Four Steps to Finding the Right Ski Instructor

Okay, so you’re sold on the benefits and thrilling nature of skiing, but you’re still a novice. You might be looking to get involved with the sport for the first time, or you might have considered your first few jaunts to be successful and fun enough to warrant a further and deeper commitment to this wintertime hobby. Where do you go from here? Well, if you’re really looking to make an investment into your future in skiing, you’ll want to receive some proper instruction.

But where are the best instructors? And what should you expect? Here are four steps to finding the ski instruction that’s right for you.

Do your research in advance – Research isn’t simply doing a Google search and finding the local ski instructors, but taking a more involved look at the quality of the instruction around you. Try finding a ski forum online that talks about skiing in your state, and then posting a question that asks where the best ski instruction nearby might be. Check testimonials of ski hills, and ask around. The more research you do in advance, the higher your chances are of finding the ski instruction you can best use.
Don’t be afraid to use “trials” – And don’t be afraid to customize ski instruction for yourself. This is your life, remember, so dictate what you want to go on: tell your ski instructor that you’re shopping around and ask them to give you their best “comprehensive” preview of what you might expect to experience with them. And while you’re using trials, try a few different ski instructors. Don’t only look for the cutest instructor or the one you warm up to the most, but the one that also knows how to challenge you to improve in the fastest possible way.
Review your trials – After a trial, which instructor gave you the most sense of personal progress? You’ll likely find that the instructor that pushed you the hardest will actually end up giving you the quickest and most comprehensive results. Even if you didn’t necessarily enjoy the lesson the most, you might find that the sense of personal satisfaction you get from exploring your boundaries is well worth the trade-off – and well worth the money you’re investing in yourself.
Pick one and stick by your decision – Once you make a selection, let the instructor know you’ve chosen them and ask to have a schedule made up so that you can routinely work with them throughout the winter. Ask them the kind of goals you might expect to achieve, and whether or not they feel you might be ready for more advanced goals.

Originally posted 2008-12-11 13:00:45.

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