Here' some expert advice from Nick Robinson, who runs a brilliant new web service enabling you to find easily the best choices in your chosen resort.
- Choose your resort
Different resorts are great for different levels of skier. Some resorts are built on less steep mountains, with lots of easy green and blue runs which gives beginners more terrain to explore and more of the mountain restaurants to try out!. They also have the chance to progress at a much more gradual rate. On the other hand, some resorts are geared more towards expert skiers, such as La Grave (France), with no pisted runs at all. But it's an off-piste wonderland for the backcountry lovers. Les Arcs is an example of a large ski resort which genuinely caters for skiers of all abilities.
- Decide on your dates
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| School holidays can be busy times... |
- Book your accommodation and travel
Once you have chosen your resort and selected the dates the next step is to book your travel and accommodation . Skyscanner.com is great for checking the price of flights, Many ski resorts are easily accesible by train, including the direct Eurostar service from London to Bourg St Maurice. I would recommend going for an independent chalet company such as www.skiadventures.co.uk, as they take great pride in holidays they offer and always add a nice personal touch.
- Ask yourself what you want to achieve, what do you want out of your lesson?
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| Adult beginners enjoy private lesson. |
- When do you want lessons?
Once you have decided on point number 4 you can then decide what days you would like lessons. For example, if you are a beginner you will probably want to get started on the first morning of your holiday. Sometimes leaving gaps between lessons can allow for more practice and to really help to consolidate what you have learnt.
- How much do you want to spend?
Ski lessons can be expensive and it's best to have a budget in mind. Group lessons are much cheaper and are therefore a tempting option. Inevitably with group lessons people progress at different speeds and you could find yourself in a group that is too advanced or too basic. Also you might find yourself in quite a large group not getting much individual attention. However some people really enjoy the 'social' aspect of group lessons and find it a great way to find friends and people to ski with. On the other hand private lessons are relatively expensive and more intensive, but you might prefer to be learning all day (or for a few hours each day) which could be beyond your budget with a private instructor. In the end it all comes back to what you want to achieve and when you want lessons. Private lessons can often be quite a bit cheaper during 'low' season weeks.
- Check out the options from ski schools to specialist instructor 'marketplaces'
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| Lots of instructors to choose from! |
- Decide on what instructor you want, what language, male/female etc
Alternatively, Maison Sport allows you to choose your instructor and communicate directly with them prior to booking to check they can fulfill your needs. You can also read previous customer’s reviews, which reduces the chance of any unpleasant surprises!
And finally: learning to ski is hard work but great fun. You can experience tremendous highs and devastating lows in a short space of time as a beginner. Even the most experienced skiers are still learning and improving, and there's never a time in ones skiing career when one couldn't benefit from being with an expert instructor. So don't overlook this important aspect of your holiday when budgeting, booking and planning - you'll get more out your time on the mountain and go further than you could ever hope to on your own!
