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Should I get more lessons...

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Had my first week skiing in January (val d'isere), and got on pretty well - was happily going down blues with mostly parallel turns by the end of the week.

I've managed to get a second week booked for this year, and I'm sure my Intermediate friends will be encouraging me to go off with them. I'm fairly optimistic of being able to cope with most of the reds (Dolomites) but maybe I'm just being cocky.

Obviously I'm not foolish enough to think I will never need/want more lessons, but I'm trying to weigh up the pros and cons of doing another week of group lessons this year versus having a week of getting some miles under my belt but maybe picking up some bad habits.

Any thoughts?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
How about - have one private 2hr lesson on the first morning. The instructor can see where you're at and point things out to you to work on. Make it clear you're only having the one lesson. Then, enjoy the rest of the week with your mates and working on what the instructor said. I bet you'll spot loads of things your mates are rubbish at.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
rpopo, I think petemillis, has offered a good suggestion though I'd probably have suggested a slightly longer time say 3 hours, if you did that on your first day you'd also have a better idea as to your abbility to cope with unfamiliar terrain / runs etc, then if you found you were having problems later in the week you could always book a second lesson
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rpopo,

I can see the problem here...your mates are going to be off and saying they had an awesome day and you will not be part of it...

I think you should sacrifice a day or so and get grounded with a lesson as you will take that day to pick up where you left off last time...at least. Its NO fun being trail-end Charlie and the more you fall, the more you get tired and you go round and round in this circle.

Or have Two morning lessons and meet up at lunchtime, then spend the rest of the week with them. It is quite a step up skiing on your own/with mates rather than having an instructor lead you the best way down all the time.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I'd go a bit further than the other suggestions, and suggest that you sign up for a group lesson each morning. You can then meet up with your mates at lunch and ski with them in the afternoon. That way, you get the instruction you need, and they get to have a bit of a blast around the mountain. When you ski with them, they are more likely to wait for you, than get impatient (assuming that they are all better/faster than you??)
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My greatest skiing regret is that I stopped taking lessons after just three weeks. The bad habits that I developed and perfected since then still hold my skiing back, despite having gone back to ski lessons in recent years. If you think you might want to get better as a skier in the future, and to be able to ski all of the mountain rather than just the easy pistes I'd say stick with lessons for as long as you can afford them.
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
rob@rar, Agreed. It is very tempting - once you have learned the basics- to say: " I can ski now". Its like learning the alphabet and saying you are an author. More lessons please.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Thanks for the advice guys. I think going for a private lesson on the first day sounds like a pretty good plan - especially as I've literally just booked the holiday, and it was £80 cheaper than when I looked yesterday Happy Cheap as chips!

JT - I was skiing with mates in the afternoon for the last couple of days on the first week, so am reasonably comfortable with the thought of that. I agree that it will be no fun constantly bringing up the rear though.

Because we're on the Sella Ronda (Canazei) I'm guessing it might end up quite difficult to meet up after lunch (as they could easily be in a completely different valley) which means I don't really fancy a full complement of morning lessons.

thanks again.
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does anyone think that it is worh spending a bit of time practicing the techniques for a while that you may have been taught in lessons before signing up for more lessons.
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rayscoops, yes, and just after your lesson finishes you should make some notes to remind you of the things to practice and drills to do.
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rpopo, if you fancy having fun with your mates then just go and do it, just ski within your own abilitys and you will be fine. they will wait for you if your not quite as fast as them
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
rpopo, Welome to snowHead

My only thought is 'YES"..

the advice that private = accelerated learning is a bonus wink
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So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
rpopo, apart from graeme (and he comes from NE England so doesn't count Toofy Grin ) the consensus is go for some more lessons.
I agree. And keep going for lessons for many years to come. I started skiing 1986 and still have lessons every year.
To still enjoy skiing with your mates (and so join in the after ski banter) go for the Private lesson option. You learn very little in Group Lessons. I would go for 3 days Private Lessons.
Note: depending on the week you are going, you may find the only Private Lesson slots left are at lunchtime. Still go for for it. The money you save on lunches will pay for the extra lessons.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
rpopo, I think the suggestion of having one or two private lessons and spending the rest of the week with your mates is good. Mr Docsquid and I do this regularly - have private lessons, and then ski together or with friends/folks from the chalet for the rest of the week, remembering what you were taught and practising it. Sometimes it is good to have another lesson later in the week, so you can learn more stuff, particularly if you are progressing rapidly. Mr DS still has at least one lesson a week, and he's been skiing for 30 years and probably something like 45 weeks. You can always learn something and it prevents you developing bad habits.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
rpopo, if you wish to improve your skiing at all for any reason then

YES


then again I'm a little biased... As far as is known I hold the record for private lessons in a season at my home resort... and i have taken 70 lessons in one season!

One comment I frequently get from instructors is that I do not have the bad habits - having not had a chance to develop them... so I only need to learn to do more things - not to undo...
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
little tiger wrote:
As far as is known I hold the record for private lessons in a season at my home resort... and i have taken 70 lessons in one season!

I hadn't realised that Ireland had any resorts wink

Then again, I hadn't realised that Ireland had a ski association Shocked
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
The Irish Ski Association - those are the guys that walk up the piste and get the lifts down wink
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
PhillipStanton, it gets even better than that, they're even bidding for the Winter Olympics!!
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PhillipStanton,

that was in flat warm dry Oz

not flat soggy cold Ireland
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Hi Lynne here, does anyone know what kind of price I would be looking to pay for a private lesson in Meribel,had an accident a few years ago and never have regained my confidence, keep saying I will get those lessons, but still keep on boring Kevin Duck with the same old "I cant down that run it's too steep or oh my god its a black run" then I go down the damn thing very badly but still feel pleased with myself that I made the effort, trouble is poor Kev just continually gets it in the neck if anything goes wrong. ... You know the old... now look what you did remark!! Confused Embarassed Crying or Very sad rolling eyes
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rpopo, Look at it this way the pro skiers are getting lessons all the time. I would suggest recording yourself skiing as a good way to see your mistakes. Skiing with mates that are better than you won't help your technique or confidence as you will feel like your are on the edge of control on terrain that is too difficult for your ability. Private lessons are worth the money as group lessons are more like mountain guiding and socialising. Learning is what makes skinig interesting, last week I was in Bulgaria and learned how to land jumps better, ski only on my inside ski and deal with breakable crust.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I'm with graeme and its up to you wether you take more lessons. You know how good your skiing is and wether you will slow up your mates (though if they are mates they should wait for you) also, more importantly wether your ability will limit the runs you and your mates can ski.
Note this is from someone who has never taken downhill lessons and has always skiied with his mates who I now slow up by trying to telemark down everything!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Dave Horsley, you must be just naturally gifted, the mere mortals need lessons!
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Peter Ross,

Never said my skiing was any good Smile
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I am very bemused about people not being able to ski without lessons.
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i never really had official lessons, but it did help that my friends i skied with where BASI 1/2 instructors.
at end of the day its about having fun, as long as your not skiing beyond your abilitys then i dont see a problem.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
graeme, Having fun and having lessons are not mutually exclusive!

JT, there are a few of you who can watch a movement and then reproduce it yourselves - but not many. Most people either can't do that, or watch the wrong skiers to see how it's done. Therefore, the vast majority of peeps need lessons to show them how. You have loads of confidence, not everyone is so blessed! Little Angel
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easiski, and i never said they where. but from what the op said then the fun factor/friends seemed important. there is no reason at all the op cant ski with his mates and have fun. you will have more fun with your friends, i always thought it was saftey, enjoyment then learning
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
easiski, I hesitate to disagree with a ski instructor on the neccesity of lessons. But I think for people of good coordination and athletic, it's possible to watch many of the movement and reproduce them.

I'm not disagreeing lesson has their places. I took loads of classes (and still do) because I have aspiration to become a proficient skier on ALL terrain, including the difficult one (such as house size moguls), and even under difficult conditions (still got a very long way to go). But for many others, their objective maybe just casual cruising on blues and reds. And I've met many of skiers who took very few or no lessons and I must say I'm often surprised how well they ski. They express no interest to go off-piste, ski the trees or jump off cliffs. And their technique, learn not from lessons but by watching and immitating, were sufficient for their purpose fully.

One of the appeal of skiing is (to me) the feeling of freedom. As useful as lessons are, the structure and the goal-oriented nature of it, gets in the way of that feeling of being free.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I must admit I sympathise with the dilemma of skiing with mates or improving your skiing. I think it cost me about 5 years but then I had a whole load of fun... still can't really work out what I should have done, but I can't get that time back. However, I do trust myself to know a good skier when I see one, to copy now.

On balance I wouldn't tell anyone else to do what I did, but then I wouldn't blame them either.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
If the cost is not an issue, i would always reccommend getting lessons if you can - but definitely combine this with freeskiing too. As already suggested, time with a top ski instructor in a small group is far more beneficial than any other sort. On the mountain, you'll see plenty of people cruising with poor technique and they will be really enjoying themselves. However, if you want to begin tackling more technical terrain in all conditions - then take the lessons now. When you're ripping powder down steep slopes you'll be grateful you did - its the best felling in the world.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
rpopo, lessons, maybe at the beginning of the week? I seem to remember from a friend that ski school was half-days, but later in the week they went off on an excursion with the instructor. While skiing with your friends may seem more fun, if they are much more experienced than you, you may feel you are holding them up, and they may get fed up waiting for you. The instructor will know the terrain you are capable of and may be able to suggest routes you can do with you friends later. You can still enjoy yourself in the ski school too, then when you have improved, later in the week, ski with your friends.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
I'm on my 4th week of skiing - I had 2 weeks about 10 and 11 years ago, with no lessons and got no-where beyond being able to stand and move on the skis, and do a basic snowplough down the baby slope. Last year and this I went again and got a one hour private lesson each day (I pay £20 per hour) that was ski-able that meant 3 last year and 4 this year. I would never have got down a simple slope without them, and fully intend to continue with them in the years to come as I have designs on seeing a bit more of the mountain when I'm able.
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Maybe try the first day just having fun and getting your ski legs back in. But I'd go with the private lesson viewpoint; even an hour or two will make a big difference to how you progress. If you do this on your second day then you can put the results into practice for the rest of the week, you may even find yourself wanting to do another mid week if you feel the need.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
abc, It is my experience that only very few people are able to do this - there are several Snowheads who can, but over more than 30 years I would say at a guess that the proportion is about 1,000-1, maybe even more. What do people copy? rotation, sliding, or feet together ar*e- wiggling, flapping arms ... I could go on. Inexperienced skiers almost never even notice the really good ones as they are quiet and whisper past you. I am constantly surprised when riding chairlifts with clients who they think are good skiers on the slopes - they almost never do pick the good ones (assuming you could find one). Shock
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I ski with a mate who has never had a lesson. His technique is very "individual", but he has no fear, he stops on a penny, he can get down difficult terrain quicker than me because he just bombs it, while I'm thinking about the most enjoyable/safest way to deal with it. The time his "individual" technique really shows up is on the blues, where he is a lot slower than me bacause his "indivual" technique is not very efficient. But he has a great time and skis every year.
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
petemillis wrote:
I ski with a mate who has never had a lesson. His technique is very "individual", but he has no fear, he stops on a penny, he can get down difficult terrain quicker than me because he just bombs it, while I'm thinking about the most enjoyable/safest way to deal with it. The time his "individual" technique really shows up is on the blues, where he is a lot slower than me bacause his "indivual" technique is not very efficient. But he has a great time and skis every year.


I'd expect a reaction to that one! Unless he's Bode Miller he doesn't sound like he's in control.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
rpopo, Not skiing with your mates doesn't mean you'll be missing all the fun - it won't - you'll be having your own fun. Group lessons are great fun, I have recently gone back to lessons, and I have improved loads, and I've had an absolute blast along the way. You could have group lessons for the first half of the week and then join your mates to show off your newly acquired skills for the second half. Very Happy
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petemillis,

You can only bomb so much....and for so long. This used to be a trait of mine - hence the 5 years lost reference. I now know I was very dangerous.
I would say that when he gets a bit older and his natural agility no longer outlasts his skill set, he will be in big trouble.

I now think I ski very conservatively which makes being wiped out on a blue run recenlty most galling. My pet theme this year is the pistes are getting very dangerous, IMV
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AxsMan, JT, I agree - although he can stop quickly, when he plans to stop, he is not in proper control. And he's big, tall and muscley hence a potential danger to himself and others. Examples of his work are:
- few years ago he broke his back when he went flat out into compacted snow under soft stuff on the piste edge. ended up being flown off the piste, spending a few days in hospital in France then months of work when back in UK (he's self employed so not good).
- and two years back, bombing down the bumps at same time as a small lady skier was traversing the bumps. He didn't see her until it was too late and he couldn't stop (went straight over the front of his blades and landed on her). She ended up with buggered arm. The other bloke we were skiing with and I just had to watch it happen. Not good.

He is definitely starting to age a bit now at 36 and needs lessons. He had always scoffed at the idea as he always know best. But it shows that he doesn't. Like JT, I think I also ski conservatively, especially when the pistes are crowded, and get really annoyed when someone skis like a prat and almost wipes me out. But I like to open it up a lot when it's safe to do so. Thus far, I have had a safe, incident free, 13 years or so of skiing (aside of course from the normal tumbles that don't involve anyone else).
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