Lessons learned this season...

[santacruz skier]

I guess it still surprises me that instructors don't need to have certifications.. I wonder if that's the case in Tahoe resorts. This is with no disrespect to those who are not certified. It takes a special person to be an instructor.

 

[SallyCat]

@santacruz skier tru dat. In whitewater paddling, some of the best paddlers I knew were often terrible at helping others learn the sport because they were impatient with slow progress, tended to assume everyone learned the same way (i.e., the way they'd learned) and generally unable to see things from the student's point of view. Understanding and respecting others; experience of fear and anxiety was a big hurdle, too. And it's not a knock on those paddlers: they meant well and were genuinely trying to be helpful, but as you say: it's a bit of an art. Despite my bad experience, I have tons of respect for instructors.

PS, I sincerely apologize if my comment hijacked this thread. Back to lessons learned!

 

[bounceswoosh]

@Pequenita I agree with you for sure. I wonder, has anyone had experience booking, say, a weekly lesson for several consecutive weeks with the same instructor? Is that something that resorts will do?

I think what I'm really interested in would properly be termed "coaching", either in an individual or small-group context. But I don't know how to access that, or even go about investigating it. Our mountain does have a weekly adult racing team that, I believe, anyone can join for something like $200. I've been thinking about that.

I am 100% sure that if you request a booking for a particular instructor for several consecutive weeks as a *private lesson*, they'll accommodate - assuming the instructor isn't unavailable, etc. They'll probably push the instructor to make themselves available, even if they weren't planning to work. Groups are harder, unless you're doing an organized event. You can request a particular instructor, but you don't have the same clout.

 

[Jilly]

I guess it still surprises me that instructors don't need to have certifications.. I wonder if that's the case in Tahoe resorts. This is with no disrespect to those who are not certified. It takes a special person to be an instructor.

There are different requirements in different countries. In Canada you don't teach on your own without CSIA level 1.

 

[Powgirl]

Contesstant...love your lessons learned! You have been so inspiring to me!

 

[contesstant]

Contesstant...love your lessons learned! You have been so inspiring to me!

I'm so glad to hear this! This is not an easy sport to pick up as an adult, so we must celebrate that we are doing it at all

 

[Powgirl]

I'm so glad to hear this! This is not an easy sport to pick up as an adult, so we must celebrate that we are doing it at all

Yes!!

 

[Little Lightning]

I think Contesstant said it best "be kind to yourself". I got injured in Dec. Was stubborn and didn't listen to my pain and tried to ski through it. It didn't help that we had friends from Cincinnati here from Jan-early March, a trip to Steamboat and Crested Butte that I didn't want to give up. Finally, in late Feb I got medical help and then decided in early March to quit skiing. As a result I didn't get to ski my favorite runs, lost many days of skiing and still am not completely healed. Maybe I'll ski next week. I am looking forward to being healed enough to ride scheduled bicycle tours this summer.

 

[contesstant]

I think Contesstant said it best "be kind to yourself". I got injured in Dec. Was stubborn and didn't listen to my pain and tried to ski through it. It didn't help that we had friends from Cincinnati here from Jan-early March, a trip to Steamboat and Crested Butte that I didn't want to give up. Finally, in late Feb I got medical help and then decided in early March to quit skiing. As a result I didn't get to ski my favorite runs, lost many days of skiing and still am not completely healed. Maybe I'll ski next week. I am looking forward to being healed enough to ride scheduled bicycle tours this summer.

That's always a tough one, though. Sometimes little bits of pain can be nothing to worry too much about. It's not always easy to tell if it's a nagging annoyance, or a true injury. I hope you heal up fully and can bike!

 

[AltaEgo]

Learned to ski "porn" snow (Powder and corn, mushy, my pole went in 3 feet but it was wet) at PowMow. Have not mastered it. But would love to continue to learn. Would wider skis (I have Volkl Kenjas, 85mm underfoot) help?

 

[AltaEgo]

Warning: Tirade ahead.

When booking a private lesson, never be afraid to insist on a seasoned instructor, preferably PSIA Level II or above. And make a reservation. If you don't, you are likely to get whoever is available. Instructors are hard to find and many resorts are being forced into hiring warm bodies. Good instructors are difficult to find, but worth the extra effort. It takes at least 3 years of experience before an instructor can watch you ski, size up where your movements could be more efficient, and tailor a lesson to what you want to get out of it. Great instructors are gems. If you find one, keep in touch with them and tip them. Instructors out East make anywhere from minimum wage to about $15 per hour WHEN THEY WORK. So that $100 lesson you are paying for gives the mountain a huge incentive to find ANY WARM BODY who can wear a jacket when you just show up. Instructors make more out West, (up to about $25 an hour) but nothing like the $65 an hour paid in France.

There is a huge discrepancy between what ski areas charge for lessons and what instructors get. In the US, the ski area usually has a monopoly on lessons at that area. Be a savvy consumer and make sure you get the professional level of instruction you are paying for.

What's the difference between a pizza and a ski instructor? A pizza can feed a family of four.

 

[nopoleskier]

Learned to ski "porn" snow (Powder and corn, mushy, my pole went in 3 feet but it was wet) at PowMow. Have not mastered it. But would love to continue to learn. Would wider skis (I have Volkl Kenjas, 85mm underfoot) help?

Yes wider ski maybe even wider than 85. ..I like my pearls 88cm on eastern spring snow but not more than 6" of piles.. I just got some 95cm atomic elysian for western snow usually is more than 10 inches..they are beefier than the pearls

 

[marzNC]

Learned to ski "porn" snow (Powder and corn, mushy, my pole went in 3 feet but it was wet) at PowMow. Have not mastered it. But would love to continue to learn. Would wider skis (I have Volkl Kenjas, 85mm underfoot) help?

For a lesson in 14 inches of powder (fresh the day before), my instructor at Alta recommended something in the 100 range underfoot. My all-mountain skis are Black Pearls that are 88mm. I skied them the day before the lesson, going off-piste probably 70% that day. It was pretty obvious that it was easier in the deep snow with the wider skis.

 

[WaterGirl]

Do not bother looking over the ledge, just 'go'

and have fun!

this applies to surfing as well.

 

[SkiBam]

I'm not as young as I used to be.... And I have to learn to "act my age" - at least a little! (This is not an easy lesson.)

 

[surfsnowgirl]

I have gotten pretty good at deciding which skis to take out on any given day. However, one of the lessons I have learned is if I make a wrong call with the skis to just 'suck it up buttercup' and just deal. Although I have switched out skis mid day or when conditions warranted it but usually only at my one mountain where there's a ski check at the mountain base so switching is easy. However, if I'm not there I have gotten better in just dealing with it for the day.

I love the don't look over the edge and just go comment. I usually will scope out the edge/trail if its a new run for me but after that first time I ski first look later.

 

[contesstant]

Yes, for some of us, that "just go!" mentality is a tough one. I WISH I had more of that. My extremely high fear level (bikes and horses, same thing) holds me back so much.

 

[surfsnowgirl]

Yes, for some of us, that "just go!" mentality is a tough one. I WISH I had more of that. My extremely high fear level (bikes and horses, same thing) holds me back so much.

I wanted to try lift served mountain biking last year, was terrified but did it and had a blast. I try not to let my fear stop me from doing this but I am a person filled with fear by nature. I met the divas last summer in August to do this zip line thing, I got up there, snapped in and then turned white and felt like I was going to pass out. I didn't do it............. Working on fear is a constant thing for me.

 

[santacruz skier]

I learned some great tips from @bounceswoosh 's season of lessons. Also , watching @Skisailor in the couloir .....This comes from someone who hasn't taken a lesson/clinic in over a decade.

 

[santacruz skier]

I wanted to try lift served mountain biking last year, was terrified but did it and had a blast. I try not to let my fear stop me from doing this but I am a person filled with fear by nature. I met the divas last summer in August to do this zip line thing, I got up there, snapped in and then turned white and felt like I was going to pass out. I didn't do it............. Working on fear is a constant thing for me.

You're not alone with a fear of heights.... that would be my issue with the zip line thing. Also fell off mountain bike on exposed trail many years ago - I hung on to side of cliff and bike fell 150 ft. to the river. That's was started my fear of heights.