Booking a Ski or Snowboard Lesson: What to Know—and How to Do It Right
Booking the right ski or snowboard lesson can be critical to honing in your technique.
When it comes to planning a ski trip, lessons are an often overlooked tool to help build alpine proficiency. Whether it’s your first time on the slopes or you’re a tenured expert, the right lesson can be a game changer for your ski or snowboard technique. Ski and snowboard lessons often also come with hidden benefits that result in a substantially more enjoyable overall mountain experience. However, lessons can also be incredibly expensive, so many vacation-goers will understandably have some hesitations before pulling the trigger.
In this piece, we’ll go through the things you should consider before booking a ski or snowboard lesson, how to make sure you book a lesson that’s right for you, and how to save time, effort, and money. Most importantly, we’ll help you focus on learning how to ski or ride. Enjoy!
The Sunnyside beginner zone at Alta, Utah.
Before Booking Your Lesson
Book in Advance If Possible
The best thing you can do for you and your group is to plan your trip and ski lessons in advance. We can’t stress this point enough. Look for ways to make the experience easy for everyone.
Booking lessons and paying for lift tickets and equipment rentals in advance has three main benefits. First, you can shop online for money-saving deals in the convenience of your home. Second, you’ll avoid problems should the resort sell out. Third, you’ll save time by avoiding lines at the resort by not having to fill out forms in person.
The best place to start may be the resort’s website—many mountains feature special early-bird offers, including package deals that include ski lessons, lift tickets, and equipment rentals. In addition, many ski resorts offer discounts for students, seniors, military personnel, and beginners who stick to the “bunny lift” or beginner area. Lastly, most ski resorts offer especially strong in-advance discounts for multi-day lessons. If you’re planning to ski or ride for more than one day, this can be a great way to save money.
The Big Easy learning area at Northstar, California.
Consider the Quality of Lesson Terrain
The ski lesson infrastructure and the layout of the mountain can have a notable impact on your experience during a lesson.
The best learning mountains will have at least one large beginner area that’s easy to get to. It’s not ideal to learn at resorts where the beginner terrain is not easily accessible, as this can cause further headaches on top of learning how to ski or snowboard in the first place. In addition, first timers will want to avoid resorts where the beginner runs are in high traffic areas, where trails cross over and cut through the beginner runs, or where multiple runs funnel into the same area. These trail designs are a recipe for skier collisions at worst and a stressful experience at best.
Intermediate and advanced skiers and riders who want to hone their skills should consider taking lessons at resorts with more challenging terrain. Generally, if a resort has good terrain for a certain ability level, it will offer good lessons for that difficulty as well. This means that some mountains that offer poor learning environments can still offer great instruction for more experienced guests.
Even the most tenured skiers and riders can benefit from lessons at resorts that are known for expert and even extreme skiing. These mountains attract ski instructors who are experienced with teaching advanced guests. Been on the slopes for over 20 years? You still might learn a thing or two from a lesson at Jackson Hole or Snowbird! Check out our reviews to find resorts that match your needs.
The equipment rental shop at Hunter Mountain, New York.
Rent the Right Equipment
For many mountain guests—and the overwhelming majority of beginners—booking a ski lesson will entail needing to procure rental equipment as well. Try to book your rental equipment online in advance. Not only can you save money, but you can also save time in many rental shops by skipping the walk-in line. Make sure you rent the right size ski or snowboard equipment for your height, weight, and ability level. In today’s world, the best shops replace their rental skis, boards, bindings, boots, and poles as often as once per year. Plus, the equipment gets checked nightly, so you can rest knowing it’s kept in proper working condition. Even so, it’s always worth it to make sure the ski or snowboard equipment you rent is in good condition and fits properly.
In addition to offering basic packages for beginners, many shops now offer demos and performance packages for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. Although the basic packages may be cheaper, more experienced visitors will get more out of their lessons by going for the higher-end equipment designed for their ability level. In addition, the demo and performance packages are a great way to test equipment before deciding to buy.
There are a few ways to rent equipment. The most common options include either renting directly with the ski resort or renting from a nearby independent shop. In many cases, independent ski and snowboard shops offer better deals on rentals than the resorts themselves. If you didn’t book your equipment in advance, renting from these local shops can also allow you to avoid ski resort rental lines during peak times.
However, renting from the resorts typically takes less effort, and it’s often easy to pair lesson bookings with equipment rentals in the same transaction. Bundle deals at some resorts mean that the cost savings from renting locally can be negligible, especially for first timers. In addition, many resorts offer free day and overnight storage services for rental equipment—this benefit is difficult to come by at independent shops, which are nearly always located off the resort premises.
Some rental places, both local and resort-owned, allow you to drop your gear off outside the rental shop in the snow. This service is a great added convenience.
An expert-level lesson in the extreme Wild West zone, located at Banff Sunshine Village, Alberta.
Find the Right Instructor
There is a big range in the types of instructors, their experience, expertise, personalities, ages, and style. Finding the right instructor for your needs and preferences can have a big impact on your experience.
When booking your lesson or arriving onsite, you can often ask the booking agent or ski school director to pair you with an instructor who is a good personality and skill match. Depending on what you like, you could be looking for someone who’s patient, friendly, and has a good sense of humor—or someone who’s more of a hot shot, extreme skier type. You’ll ideally want to try to find someone you feel comfortable with, you can communicate well with, and who can motivate and encourage you. Most importantly, you’ll want to find someone you believe is a better skier or snowboarder than you are!
Referrals are always great when possible—ask friends and family for recommendations.
A group kids lesson at Park City, Utah.
Private vs. Group: What Kind of Lesson Is Right for You?
There are important differences between private and group ski and snowboard lessons. Private lessons allow for more personalized instruction, more one-on-one attention, and the lesson can be tailored to the individual’s needs, goals, and skill level. Private lessons can be scheduled at any time. On the other hand, group lessons cost less than private lessons. They can also be more fun and social than private lessons.
If you’re planning to book a private lesson, consider doing so at a smaller, more local resort. Private lesson prices at most destination mountains are completely absurd, even moreso than the lift tickets. In several circumstances, a single 1-day private lesson can cost over $1,000. Since it’s hard to find good advanced/expert lessons at local hills (unless you happen to live in a remote area of the Rockies), guests of this proficiency may want to rule out private lessons entirely.
If you’re leaning towards taking a group lesson, it is important to consider the size of the group and the skill level of the participants. Beginners may benefit from smaller groups, as they will have more one-on-one instruction and support. Intermediate and advanced skiers and riders may be able to handle larger groups, as they will be able to learn from each other and push each other to improve. Try to avoid being put in a group with people who ski or ride at different levels than you. If you’re with people at the same level, you will ski or ride on the runs best suited for your needs and you will be taught similar skills. Lastly, it is also important to consider the age of the participants, as younger children may need more individual attention and guidance.
Bring snacks so you don’t get hungry while you’re learning!
The Day Of: How to Ensure the Best Possible Experience
Planning your trip in advance and finding the right type of instruction will put you in really good shape for the day of your lesson. Still, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you have the best possible experience on the slopes.
Dress Appropriately—And Ensure Adequate Equipment
The mountain will be cold. Wear warm, comfortable clothing that you can move in easily. The last thing you’ll want to do is have to leave the slopes early or cut time out of your lesson to go change because you’re underdressed.
Additionally, we recommend you make sure that you and those in your party have the necessary equipment and that it is well-maintained, properly sized and fitted. Some resorts still offer helmets as optional equipment, but we cannot stress enough how important wearing one is—even on the easiest slopes, helmets can be life-saving contraptions. If you're booking lessons for kids, be sure to double-check their gear so they won't have to go back in for an equipment exchange in the middle of a lesson.
Arrive Early
At essentially every ski resort, you are expected to be on the slopes when the lesson time starts. As a result, it’s important to arrive early at your lesson with plenty of time to spare.
We recommend you leave yourself a substantial buffer to get to the lesson area if you’re not staying on-site—especially if your lesson is on a weekend or holiday. At several resorts, it can take quite awhile to get from the parking lots to the actual resort terrain; treks of half-an-hour aren’t even out of the ordinary, and at some resorts, the time-to-slopes can be even longer than that. In addition, finding the ski school zone may not be easy if you’ve never been to the resort before, so be sure to allot some time to find your way around the base area.
In many cases, it’s also helpful to meet your instructor before the lesson starts. Arriving early can allow you to get to know the instructor before getting on the slopes, explain what you may be looking to work on, and—in the event you find a compatibility issue—ask for a different instructor.
Stay Nourished on the Slopes
Skiing and snowboarding are not easy sports, and ensuring you’re well-nourished and hydrated is key to ensuring a productive lesson. To minimize breaks, we recommend you stash some snacks in your pocket, such as granola bars or trail mix, so you can eat on the chairlift if you get hungry. If you’re concerned about getting thirsty, several manufacturers offer hydration packs that allow you to conveniently drink water while skiing.
That being said, don’t be afraid to speak up if you get hungry or thirsty and want to stop in for a break—especially if you’re on a private lesson! Most ski resorts have conveniently-placed lodges, and it should be fairly easy for your instructor to plan breaks, especially if you communicate your needs well in advance. If you’re in a group lesson, most instructors will plan adequate rest and breaks throughout the program; however, don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel misaligned with the instructor’s plans.
A private lesson at Alta, Utah.
The “Lesson Syllabus”: What to Expect During Your Lesson
If you’ve never taken a lesson before (or it’s been awhile since your last one), here is what to expect and the sequence of events.
Once you get to the resort, you’ll want to start at the ski school window. Here, you can check-in for a pre-booked lesson—or sign up for instruction if you haven’t already.
Assuming you didn’t book your equipment at a local place, you’ll then proceed to the rental shop. Fill out the rental and liability forms, or tell them you pre-paid and completed the forms online. Then get fitted by a technician.
Grab your gear and head out to the designated meeting area for ski and snowboard lessons.
For private lessons, have the ski school director or coordinator introduce you to your instructor.
For group lessons, the ski school director or leader will place you into the right group. For first-time beginners, you will be assigned an instructor at the bottom of the run. You will be taught a few things before taking a carpet or chairlift up the hill to a gentle, easy slope. For advanced beginners, intermediates, or experts, you will be directed to take a specific lift to the top and to wait for further instruction. They will wave you down one at a time so you can demonstrate your ski or snowboard ability to the ski school director or leader. Once you have made it down to them, they will assign you to a group with other guests who ski or ride at your level.
Listen carefully to the ski school director and to your instructor before and during the lesson. Your instructor will give you instructions and tips on how to ski or ride. The instructor will demonstrate a skill or exercise and ask you to copy them one at a time and/or to follow them down the run in a line.
Ask questions if you do not understand something.
Practice! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and keep trying until you get it right.
Have fun! Enjoy the experience and take a break if you need one.
Avoid waits like these by signing up for a lesson!
Additional Benefits to Look For
Ski resorts allow people taking lessons to cut to the front of the line. You may want to consider taking a lesson so that you can cut the lines. You’ll get more runs in and spend less time waiting!
Even if your lesson time has elapsed—or you’re not looking to take a skill-based lesson at all—several resorts nowadays offer free or low-cost mountain guides who can show you around the mountain. Most guides are more than happy to provide some color on the resort amenities, the hot spots, and fun things to do in town.
Final Remarks
As we have highlighted, it’s important to do your research and to ask the right questions before booking a lesson. If you’re a first-timer, prioritizing convenience when signing up for lessons and renting ski or snowboard equipment can make a huge difference in your day. Decide what type of lesson you want, private or group, and whether you want to put your kids into a program. A little pre-planning will save you time, effort, and money. We hope this information will help you get the most out of your lesson.
Looking to compare resorts for your next ski trip? Check out our overall rankings here.