Beginners spending a weekend in VDI Fri 22nd March for 3 days - Need lessons

A snowHead

My wife and I are visiting Val Desire on Fri 22rd March for the weekend and would like to arrange some lessons while we are there. We have never been skiing before and would like to have a lesson each day while we are there.

- Do group lessons run at weekends (we'd like to keep cost as low as poss)?
- Can you recommend a ski school? (we are both British)
- What is a realistic price we should expect to pay for lessons (group or private)

Many thanks!

We cant wait!

A snowHead

evosi, Welcome to snowHead

Difficult one.
Group lessons usually start on Sundays or Mondays so private will probably be your best bet.
If you can get some lessons (either group or private) at a dry slope or indoor slope before you go it will accelerate your learning considerably and possibly maximise your ability to use your limited time in the resort.
There are many good ski schools operating and the individual instructor is more important than the school from which they operate.
I would contact a couple of schools well in advance and see who can organise private lessons of maybe a couple of hours per day with the SAME instructor each day.
Private lessons ain't cheap I'm afraid but are ususally a bit better priced in the afternoon.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

evosi, welcome to snowheads.

It will have to be private lessons, I think. The cheapest are probably with the ESF (French ski school) which are €69 for 1.5 hours.

http://www.esfvaldisere.com/adults-private-lessons.htm

There shouldn't be a language problem - just specify when you book that you need an English speaking instructor. If you can get some lessons in a snowdome before you go it would enable you to do a bit more when you're out there - otherwise, realistically, you might not be able to do anything outside the lessons themselves.

There are a number of other ski schools but I suspect they will be more expensive. I think you'll find private lessons with ESF are fine - maybe have some more expensive ones when you get a bit better!

You need to Login to know who's really who.

I had lessons from British Alpine Ski School (BASS) in VDI, private lesson with a great Scottish instructor, can highly recommend them.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I'm sure BASS are excellent - I had great lesson with BASS in Les Gets but the OP is on a budget. An hour with BASS £70, an hour with ESF €49. That's a big difference.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Cheers guys, much appreciated.

I have contacted the ESF so hopefully they can put something together for us Smile

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Personally I wouldn't go to ESF, I did once and got an instructor that didn't speak very good English which ruined my lessons. If you are there for such a short period of time then I'd make sure you know who you're getting.

I have used Steve Angus many times and he's excellent.

You can find him on this forum by doing a search then send him a message.

Apparently there is a 1000 students hitting Val that weekend, so good luck!

After all it is free

I have used Oxygene in VDI and found them to be good http://www.oxygene-ski.com/val-disere-ski-and-snowboard-school.htm. I have also used Evolution 2 one rubbish instructor and one great instructor - so hit and miss.

New Generation have a school in VDI http://www.skinewgen.com/resorts/valdisere/ - I haven't used them there but used them in Courchevel this year and found them to be excellent.

Val d'Isere is a lovely resort have fun (although the 1,000 students sounds a little off putting!)

I'd agree ESF is the budget choice - I'd suggest 2 or 2.5 hours a day for complete beginners and expect that on day 1 you won't do much on your own in the afternoon. Day 2/3 you should be good to go back over the slopes you did in the lesson getting more practice...If you try and skimp with just 1 or 1.5 hours I don't think you'll learn enough to get the hang of it all in just a weekend.

If you want to try somewhere between ESF and BASS I can recommend ultimate, and if you are flexible on timings, they may be flexible on price. http://www.ultimatesnowsports.com/valdisere_private_ski_lessons.htm

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Admittedly a bit more expensive than ESF but I would at least have a look at TDC in Val D'Isere. I have used them in Tignes and the instructiors are very good indeed and native English speakers to boot.

snow reports

Thanks so much guys.

I have narrowed it down to 3:

- ESF
- TDC
- Oxygene

Another question.

Would an ALL DAY lesson be silly for our first go, or a stroke of genius? Am thinking either:

- All day on the first day, allowing for us to practice on our own on the second day before we go home
- Have 2 x 3 hour lessons (one on each day we are there, allowing for extra practice on our own in the afternoons).

From experience, what would be more beneficial?

I would say that the 2x3 option will give you more benefit. A full day is pretty intensive, especially if you have never skied before.

You know it makes sense.

This lady is great, Amanda Pirie.

http://www.amandapirie.co.uk/index.html

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Thanks will take a look, have you used her before for lessons?

A snowHead

No, but met her at "Solutions 4 Feet" whilst having some boots fitted. A really nice person and great to talk too. She has a lot of very good feedback.

A snowHead

Thanks, i've emailed her.

Help!!

Beginners spending a weekend in VDI Fri 22nd March for 3 days - Need lessons

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