What is good or bad in a ski lesson?

[tahoeaussie]

Just wondering how people like to learn. What do you find worthy of your time and what's not?
Like what's an annoying thing instructors often do and then what would you wish they did more of?

Do you like drills with a learning goal in mind or do you prefer a concept as a goal?

I've taught skiing for 35 years and would love to know what students REALLY want.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

As a fellow instructor I can't wait to hear what students find to be annoying. That one intrigues me!

From experience, having been dropped by students for a myriad of reasons, but also with many returning annually for over 23 years of coaching, some even coming out for week long lessons three times a season, I can without any hesitation state that there are as many wants as there are skiers.

Those wants have changed year to year and even day to day for many of my returners.

The variety of humans and helping them meet their stated, or sometimes undefined wants, is what keeps me in the game.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

I love drills -- but instructors really need to explain the goal of the drill and what skills it is designed to develop.

I find that attention/absorption is finite. Concentrate on one or two concepts at a time. Don't give clients too much to focus on in one go.

My pet peeve is spending too much time on the side of the hill listening to a lengthy lecture on a particular technique/concept. Short explanations are great, but don't drag it out or get repetitive.

For visual learners, demo the concept or drill you are teaching.

Best instructor/clinician I've ever skied with - Deb Armstrong. What you see in her videos is exactly what you get in her clinics.

 

[tahoeaussie]

Love this response. I feel exactly the same.
When the guests start tapping their poles ( I do this A LOT when I'm on mandatory clinics and getting bored) it's time to get moving as skiing IS a moving sport.

Love Deb Armstrong too

 

[Skier31]

Here is what I like in a ski lesson.

1. content based on my goals/desires - take the time to ask, discuss
2. lots of skiing whether that be drills or practice (see #1).
3. specific instruction of what to do and how to it (not just "follow me")
3. specific feedback to each person - am I doing it or not. if not, what can I change
4. talk on the lift
5. the instructor's attention is on the group (not on your phone etc).
6. specific feedback/ recommendations at the end of the lesson.

Annoyances:

Not paying attention to all group members
No content, no how, no why - just follow me, be more aggressive, tighten your core.
on your phone on the lift
asking for tips.

 

[Eera]

Love it when an instructor simplifies things: don't want an in-depth anatomical lecture, just want to know which foot do I lift, and when.
Love having on-the-spot feedback from someone who is skiing close by and watching me, especially if they offer practical information as to how I can improve, not just "tighten your core" kind of stuff - I've had kids, I no longer have one to tighten.
Don't like the "I'll create a path and you follow it" type lesson.

 

[tahoeaussie]

Here is what I like in a ski lesson.

1. content based on my goals/desires - take the time to ask, discuss
2. lots of skiing whether that be drills or practice (see #1).
3. specific instruction of what to do and how to it (not just "follow me")
3. specific feedback to each person - am I doing it or not. if not, what can I change
4. talk on the lift
5. the instructor's attention is on the group (not on your phone etc).
6. specific feedback/ recommendations at the end of the lesson.

Annoyances:

Not paying attention to all group members
No content, no how, no why - just follow me, be more aggressive, tighten your core.
on your phone on the lift
asking for tips.

Yes!!

 

[tahoeaussie]

Loving the answers which so far, are validating my thoughts

 

[marzNC]

Good point about specific feedback.

I did a 1-day women's clinic at a small hill in PA a while back. Elk used to have it the first Saturday of Jan, Feb, Mar. Most of the attendees were intermediates. Except for me, I think all the other attendees were locals.

I was in the advanced group with 3 other women. We were all older, meaning over 30. The PSIA Level 3 instructor was clearly knowledgeable but when we would stop after a drill, her feedback was general. At the third or fourth stop, one woman spoke up (her husband was a patroller). She bluntly told the instructor that she wanted to feedback about her skiing . . . not general tips. The rest of us readily agreed she wasn't going to hurt our feelings. All of us had had lessons before as an adult. The rest of the morning lesson was much more useful after that.

At the end of the morning, we got index cards with written feedback. Never had that in other lessons, group or private.

 

[ski diva]

Love it when an instructor simplifies things: don't want an in-depth anatomical lecture, just want to know which foot do I lift, and when.
Love having on-the-spot feedback from someone who is skiing close by and watching me, especially if they offer practical information as to how I can improve, not just "tighten your core" kind of stuff - I've had kids, I no longer have one to tighten.
Don't like the "I'll create a path and you follow it" type lesson.

I heartily agree with all of this, except I DO like to follow the instructor. I'm a visual learner, and it helps to ski behind someone who's doing what I'm supposed to be doing. If that's all the lesson is, however, then no.

 

[tahoeaussie]

I heartily agree with all of this, except I DO like to follow the instructor. I'm a visual learner, and it helps to ski behind someone who's doing what I'm supposed to be doing. If that's all the lesson is, however, then no.

I also love following so I can learn how someone turns.
You said if that's all, then no.
What else would you like to make it worth your time and $$ ?

 

[Skier31]

I use video in most of my lessons.

I email participants a summary of the lesson afterward.

I also use “following”. It is important to turn off the brain and just do at times. It has to be part of the lesson, not the whole thing.

 

[santacruz skier]

I use video in most of my lessons.

I email participants a summary of the lesson afterward.

IMO video is the best way to actually see how you ski. The Taos instructors usually do video analysis and as humbling as it may be, I like it! I get that "A ha" so that's what's going on here!!!!!
I remember my first video at Whistler in 1996, I remember thinking "why do I look like I'm sitting in a chair?" Yikes was I ever sitting back !

 

[tahoeaussie]

IMO video is the best way to actually see how you ski. The Taos instructors usually do video analysis and as humbling as it may be, I like it! I get that "A ha" so that's what's going on here!!!!!
I remember my first video at Whistler in 1996, I remember thinking "why do I look like I'm sitting in a chair?" Yikes was I ever sitting back !

Are they doing it with their phones ?

 

[marzNC]

Are they doing it with their phones ?

At Taos, the video is done by a specialist for an entire Ski Week group on a specific wide groomer. Not every group takes the time to do a video session. It's reviewed by the instructor in the little hut on the slope immediately afterwards.

I've had a few instructors take video with their phone. My Alta instructor found specific spots in the video to review in slow motion, or with a screen shot. He does it more with intermediates or low advanced skiers. The Big Sky instructor I worked with together with another Diva last season took video. Her approach was a bit different since her instructor training was done in Europe.

 

[tahoeaussie]

At Taos, the video is done by a specialist for an entire Ski Week group on a specific wide groomer. Not every group takes the time to do a video session. It's reviewed by the instructor in the little hut on the slope immediately afterwards.

I've had a few instructors take video with their phone. My Alta instructor found specific spots in the video to review in slow motion, or with a screen shot. He does it more with intermediates or low advanced skiers. The Big Sky instructor I worked with together with another Diva last season took video. Her approach was a bit different since her instructor training was done in Europe.

what was different?

I've def seen and done video on longer lessons. A 3 hour one is sometimes tough unless it's a private

 

[Skier31]

Aspen has a professional videographer.

I also use my phone. I can get what I need on my phone plus I can easily air drop or email to people.

 

[tahoeaussie]

Aspen has a professional videographer.

I also use my phone. I can get what I need on my phone plus I can easily air drop or email to people.

I also use phone, got the insta 360 and my phone didn't have enough space for it lol

 

[DebbieSue]

I use video in most of my lessons.

I email participants a summary of the lesson afterward.

I also use “following”. It is important to turn off the brain and just do at times. It has to be part of the lesson, not the whole thing.

Geeky question…when you do “following” do you ask student to follow your tracks doing what you did after you in your trail, or to shadow you, doing what you do just when you do it? I usually have to ask the instructor which they want. I like shadowing when I’m working on carving, and following in bumps. And then when following, I once asked feet or shoulders? and instructor said “head.” That was the best single tip I got all season. I tuck my chin too much and following his head made my skiing more open and dynamic in a good way. Turning off the brain can be good!!

 

[Skier31]

Geeky question…when you do “following” do you ask student to follow your tracks doing what you did after you in your trail, or to shadow you, doing what you do just when you do it? I usually have to ask the instructor which they want. I like shadowing when I’m working on carving, and following in bumps. And then when following, I once asked feet or shoulders? and instructor said “head.” That was the best single tip I got all season. I tuck my chin too much and following his head made my skiing more open and dynamic in a good way. Turning off the brain can be good!!

It depends. Their times when I ask people just to stay in my tracks. There are times when I ask people to watch a certain part of my body. I ski with a coach who is built similar to me. I watch her legs and try to have my legs do the same as hers.

I teach a class called bumps for boomers. When I ask people to follow me in the bumps, I am more interested in them following the line that I take than worry about their mechanics.

Does that make sense?