Lilywhite, I agree with you, but only to a point. Lessons are only any good if the instructor is any good. I am sure I'm not the only one who have up on lessons in France in the 90s as the quality of instruction was so dire. I found them frustrating, contradictory, and often unhelpful. Since then I have had occasional lessons, usually from native English speakers, and this season we have splurged on proper off piste tuition. But I admit I have been on many ski trips where we have not had a lesson at all.
What I really really hate are the obviously out of control blokes who hurtle past me (and I'm no slow coach) in a semi snow plough, straight-lining a run, often with their jacket flappeing open for some reason, and without a helmet. They are out of control, see speed as the sole arbiter of ability and cannot turn in an emergency . They try to kid themselves and others before a ski trip that they are good skiers, and then you find they can't ski a red run without falling over, that they get tired after 2 runs, and usually use the excuse that they are hungover/need to do some "serious après" to bail out at 3pm!
Trouble is, these days, for the vaguely sporty person, it is possible to get by after a couple of lessons. Skis and boots are so much more set up to help you ski.
What I really really hate are the obviously out of control blokes who hurtle past me (and I'm no slow coach) in a semi snow plough, straight-lining a run, often with their jacket flappeing open for some reason, and without a helmet. They are out of control, see speed as the sole arbiter of ability and cannot turn in an emergency . They try to kid themselves and others before a ski trip that they are good skiers, and then you find they can't ski a red run without falling over, that they get tired after 2 runs, and usually use the excuse that they are hungover/need to do some "serious après" to bail out at 3pm!
Trouble is, these days, for the vaguely sporty person, it is possible to get by after a couple of lessons. Skis and boots are so much more set up to help you ski.