 Poster: A snowHead
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Motivation-needing to keep up with teenage sons and hubby
Great lesson-when I go out skiing that afternoon and I KNOW i have improved since yesterday
Poor lesson-follow me instruction.
Best lesson- it's a real dilemma between Charlotte (Easiski) in Deux ALpes this Summer, and Gavin CRosby (EurekaSki) in Serre Chevalier, but after the perfect carved turn Charlotte got me to do -it would have to be her!!! BUT-obviously havn't skiied much since then, so I'll let you know after my holiday in 2 weeks.
Worst lesson- ESF in La Plagne-teacher kept calling me 'his baby' YUK!!!!!! Class was full of Dutch who shouldnt have been in the same group as each other. Fast, aggresive skiiers too. Complained and got a refund for the rest of the week as I couldn't switch groups.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Lorraine Agass wrote: |
| I'm not advanced enough to really require specialist coaching... |
Lorraine, when you say specialist coaching, do you men higher qualified Instructors, with more experience that can pick up any faults that you make quicker, with more ability and ways to solve the problems, thereby making it better value for money.... 
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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?
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I always have a set of things I want to achieve, and know roughly what I want to do. And I know when I have stepped up
in terms of accomplishment. After a while I think you can self-teach to a degree. We always put ourselves in conditions that push us. And if one of us cracks something that is the spur for everyone else. The most important aspect here is that in our group of 8 or so people we are more concerned with people doing well than say, jealous. We have got beyond that stage. I am not saying teaching has no value it is just that I I don't seem to get the time to spend on it. And the choice is between an instructor or a guide then the latter wins everytime. I can't seem to get away from this simple equation.
If I had had more lessons then I might be a better skier but I would be down on the fun side and experience.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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If you don't take lessons, why don't you?
Apart from having lessons when I was 15 (can't remember back that far), I am self taught, I just watched what other people were doing, watched how racers skied on TV and made it up myself. I have been told that I look good when I ski, elegant even! I should really have lessons on how to tackle icy black runs though, then I'd be really good! I'm bound to get some backlash for typing this so... bring it on!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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snowbabe, if you enjoy yourself, are safe with respect to others and meet your own goals that's fine. Me - my enjoyment is increased the more I can safely do, and I think I can learn quicker under observation by experts. One thing I find particularly instructive (if squirm-inducing) is video analysis. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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snowbabe, Everyone learns the same way as you ! But 'I should really have lessons on how to tackle icy black runs though' - says it all................
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I know you're right!! I'd like to do the video analysis thing, I'm always up for a laugh  So, any recommendations for one to one tuition in Val d'Isere? And not ESF please, they tried to teach me to snowboard and were rubbish.
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snowbabe, Try nearer - Tunbridge Wells ?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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snowbabe, New Gen
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I had lessons in school and college respectively, with School in Val Thorens with a guy named Remi. He was a psychopath, fu*k the fog being his favourite expression, 10 fifteen year old kids down an icy black mogul field in the fog! Great fun and learned alot. Then had lessons in Stowe in Canada with an excellent Canadian lady, felt I improved lots through her.
I'm 21 now and done a further 3 weeks on snow without instruction on my 1080 twin tips. I ski everything, with decent enough technique including off piste and back country. I generally pick things up quickly so didnt have a problem learning the basics, and am now self teaching jumping and grinding! All great fun.
I'm unsure as to whether I will ever take more lessons, I enjoy the freedom of exploring too much, my technique improves with every holiday and whenever I hire a guide I get taken to some great areas which I can ski with no problem.
I feel its mostly due to preference, if you lack confidence they are great and also for tackling new things, but as I enjoy skiing with my mates and exploring, I'd find them to prohibitive.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The best lessons that I've had usually start with the question, "Why did you take this lesson?" Everyone has different motives, and a ski instructor that simplistically assumes, for example, that all pupils are desperate to improve their technique will upset many of his clients.
For me, it's about fun. My skiing will never reach the technical excellence of most Snowheads, so I'm past caring about technique. I want an instructor to teach me how to have fun - how to ski more of the mountain, how to ski fast without losing control, how to get air without wiping out. In short, I want an adrenalin rush during the lesson, and advice on getting adrenalin fixes when the lessons over. If I need to improve my technique to get the adrenalin, I'm happy to do it, but, for me, it's only ever a means to an end.
That's the problem with group lessons. My requirements are completely at odds with those of many other contributors, so if we ever end up in the same lesson one or other of us will be very frustrated. 
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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.
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Jonny Jones, You've just described wanting to improve your technique!
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Jonny Jones, hey, I said something similar! We could be in the same class!
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You know it makes sense.
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Ski, who does lessons in Tunbridge Wells then?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I take lessons because I want to get better. I want to get better because I'm not good enough, yet. My goals are to ski the whole mountain (since I've paid to use all the lifts, I want to ski everywhere they provide access).
I want to improve because I'm not getting any younger, and I recognise that by having smooth and efficient movement patterns, I take the stress off my ageing joints and muscles. I took up this sport at a relatively advanced age and I want to keep going for as long as possible: I met a man, last week, who told me that he was looking forward to his son's upcoming visit so that he could take his son and grandson skiing with himself and his father - four generations on the hill together.
My best lesson: it's difficult to say: I've had a lot of good lessons. Often these have not been apparent at the time, but only after when I realise I've absorbed something new into my skiing.
My worst lesson: the one with the instructor whose only (repeated) comment was "more movement" (yes, but in which directions?
If I don't take lessons? - Well, I don't always. When I only have a short trip (1 week or less) at a new hill I'll concentrate on covering as much ground as possible. I save my lesson time for longer trips (10-14 days), when I'll typically take a 3-day course. I find a longer period more intensive and much better for ensuring that the skills imparted are retained.
My ambition: to go to one of the EpicSki Academies - if only they'd schedule them at a time when I didn't have work committments (WTFH: pass on the message!)
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Poster: A snowHead
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Acacia, part of the problem is that the instructors come together from different resorts around the US, and so the Academy has to tie in with when they can be available, and when their ski schools will allow them time off, so it normally happens at the end of January, just before high season kicks in. But certainly, I'll pass the message on tomorrow, or more likely Sunday. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I take lessons to explore, expand, and learn. Everybody can use an other pair of eyes, outside observer and a fresh mind.
A bad lesson is due to poor communication. A great lesson starts with good communication, identifies a goal, sets about a plan to achieve that goal, and makes progress.
I can't say what's the best or worse lesson I've ever had. They have all been good.
The only thing that stops me from taking lessons is lack or resources (financial and time).
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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?
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The number one reason I take lessons is to improve my skiing - last January I was a total beginner, yesterday my instructor took me down a mogul field which is classified as a double black on the piste map, and I may not have looked good, but I did it without falling! (I was very glad that we then traversed across to an easier route - my mind would not have been able to handle the rest of the descent if we had continued in the same direction - I'm not yet ready for cliffs and chutes!)
My lesson the day before was a carving clinic - I can carve large radius turns, and some medium radius turns, now I just need to keep practicing!
The best part does come at the end of a lesson when the instructor then has a free hour, and asks if I want to ski with him - this happens quite often! Yesterday it was with 2 young (24) good looking blokes - I was happy!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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snowbabe, if you are still listening in, ski does! At Bowles dry slope near Crowborough, and also Tunbridge Wells..
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I take lessons to improve my technique, and make sure I'm not developing any terrible habits. I generally take them when I feel like I'm at a plateau in my skiing/boarding. I would take them more often, but unfortunately I'm a student with hardly enough cash to go boarding and drinking as it is 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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easiski, not at all - I'd take a lesson from you any day. But it just so happens that at Squaw the ratio of male to female instructors is something like 3:1, at least. And the odds on getting a female instructor for an upper level group lesson are very small - they tend to be booked for private lessons, and there aren't that many PSIA Level 3 female instructors anyway!
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I like the challenge of skiing 
There's physical learning, psychological, and of course, technical. All of which combine to allow you the freedom to play on the mountain.
I enjoy the feeling of g-forces in a hard turn; I love the sensation of speed.
(Mainly I suspect it's to do with my adrenalin addiction!)
But, as I've moved on in life I've come to the sad conclusion that I am not, despite my T-shirt, immortal!
This allows me to acknowledge that there are, in fact, some fairly significant skills involved and that the best way to acquire them is not by trial and error in the limited time I have on snow, but from people who specialise in teaching!!!
Anyway, my best 'lesson' was my last one (almost always true!)
In this case it was at Dave Murray where Leslie (a fantastic lady!) took us down a 2-3' "drop-in" over a cornice onto a fairly steep pitch in Harmony bowl on Whistler.
The commitment was significant - but she was so clear about the technique and positioning that I managed it fine (though interestingly one teaching technique did involve trying to kiss her!!)
We then proceeded to throw ourselves down the mountain!
(At the bottom of which I invented a cool way to extract yourself from a powder bowl!)
I just wanted to do it again and again!
Of course she also took us over some horrendous moguls (which, despite failing miserably to ski, I also wanted to try again and again!)
Of course if Erin hadn't taught me so well the previous week...
Other than that, my best learning experiences are two-fold: books (Bob Barnes' Encyclopedia of Skiing and Inner Skiing (ta Robbie)) and chatting on the internet ( and EpicSki)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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lbt, that would be Bob Barnes, one of the instructors at the EpicSki Academy!
You should read "The Skier's Edge" by Ron LeMaster
or, if you want to just stick to Epic instructors, "Ski the Whole Mountain" by Eric DeLauriers
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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.
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lbt, I like your logic. Pay the man in person!
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You know it makes sense.
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I take lessons because it's really tough to analyse your own movements, be properly critical of yourself and then change what you do for the better. Even with a videocam. Years of experience are there and you can dip into them. It gets tough to improve every year, but even after 15 years of skiing, my lessons are the highlight of the trip and I wouldn't miss them. I've learned to really feel the snow under my feet, to carve hard turns, to control and really drive the skis through the turns rather than just slide out the tails. It's taken years but now I can ski tough off piste with only an occasional tumble. When I ski with my mates I can see how differently things could have turned out.
I could never have done this on my own in spite of all the books I've read and dvds I've watched.
A great lesson for me is very technical with piste exercises then moving to off piste. A poor lesson would be one with no fun fun fun.
Best lesson - Honestly too many to choose from. But my first carve or starting to find my feet off piste would be up there.
Worst lesson - Probably in the Milky Way where the instructor just acted as a tour guide. However, I still got the fact that I wasn't using my knees enough out of it so I'd do it again.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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I take lessons to learn to ski better, in a group because it means that at any one time you are not the worst as 5 minutes after you screw up
someone else will !
The best bits about lessons are the fact that the good instructors will take the time to stretch you , and then when needed - take you
down an easy bit - after 8 year s and a late start in life - i can ski down a blue/red on my own in a near whiteout and not worry.
i have done a few blacks - but have not got the confidence to start one on my own ( although once on it its not a problem )
Off piste i am a snowplough - as the snow gets deeper i seem to dig in and soon come a cropper ( much to the delight of the group last year )
as every time the female instuctor thought i was too cocky for the group - she went off piste just a bit ( but it was bloody good fun).
last year on the last run of the last lesson ( group down to 3) i came a cropper ( its was cold and foggy, and i had steamed up glasses and could not see )
and she said to me that that was the first time she had seen me have trouble on a piste. - i might not as she put it have the best technique - but you can get down a slope OK - the point for me being that i take lessons to improve the technique - and i ski outside the lessons to try to make everything more fluid
i guess that i will be joining group lessons on my next trip too - for the very same reasons.
and the best lesson i have had - 3 years ago in mayerhofen, day 4 of the lessons, and only i turned up - the old boy taking the group looked at me and said
lets see how far we can get by teatime , and off we went , day 5 was the easiest sking i have had - as the rest of the 8 strong group returned, and the instructor
kept saying - lets not bother with that slope - we did it yesterday !
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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worst lesson: 3 years ago, day 5 of lessons at Mayerhofen...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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queen bodecia, or a guaranteed income stream for a couple of weeks
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Timberwolf, to be fair I have thought about it. I know I have many bad habits. But I'd rather have lessons in a fridge in the UK than use up any of my valuable ski holiday time and I simply don't have the budget at present. It's not that I want to improve/progress or whatever, I'm a happy holiday recreational skier, it would just be nice to iron out some of the bad habits.
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queen bodecia, was not implying you needed it, just a 'throwaway' comment
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lessons in fridge (well, Hemel and MK) is v v expensive compared to (even private) lessons on a real mountain.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| SooperSlyder wrote: |
| lessons in fridge (well, Hemel and MK) is v v expensive compared to (even private) lessons on a real mountain. |
How do the prices compare?
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FAQ
