Private or group??

In my family I consider myself an upper level intermediate, my son is a low intermediate becuase he makes up in bravado and enthusiasm what he lacks in skill, my wife and daughter are slightly below him in that they have similar skills but are very cautious. They've skiied twice before in group lessons but as they were school trips they had what were effectively private groups.

This time there's just the four of us going and they're not yet ready to ski without instruction, I'm not good enough to teach them and they don't want to be in public group lessons on their own :roll:

I've decided to go for a mixture this time; I've prebooked group lessons for three days which I figure will warm us up and get us used to the piste area then we will ski as a family for the remaining three days and possibly book a private lesson or two to polish up on specific aspects.

There are pros and cons to both, but for the level you are at, I'd edge toward 2 or 3 half-day private lessons. You'll get an instructor who's watching you ski and suggesting where improvements can be made, rather than with a group where you might spend time practising things you are already good at.
You should progress faster with private lessons because there is far more focus on you.
The rest of the time you can get the miles under your skis, practise, practise, practise.

I am with Ise on this. There are many benefits to be had with the group situation.

However, I would raise the issue that if your main criteria is to maximise the learning potential for each of you, then lose the criteria that you should be in the same classes.

Like many other walks of life, ski learning comes in flashes, feelings, "I've got it" moments. We trudge painstakingly forwards, then jump to a new plateau of knowledge. These moments will not routinely happen together.

If your criteria is to stay in the same class, then you may each be holding the other back. It may be that you are in the same class by right, but that would be a bonus. A good ski school will, on occasion, offer to move it's people up and across between classes, should that be a benefit to the individual.

We are going at New Yaer with a couple of beginners. They have both completed a month of dry slope, and this will be of benefit. Already, there is a gap opening in their comparitive abilities. I have suggested they do not attach any importance to having lessons in the same group, and they have understood and accepted it.

I am of the opinion that one of them wll be skiing the mountain by around the fourth or fifth day, and the other one will will have to wait for another year. But after three or four years of learning, none of that will matter.

Then go free skiing together, and with others.

RoseR wrote:I did not get on with group lessons at all. The age differences in which classes I was put in just did not work for me. Alright we were all complete novices but when you are in a group of 20 year old lads and you are a 50 year old woman the rates at which you learn are different. I would have ended up killing myself trying to keep up with them.
So its private for me I am afraid.

I did some of my BASI training with people in their late teens, they weren't even close to me in terms of fitness, they tired too quickly and had no stamina at all so it's all relative.

ise wrote:

RoseR wrote:I did not get on with group lessons at all. The age differences in which classes I was put in just did not work for me. Alright we were all complete novices but when you are in a group of 20 year old lads and you are a 50 year old woman the rates at which you learn are different. I would have ended up killing myself trying to keep up with them.
So its private for me I am afraid.

I did some of my BASI training with people in their late teens, they weren't even close to me in terms of fitness, they tired too quickly and had no stamina at all so it's all relative.

I agree with ise and must make the point that the instructor should go at your pace not that of the "fastest" and if he feels that a member of the class is so out of step with the rest he should move them not keep up with them to the detriment of the others

daved wrote:

I agree with ise and must make the point that the instructor should go at your pace not that of the "fastest" and if he feels that a member of the class is so out of step with the rest he should move them not keep up with them to the detriment of the others

yes, it's not good to compare a bad group lesson with a good 1:1, with group size I'm thinking of things with not more than 6 or 8 people, that's about critical mass to get some good feedback loops in and not so big to lose individual contact.

My opinion on this has altered over the years, looking back I can recall some fairly weak rationalisations to cover a basic reluctance to get into a group. Nowadays I've no choice the CPD and training I have to do is always in a group setting and there's really no doubt this is a better learning environment, if you want the jargon this is a collaborative learning environment and that's what I'm talking about.

The biggest fallacy is that we've all got some sort of unique issue, by and large we all struggle with the same or similar stuff, just getting into a group and recognising that is part way to fixing it.

Having taught private lessons for over 30 years in both Colorado and in France (Megeve), your question is a very good one.
The question comes down to cost, return on investment, personal dedication, and the choice of ski instructors.

To get spot on professional error correction there is nothing that is more immediate than a private lesson. Go for a minimum of two to three hours.

Class lessons will be less targeted to the individual. Make sure to choose an instructor that has a philosophy of just not skiing in front of the group all the time.

Once you have found an instructor (Class or Private) that is giving you what you are looking for in the way of quality attention and tips, comments... make sure to book him/her again.

How to find an instructor... look on the hill while your skiing if you see one that is teaching in a way that pleases and could satisfy your needs (you can follow him and his lesson for a while) go over and introduce yourself and get his card !

We at www.SkiProsMegeve.com teach only private and small corporate groups. We reserve up to a year in advance.

I hope this helped,
Megeve Mike

I tend to go female, they always seem to be the best instructors. :wink: