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ENLARGE
Lessons, enthusiastic practice and limitless miles are what make an expert skier.
No matter your level, there are benefits to taking lessons. Teaching professionals, world-class racers and new school skiers and snowboarders all take lessons, we just call them clinics or coaching. Getting out only one or two weeks a season is not sufficient to improving without taking lessons periodically.
You want more individual attention, more flexibility than available with a group lesson so you have decided to take a private.
Skiing is an expensive sport and private ski lessons are costly, so you must have assurance you will be getting your money's worth.
All lessons with the ASC are totally refundable if you are not satisfied. At “big mountain resorts,” the private lesson pros should be fully certified with years of experience and up to date on technique and contemporary equipment.
Their ability to adapt is everything and that's why you don't see many new, younger private pros with minimal experience. You should never get a bad lesson if you have picked the right pro or been assigned a pro by the ski school.
Generally, guests who take privates are affluent and can afford to book a pro for weeks at a time. These guests are worldly, knowledgeable, sophisticated and established and know what a good lesson and a good time are all about.
These guests take golf or tennis lessons on a regular basis and know what makes a – not just good – but a great lesson for them and their family. They are looking for that special pro that can deliver the message and provide a magnificent experience. Then there are the loyal guests who save just to ski with their favorite pro.
How do you find that right pro? You can take your chances by making reservations through the ski school or by getting a referral. Talk to your friends that have taken lessons and get a recommendation. Ask in your favorite ski shop for a recommendation. It's extremely important that the personalities of the guest and pro are in harmony for best results.
Private lesson pros have spent years building a clientele with many long-term relationships and in some cases, becoming part of the family. These relationships don't just happen. Hard work, paying your dues, great teaching skills and world-class personalities are the building blocks to the bond.
The flexibility of the six-hour private makes it the by far the best lesson deal on the mountain. You can start when you want, quit when you want, have lunch where you want and meet the pro where you want. You don't have to ski only at Snowmass; there are three other great mountains that have totally different personalities that you should experience.
Have your friends come along and benefit from a lesson together!
For the best deal on pricing, buy a book of five-lesson tickets at a time or you can buy through a travel agent, which is cheaper than at the ticket window.
There is no excuse for a bad private lesson. There are two main elements that can affect the outcome of the lesson; the personalities of the pro and guest. If both have their heads on straight, there should be great results. A pro needs to shed the ego; the guest needs to remember you are paying money for the advice of an expert.
Many of these successful private teaching pros are not just teaching the “perfect turn.” Personally, I work with my clients to build skiers, not robots. So many ski schools around the world just try to teach the perfect turn (according to current certification organization, ski school progressions or a training guru.)
It's not enough. My responsibility is to help people become a skier's “not robotic” looking images of a ski instructor. This development should start from day one, which makes the path to becoming a skier much easier.
All in all, make sure you are spending your money wisely and getting a quality product. There are different kinds of lessons and pros, make sure you get the one that fits your needs.
Privates are the accommodating lesson for those who can justify spending more than $600 a day. See you next run.
Don Jewkes is a 33-year certified PSIA-RM level 3 Pro for the Ski and Snowboard Schools of Aspen at Snowmass, local resident and owner of Sunset Ski Repair. Drop him a line at donjewkes@comcast.net . Visit his Web site, www.sunsetski.com.
No matter your level, there are benefits to taking lessons. Teaching professionals, world-class racers and new school skiers and snowboarders all take lessons, we just call them clinics or coaching. Getting out only one or two weeks a season is not sufficient to improving without taking lessons periodically.
You want more individual attention, more flexibility than available with a group lesson so you have decided to take a private.
Skiing is an expensive sport and private ski lessons are costly, so you must have assurance you will be getting your money's worth.
All lessons with the ASC are totally refundable if you are not satisfied. At “big mountain resorts,” the private lesson pros should be fully certified with years of experience and up to date on technique and contemporary equipment.
Their ability to adapt is everything and that's why you don't see many new, younger private pros with minimal experience. You should never get a bad lesson if you have picked the right pro or been assigned a pro by the ski school.
Generally, guests who take privates are affluent and can afford to book a pro for weeks at a time. These guests are worldly, knowledgeable, sophisticated and established and know what a good lesson and a good time are all about.
These guests take golf or tennis lessons on a regular basis and know what makes a – not just good – but a great lesson for them and their family. They are looking for that special pro that can deliver the message and provide a magnificent experience. Then there are the loyal guests who save just to ski with their favorite pro.
How do you find that right pro? You can take your chances by making reservations through the ski school or by getting a referral. Talk to your friends that have taken lessons and get a recommendation. Ask in your favorite ski shop for a recommendation. It's extremely important that the personalities of the guest and pro are in harmony for best results.
Private lesson pros have spent years building a clientele with many long-term relationships and in some cases, becoming part of the family. These relationships don't just happen. Hard work, paying your dues, great teaching skills and world-class personalities are the building blocks to the bond.
The flexibility of the six-hour private makes it the by far the best lesson deal on the mountain. You can start when you want, quit when you want, have lunch where you want and meet the pro where you want. You don't have to ski only at Snowmass; there are three other great mountains that have totally different personalities that you should experience.
Have your friends come along and benefit from a lesson together!
For the best deal on pricing, buy a book of five-lesson tickets at a time or you can buy through a travel agent, which is cheaper than at the ticket window.
There is no excuse for a bad private lesson. There are two main elements that can affect the outcome of the lesson; the personalities of the pro and guest. If both have their heads on straight, there should be great results. A pro needs to shed the ego; the guest needs to remember you are paying money for the advice of an expert.
Many of these successful private teaching pros are not just teaching the “perfect turn.” Personally, I work with my clients to build skiers, not robots. So many ski schools around the world just try to teach the perfect turn (according to current certification organization, ski school progressions or a training guru.)
It's not enough. My responsibility is to help people become a skier's “not robotic” looking images of a ski instructor. This development should start from day one, which makes the path to becoming a skier much easier.
All in all, make sure you are spending your money wisely and getting a quality product. There are different kinds of lessons and pros, make sure you get the one that fits your needs.
Privates are the accommodating lesson for those who can justify spending more than $600 a day. See you next run.
Don Jewkes is a 33-year certified PSIA-RM level 3 Pro for the Ski and Snowboard Schools of Aspen at Snowmass, local resident and owner of Sunset Ski Repair. Drop him a line at donjewkes@comcast.net . Visit his Web site, www.sunsetski.com.
