I often get asked a question similar to this by clients, friends and family.

Which is the best type of lesson for me?

Is one type of lesson better than the others?

Do I get more out of a group lesson or a private lesson?

There are a few things to keep in mind such as price, how many people it’s for, and the time, both of the day and the season.

This blog will outline some of the ski school products available, to give more clarity on what they are, hopefully making the choosing one a bit easier.

Each ski school will have their own specialised products, either check their website or give them a call to get a run down of what is available, and at what price.

However more often that not it’ll be one of these options.

• Group Lessons

• Private lessons

Below is a breakdown of these types of lessons.

Group Lessons

What are they?

A group lesson consists of a mix of people who normally do not know each other, who ski at a similar ability.

Who are they for?

Most ski schools will run lessons for both children and adults. With some running teen, or age specific classes as well. Depending on the size of the school, demand etc.

Pros

Price

Group lessons tend to be cheaper than other types. More people in the lesson, allows the price per individual to drop. Making it a cheaper rate for the people attending.

New friends

It often happens as an instructor that you ski with a group just for the morning. With members of the group then choosing to ski with each other in the afternoon. This happens often because many people feel more comfortable skiing with people at a similar level to themselves.

For example, I have worked with a family, who choose to put their children in group lessons to develop their social skills as they develop.

As well as clients, who prefer to ski with their group in the afternoon, than their spouse, as they prefer skiing with someone of a similar ability.

Cons

Less face time with the instructor

Being in a group, will split the instructors time. Meaning less of a one on one feel. A good instructor will be able to manage this with no issue and it should not be a concern.

However, with any group, there will be a mix of people. Some wanting to just ski, some wanting to get deep into the intricacies of the technique. This can be negative if you’re doing more of what you do not like.

Fix meeting points

Due to many random people coming together for the group. A fixed meeting point is necessary to keep everyone together.

Same as the drop off point. Adults can be a bit more flexible as they can either drop off early, or can be left on the mountain at the end of the lesson.

However more often than not, and especially with children, a designated drop off and pick up point is fixed.

This can limit how much of the mountain you see, if you have to start and stop at the same place everyday.

Availability

Depending on the size of the school, there may not be a group lesson for your ability running at that time.

Private Lessons

What are they?

A private lesson is a lesson where you decide who is in the lesson, and what the goal is. As well as depending on the school, where to meet, where to finish, and how long for.

Who are they for?

Anyone. You can have almost any age, with any ability for a private lesson.

Pros

Pace

The lesson is geared to your pace of learning.

Focus

The instructor is solely focused on you, and helping you achieve your goals.

Start & end points

Depending on the resort, private lessons can start wherever you choose. From being picked up at your hotel or chalet. Or even meeting the instructor at the top of the mountain.

The same for the when the lesson ends. You can tell the instructor to drop you off somewhere, or just finish wherever you like.

Who

You can put whoever you want in the lesson.

You can split your family or friends so that they each have a bit of individual time with the instructor throughout the day.

Or you can have everyone together at the same time.

Cons

Price

Due having one instructor to yourself, the price is often more expensive than a group lesson.

Just you

There is no group dynamic, or meeting of new people.

How long are the lessons?

At most ski schools you can book a private or group lesson for different times of the day.

It is worth checking out the resort you are at and the way that the ski school price their lessons, as often the time of day/season can alter the price.

For example, schools I have worked at offer a cheaper early bird price for private lessons starting at 8:30. Where as others have offered cheaper private lessons in the afternoon.

Lessons take place in the:

Mornings

Lessons can be booked for the mornings, which often run from 09:00 to 12:00. These are popular because they allow for tuition in the morning with free time in the afternoon.

Often the slopes are quieter in the morning as well, which is a plus of starting the lessons earlier in the day.

Afternoons

Meeting after lunchtime, often they start at 13:00 and finish at 16:00. These are popular with those who prefer a relaxed morning, not rushing to get the first lifts.

Or people that wish to explore themselves in the morning, and pick up a few tips in the afternoon.

Full Days

The products can differ slightly but more often that not they start at 09:00 and end at 4:00.

This is popular with those that wish to benefit from tuition all day, or wish to be guided throughout the day, without the constraint of time.

Hourly

Some schools, offer the lessons by hour. Starting from 1 hour up to 6 hour full days.

Other products

Each ski school will have their own specialised products, such as:

Woman only camps

freestyle camps

Big mountain skiing

Therefore checking out their website or giving them a call is helpful to get a run down of what is available, and at what price.

This is by no means an extensive look at the each of a ski school products. However hopefully it has shed some light, as it outlines the common things you’ll find around the world when it comes to booking ski school lessons.

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Thank you for reading.

Steve

If you need any more information on anything written here or have any suggestions for more blogs that you would like to read. Please don’t hesitate to let me know below. Thank you.