Going to snowshoe for 3 and a half days of skiing next week and I'm thinking about taking a private lesson on the first full day I'm there. Anyone have experience with SS ski instructors who can give advice?
I'd say I'm an intermediate skier, I do well on any black or "double black" by midatlantic standards (I only ski 4 or 5 days a year though, usually at 7 springs) but I can't really ski moguls at all and I've never skid at a real mountain. Not sure if it would be worth taking an hour private lesson so I can really improve or just make the most out of the limited time I'll have on skis.

On a related note, how crowded does a place like SS get midweek between Christmas and new years? I'd imagine it's still prime holiday season so it wouldn't have much of a "midweek" feel.

A private lesson is perfect for a skier like you. The instructor can concentrate on any type of skiing that you wish to improve. However, a one hour lesson really isn't long enough for an instructor to evaluate your ability and give you much of a lesson. To really benefit from a prvate lesson it should be 2-4 hours long. Be sure to tell the instructor what you'd like to improve before you hit the snow. You could save some money if you have a friend of about that same ability that could join you.

I was a ski instructor while I was in college.

Yeah the longer private lessons get even more expensive but I'll look at them too. There isn't anybody i could do a lesson with that's at a similar ability to me though.

I think an hour private will be helpful, but more is always better. You might try a group lesson first. I am not sure how SS breaks folks up on ability, but generally the classes get significantly smaller as you go up in ability level. It would not surprise me that your level it you end up in a class with only 3-5 people in it. Follow that up with a private. That way you will have a better idea going into the private of what you need to work on. In my experience lessons are never a waste of time.

spartan21 bumps is correct at your level a group lesson usually turns into a private. The week between christmas and new years is one of the busiest for ski schools though. We limit groups at Timberline to five students, not sure about snowshoe.

I'll also echo trying a group lesson before trying a private lesson. In a group lesson, you can also learn by watching skiers of a similar ability; you're likely making a lot of the same mistakes they are. Plus, you'll save a lot of money.

Edit: not sure if it is apparent to you, but you don't sign up for a group lesson as a group (friends, family, etc.), the ski school matches you to skiers of similar ability.



You've hit one of my pet peeves (and good thing for you BWPA is not around, cuz he would really ream you since it is a bigger pet peeve for him.) What double blacks, even in the Mid Atlantic, don't have bumps (or whales or trees) on them just about all season? (In fact, most glades have trees on them the entire year!) If you "really can't ski moguls at all", I seriously doubt you "do well on any black or double black by Mid Atlantic standards." A lesson would be a very good idea. Sorry for being harsh, but sometimes a dose of reality is needed.

Yes...good thing. But it would have been amusing.

Spartan...don't let these guys scare you off. I find entering "I am still learning", "I need help", or "I stink" in requests for help usually takes the edge off.

PS: I stink.

I am still learning

I need help.

Ha i'm not going to contest any of that - I suppose can't say I've ever ski'd a true double black even by midatlantic standards. What i meant by that was that at the ski hills ive been to, I'll do just fine on a run if it doesn't have mogul (haven't tried glades either and don't think I'm good enough to really try). Like I said I think of myself as a solid intermediate skier but I don't have much to judge that on so a lesson could definitely be worthwhile.

No worries, we eat our young around here when we get bored or haven't skied in a few days.

If you want some more fun, ask if it is worth it to drive to WV or if you should not waste your time and instead drive to VT.

Definitely take lessons. I try to either take a lesson or some sort of clinic every year. They definitely help and are worth the money you spend.

Hmmmm...I am currently in VT (smuggs) with about a foot of new powder in last 24 hours. I must admit I have no feelings of guilt! But if it makes you feel better, I will be doing a few days of midatlantic skiing next week, probably SS or TL...depending on conditions.

To not totally highjack the thread, I had a private lesson while I was here this week. Focused on three small things the last of which improved my bump skiing a lot by helping me get into the turn faster. It also helped to have someone point out all the bad habits I have picked up since my last lesson. Those of us in the below 25 annual ski days, just don't get enough reps to develop good muscle memory, so bad habits tend to creep back over time.

If you want a good private ski lesson go to T-Line, Snowshoe does not have a single instructor I would rate over a 5

Now I have to jump in...
for the last three years I have taken my family (to include grown children and grandchildren) to Snowshoe for about 5 days.
The kids, ranging in age from 4+ to 9 years of age, have had both private and day/half-day lessons. Fantastic experience always.
My son-in-law, a newbie to skiing since joining the family, has taken a private each year on the first morning to shake the rust and advance his skiing...always been great!
This is not to disparage the instructors and lessons at Timberline, or anywhere else, just to set the record straight from my personal experiences.
Merry Christmas to all DCSkiers!
The Colonel

There are two decisions to make here:
1) to take a lesson or not
2) to take a private or a group lessons

Reasons to take a lesson include: line cutting privileges, learning to make skiing more fun, learning specific skills (e.g. parallel turns, carving), safe access to more terrain (e.g. steeps, moguls), adapting better to conditions du jour (e.g. powder, crud, ice). At only 5 days/year, it is unrealsitic to expect to move much beyond the intermediate level, but you can continue to grow your skill level without lessons. Lessons can accelerate the pace of learning, but the payback is limited. It's basically a question of time vs money. For someone earning minimum wage, it's probably not worth it. For someone earning 6 figures, lessons are a no brainer.

There are three main reasons to take a private over a group lesson:
1) Your personal learning situation makes one on one teaching more effective than a group lesson. Some people have physical, emotional or mental considerations that make private instruction a more effective choice.
2) You desire to get instruction from a specific instructor. Some pros have either specific knowledge that you wish to learn or have specific teaching skills/relationships that are effective for you.
3) You have more money than time. Most skiers can learn more, faster in a private lesson than a group lesson.

If you don't know who will be teaching you or who will be taking the lesson with you, there is less of a guarantee that the lesson will be worth it. But you have to put money and effort into the equation to increase your chances for success.
You are the best person to decide whether to spend time looking for a good instructor vs trust the luck of the draw and how much money to spend (group vs private).

Caution: at your level of skiing, a private lesson with a great instructor can change you from a 5 day per year skier into a 15 day per year skier.

Obviously I don't know every instructor down there, that was just my opinion. Though I will say teaching a private lesson to children is a whole lot easier than teaching an adult private ski lesson.

My friend from work (from services editing) likes snowboarding. I think she with pleasure will go on lesson.

My cuzin frum Hollerville mades hiz own snowburd out of chicken wire, barn siding, and pinecones. I think he ride for pleasure and many love lesson at ski hill. Sned money to my other cuzin in Ghana for plans to bild snowburd. Just add $3000 more and he will deposit back in yur account.