Comes out $100 per hour. That's in the middle for the cost of a private lesson at a resort. I assume it's intended for people who want a premium experience for whatever reason. For everyone else, the roaming instructors seem to do a pretty good job.Yeah, $200 seemed a bit steep to me.. I'm not sure why though, that is comparatively priced to mountains for private lessons. I guess with every other part of the experience being so cheap it makes it a little off-putting? Especially when you know this money isn't all going to the instructors. Unless they have a different model of payment than mountains do.
Got the announcement about private lessons at Big SNOW today. $199 for 2 hours, $99 for additional people, max 4.
Private Lessons - Big Snow American Dream
Private Lessons For one-on-one attention and the fastest way to learn, Private Lessons are the way to go. Learn more in less time from our highly-qualified instructors who will focus specifically on your (or your small group's) needs, resulting in the best results and breakthroughs in your...www.bigsnowamericandream.com
Didn't remember seeing the warning sign before that the chairlift is not for beginners
thank you for the post/pictsHad a good time at Big SNOW earlier this week meeting up with a couple Divas. I brought my own boots and skis this time. Definitely like how DPS Phantom performs on manmade snow.
The doors to the changing rooms look like decoration. They are pretty nice.
View attachment 16418
Summer Sleds are a new option. They are not traditional sleds at all, but look like fun. Have to have your own warm jacket and snow pants.
View attachment 16416
Didn't remember seeing the warning sign before that the chairlift is not for beginners
View attachment 16417
It helps to have at least a few L3 instructors to help teach brand new instructors or to mentor L1/L2 instructors. Big SNOW needs a lot of instructors. Presumably they are willing to hire people with no experience and train them to teach beginners.I just called Big Snow to get more details on the qualifications of their instructors. Apparently they have PSIA levels 1-3, I was a little surprised they'd have up to level 3. The only bummer is it doesn't seem you can request someone in particular right now, so you might just end up with whoever is there and available at the time you visit.
It helps to have at least a few L3 instructors to help teach brand new instructors or to mentor L1/L2 instructors. Big SNOW needs a lot of instructors. Presumably they are willing to hire people with no experience and train them to teach beginners.
Most of the people who take lessons at Massanutten (home ski resort) are beginners, with some intermediates. There is only 75 acres and very little ungroomed terrain. What makes the Massanutten ski school so good is that there are 6+ L3 Alpine ski instructors plus a few L3 Snowboard instructors. That means there are lot of opportunities for instructors to learn from clinics without having to go anywhere else.
Doesn't Sunday River have a full on beginner area for never evers? I would think a week of am or pm lessons at the beginning of the ski season would be perfect for your SO. I know nothing about Big Snow but I know when my BF started skiing, he loved being outdoors in the mountains and that was part of the draw.
Really depends on the personality of the instructor more than how many times they have taught a never-ever. My daughter's BF is not really adventurous type. The young man who worked with him was patient and knew more than enough to get him started. I didn't have the sense that he's been teaching that long. He seemed to be a snowboarder who has learned enough to teach beginner skiers.What are your thoughts on inexperienced instructors teaching never ever adults who are scared?
I keep going back and forth on whether or not it matters too much. Then I think of like a college kid new instructor trying to teach my nervous significant other and just think that would not go over great. lol This weekend I brought up that they were doing lessons now and he still seemed interested. I have no idea why this seems less intimidating than the mountain, but I kind of want to capitalize on it and then another part of me is thinking it may still NOT be the best intro I could arrange.. I'm torn.
Ah so he doesn't change his mind ! Well I know nothing of the experience of skiing at Big Snow but ambiance doesn't sound like the draw....... but to get the ball rolling so to speak early, maybe a really good idea.Sunday River has a magic carpet area where they have put in terrain based learning a couple of years ago now. That area doesn't open right away, nor do the lessons. So I had thought it'd be nice to do something at Big Snow this summer or fall and then build off of that, hopefully confidence building experience, more when the season gets going. I guess I'm just worried about not hopping on the train if there is enthusiasm to do something right now lol.
Could it be that your SO would rather see how he likes skiing before actually getting on snow at Sunday River? I tried to get DD's BF on snow in NC, but always was hearing excuses about how they were too busy. He only lasted about an hour that day at Big SNOW because we were on a tight schedule and they hadn't had breakfast but it was definitely worth squeezing in the experience in his case.Sunday River has a magic carpet area where they have put in terrain based learning a couple of years ago now. That area doesn't open right away, nor do the lessons. So I had thought it'd be nice to do something at Big Snow this summer or fall and then build off of that, hopefully confidence building experience, more when the season gets going. I guess I'm just worried about not hopping on the train if there is enthusiasm to do something right now lol.
In a similar situation, my daughter told her BF when they first started dating that he wouldn't see her in winter if he didn't learn to ski. He didn't want to make the trek to Jay just to spend time in the beginner area (in probable frigid conditions) so he took lessons at the much smaller 'mighty' Yawgoo (310 ft). They've been married 4 yrs now and he is an excellent skier too.Perhaps Sunday River is more your familiar stomping grounds, and therefore he might see it as more intimidating. You know other people around there. You find the blacks easy, so what does that say about him if he is slower to take to the beginner area? He's likely heard you comment on snow conditions and how that changes the feel of everything. Going for a "beginner ski trip" takes on different connotations when you compare Sunday River to Big Snow. Big snow is a small commitment, neutral territory, predictable conditions,