When is the last time you took a lesson?

[Brad J]

1966 at Wildcat, graduated from stem christie to parallel was 12 years old , was skiing Hart holidays and double laced boots

 

[mister moose]

Since ski instruction isn't a sure thing, many are reluctant. It isn't cheap. You might not get a good match with an instructor, which is key to get a high value lesson. (Thinking one lesson is all you'll need is a stretch) One good alternative for the self taught types out there: If you haven't done it, have a friend who is decent with a camera take some video of you. Get some good steady close in footage from several angles and varying terrain. You might find a number of things just in seeing what you are really doing out there.

 

[mbedle]

Usually take one every year. Never to old to learn some new tricks.

 

[jack97]

I would like to do one of those summer glacier mogul camps, but mainly just to bash some bumps in the off season. I have no interest in learning arial maneuvers. I would be too self-conscious to toss off an invert or a screamin' seamen at some resort, anyway.

I was told these camps have "adult" sessions where the focus is not in the air. I plan on taking some in the future when I start to free up in the summer. In addition, mogul logic has winter sessions over at Mary Jane, Babic has them at Sugarbush.

As for me, I had private with Dyvbig back 5 yrs ago when he was operating Whaleback. Got a lot of good stuff from it, on snow and off. Biggest imo was the cabrio boots, Dyvbig was wearing a pair of beat up Krypton when they where black.

 

[powhunter]

Went to Mogul camp at Mt. Hood about 4 summers ago. Darren Owen former coach of WC Patrick Deneen was the instructor. Had a blast bashing bumps in mid August!

 

[jarrodski]

i like skiing with people better than me as often as possible. for the very reason that they inspire and point out areas where i can improve. Id say that if its in your budget, a lesson at the beginning of the year to shake off the cob webs and get your legs back would be highly beneficial.

I happened to run into one of my good friends at Mount Snow today, who was skiing with a friend of his who happens to be a PSIA Level 3 instructor, who was just out free skiing and enjoying some great early season snow.

What then happened was basically a 2 hour private clinic with me and my friend and the instructor. I hadn't had a formal lesson in probably 20 years, and it was really fun to be able to ski with someone who really gets both the little things that it takes to ski very well and also an ability to then identify and describe them in various ways to let you focus on what you need to do to "fix" things.

The instructor after watching me ski down a mix of firm skied off base snow, soft chalky grippy snow and some randomly sized and shaped bumps started asking me about what I was feeling with inside ankle as I was turning to the left with respect to boot pressure. As we were talking, and I started thinking about what he was asking me and why he was asking about it. After a couple of runs, and a couple of different explanations about what he wanted me to do (essentially I was overweighting my downhill ski while turning to the left, which was leaving my hips slightly open to the falline which if I wasn't 100% over the center of my skis, increased my chance of getting my weight back and increasing the chance of some skidding at the end of my turns to the left - I wasn't having this issue while turning to the right). Once it clicked with me, I was really finding that my "weak" side turns suddenly felt no different than my "strong" side turns!

Pretty cool experience for me today that showed me the value of some good tips from a good instructor. I won;t be 20 years since I take my next lesson for sure!

 

[Fallingdown]

I took a lesson 3 years ago, felt it was really helpful. Though I believe a private lesson would have been even better.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Started downhill skiing at 50 after several decades of XC , most of which was spent on the Olympic ski trails or other fairly goood venues with decent DOWNHILL sections

After a couple of yrs skiing with just my bro in law and learning by doing , i hooked up with my current RED group (Retired Extremely Dangerous) group of former college skiers and puck pushers:dunce: . These guys are decent in great shape for their ages and i had DESIRE to improve .

Two of the several guys i ski with regularly ran ski schools for years at either Snow Ridge or Titus and i learned following them downhill at speeds i eventually got comfy with . As a former college level coach ( hoops and XC ) myself i knew how to focus on WHAT they were doing and how they executed fundamentals and asked them to follow me down. to assess my technique and suggest any thing that i could do to get better .

Altho i have never taken a FORMAL lesson i have had several pointers given to me by these guys after they FOLLOWED me down on runs to analyze and correct some issues . So now at 70 and with these guys 9/10 yrs older we still put in a full day and take no prisoners

However at this age no more moguls and damn few tree runs just mach schnell down the hill.

 

[crank]

3 seasons ago I was up at Jay Peak by myself and 10 inches of snow had fallen during the night. I wanted to ski trees but felt uncomfortable doing so alone so I signed up for their "Powder Clinic". It was me and one other guy, who was also up alone, with 3 instructors. We basically headed out of bounds off the Jet and ripped fresh tracks all morning. Didn't get a ton of instruction but had a blast and me and the other "student" spent the afternoon skiing together as well.

Before that I took a private about 10 or 11 years back when I first moved to modern, shaped skis just to learn what they were all about and how I should be adapting my technique. This was worthwhile as well.

I have been considering doing the Jackson Hole Steep and Deep camp or some similar type clinic... not gonna be this season though, too many trips and too much money already committed.

I sometimes ski with a few instructors who are members of the Epicski forum. They are all great skiers and I love hanging with them at their home turf though they don't really offer me any instruction.

My favorite instructor story is about my brother in law's friend who used to teach at Killington. We met in the parking lot and he was taking my sister for a private... he said to me, having just met me, " If you want to improve your skiing you should get new boots." Oh the arrogance - I could ski that guy into the ground with my eyes closed and both hands tied behind my back. lol

 

[Domeskier]

I was told these camps have "adult" sessions where the focus is not in the air. I plan on taking some in the future when I start to free up in the summer. In addition, mogul logic has winter sessions over at Mary Jane, Babic has them at Sugarbush.

As for me, I had private with Dyvbig back 5 yrs ago when he was operating Whaleback. Got a lot of good stuff from it, on snow and off. Biggest imo was the cabrio boots, Dyvbig was wearing a pair of beat up Krypton when they where black.

Sounds promising. I've never had a mogul specific lesson, but imagine it would be very helpful if taught by the right instructor. I remember seeing a video (or reading post) a while ago about an impromptu group lesson by a women's world cup mogul skier at Sundown. I assume that's not likely to happen again.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Never taken a lesson. I started on skates which made the edging and balance on skis a pretty simple transition. Bumps and trees took a while to get into but I kept throwing myself down them and watching other good skiers until I got better. I've been told I have an unique skiing style that a PSIA instructor would likely rip apart. But it get the job done for me.

 

[Bene288]

Never took one. I think about doing it every season but never get around to it.

 

[Nick]

I started skiing at 49. Lessons have been invaluable. Last year we participated in an early season clinic at Stowe. We took a private lesson with Barb Marshall at Sugarbush -- I think she's just a terrific instructor. And we did a group off piste lesson at Alta. Private lessons are expensive and I've become darn picky about who I'd take a private lesson with. I have a long way to go but I'm comfortable on terrain I never ever thought I'd venture into. If you find really good instructors they are really helpful. Two recommendations are Barb Marshal at Sugarbush and Keith Renecle at Stowe. Stowe is just pricing themselves out of the market these days, but Keith is terrific. Recommendations at Mt. Snow or other mountains would be welcomed.

Another 10 year anniversary member

 

[Sky]

Warp Daddy...great story. Hoops coach eh? Nice!

I haven't taken a lesson for a few years. Wachusett used to sell a five-pack of group lessons for a bargain ($65?) and they were good for TWO seasons! So I did tthose for a few years...taking one or two lessons a year. As mentioned above, if you are an intermediate or better skier, a group lesson usually meand "private" at that level. PLUS...while taking a lesson, you went to the front of the lift line.

My wife got back into the sport last season. I'll get her to take a lesson this season...and I'll take one as well just to tighten up the skill set...and get to the fron of he lift line. :>

 

[Warp Daddy]

Warp Daddy...great story. Hoops coach eh? Nice!

Yep back in the day before i had kids i did that gig . i loved the game and the kids i had the privilege to work with . Still hear from several today and my last captain lives here in my town . Hell he.s Grampa now ...OMG and his kid played in college .....a shooting guard at 6'8"

That 's why i always call you "big man ,"and an " Aircraft Carrier " that dominated the PAINT . I used to recruit very hard for good big men . In MY day a Good BIG Man was a coach's dream . If i could get a guy over 6'5"" i was in Hog heaven . Guess it dates me huh Hahahaha

 

[Brad J]

I was told these camps have "adult" sessions where the focus is not in the air. I plan on taking some in the future when I start to free up in the summer. In addition, mogul logic has winter sessions over at Mary Jane, Babic has them at Sugarbush.

As for me, I had private with Dyvbig back 5 yrs ago when he was operating Whaleback. Got a lot of good stuff from it, on snow and off. Biggest imo was the cabrio boots, Dyvbig was wearing a pair of beat up Krypton when they where black.

I remember him when he was a teen at killington, he was a true Machine in the bumps, the first to really do a zipper line in the hardest conditions, though he blew out his knee's

 

[KD7000]

I've never taken a lesson. My skiing is pretty crappy, so no doubt I'd benefit greatly from it. I've been snowboarding for so long, any bad habits I have are totally ingrained now.

On a semi-related note: I have taken many, many water ski lessons. Back when I was younger, I used to go down to Florida each winter and go to water ski school. Nothing beats having a retired pro or top level slalom skier / instructor drive you through the slalom course and show you how it's done.

 

[skiNEwhere]

Once, maybe twice a season to make sure I'm not developing bad habits. Last one was a group lesson at crested butte last year that focused on maintaining good form on steep terrain.

 

[ski stef]

the last time I took a lesson was like 2006 or something. I signed up to be a ski instructor at Killington and they had to go over the "new" way of skiing so we had two days of training to go over new techniques and new teaching instruction. I'm sure a lot has changed since then, it was a neat way of learning what's being taught to younger kids although I don't see myself taking a lesson on my own in the future unless it involved a ski job of some sort

 

[jimk]

I guess I've had three lessons in 46 years of skiing. One at the about the 10 year point, one at the 40 year point and one about two years ago. They were all small group lessons. To be honest, I never felt I got that much out of them, but know I am a candidate for a lot of help. I am slow to make technique changes and short sighted. I never wanted to "waste" a precious ski day by analyzing things instead of just having fun. I am a year or two away from retiring and my hope is to get into some regular season-long lesson program at that time to address years of bad habits and have a good person to ski with. Most of my learning occurred by osmosis following better skiers around. Besides relearning fundamentals, at this point I could use tips on how to finesse difficult terrain as an old/less flexible person.