achieve. Most beginners should look to achieve the skillset where they can navigate themselves around the mountain while being in control of their own speed using blue slopes.
If you were to take a look at Altitude’s levels, then we would consider a ‘good skier’ as a level 4. At this level, most skiers can really get the feel and enjoyment out of skiing and the addiction to sliding downhill with two planks strapped to your feet really starts to kick in.
To achieve this level, you are probably wondering how many lessons you will need. Now, to be honest, this is a tricky question to answer as so many different factors come into play. One of the major points that I think most beginners seem to overlook is the fact that skiing, is a sport.
Like every other sport, a good base of personal fitness and a good grasp of your fundamental movement skills are really going to help you get off to a good start.
We tend to recommend having at least a few, 3-hour lessons to start with as this will give you the chance to get used to following under the guidance of our instructors.
Our lessons are designed to make people as comfortable as possible, and usually guide you through:
- Walking around in ski boots and working out how to attach them to your skis correctly.
- Moving around with one ski on and then moving onto having two skis attached to your feet.
- Skiing down a mellow sleep and learning how to stop.
- Learning how to steer your skis thus controlling the speed in which you are gong.
- Taking a ski lift
- Skiing on steeper terrain and challenging your speed control and stopping on more exciting slopes and with a little more speed.
- As mentioned earlier, this can take different time frames depending on the individual. Some people take to it like a duck to water whereas others prefer to take their time a little more and workout each different phase in their own time.
How many ski lessons should you take?
We would recommend that the average person looks to take 5 x 3-hour lessons to enable them to achieve this desired level.
Taking your lessons in the morning gives a better chance of advancing quickly. After a well-deserved extended lunch break, you can take the afternoon to practice what you have learnt with your instructor to solidify your skills.
Plus, a few glasses of wine at lunch may help loosen you up a little and give you the confidence to push your skiing a little further in the afternoon!
Can I ski without lessons?
Yes, of course you can! Will you ski well if you try teaching yourself? No, of course you won’t!
Having an instructor is vital for someone looking to make serious headway in skiing. Our fantastic instructor team are all fully qualified and have a wealth of experience which they can pass on to you and share their expertise which will ensure that you learn many new skills as well as having lots of fun in the process.
Not only will they pass on years of knowledge but will also get you to your desired level a lot quicker than if you were to try and watch a few YouTube videos and just have a go at it.
They also make sure that you are always safe meaning you can concentrate on improving your skiing instead of fumbling around with a ski map and deciphering whether the next run is a blue or a black!
When to start ski lessons?
The great thing about skiing is that it can be enjoyed by anyone at any age. Doesn’t matter whether you’re a toddler who needs their next challenge after mastering the fine art of walking or whether you’re a senior citizen looking for your next thrill!
Regardless of your age, I would always recommend taking lessons as soon as you start skiing. This will give you’re the greatest chance of success with the correct technique learnt as soon as you clip on your skis.
We have written a full guide with information on the right age to start skiing here.
Are private ski lessons worth it?
The straightforward answer is yes! Private lessons can be tailored to your needs and taken at your pace, for example arranging our instructor to meet at a place and time convenient for you or arranging the lesson in a different language.
These lessons are a fantastic way to build a rapport with the instructor whilst also setting challenging yet achievable goals for each participant.
But let’s not forget about group lessons, these are fantastic types of lessons where all the best skiers have begun.
Group lessons allow you to learn with others of a similar ability level and progress to the next level within a positive and enjoyable environment. Skiing is always enjoyed more when skiing with others hence why the skiing community is such a strong group of people.
