Group or Private Lessons for first time skier off this Sunday?!!

Hi Dan,
Not much help on the lessons (would probably agree with what others have said and go group, though it depends on the group and instructor you end up with) but you've picked a great place to learn to ski. I skied in Corvara a couple of weeks ago and there are a massive choice of easy blues to build your confidence on and some lovely reds which by the sounds of things will suit your girlfriend perfectly. You should be able to explore the resort by the end of the week and not find yourself out of your depth. I'll put some photos up when I get chance. Hope you have a fabulous time. :D
Lynn

Go with the group lessons, you'll get more out of them at your current stage. Remember this first week on snow is not going to be particularly pleasant - lots of sore bits and aches and pains, a few falls, and some frustrating periods too. But go through it and start to develop in future trips. You don't become a decent skier after 1 week, but learning the basics in a group who will all push you on together will enable you to get to grips with the basics, and then maybe benefit from private lessons in future trips ahead of you.
Just don't go on this trip thinking its going to be a breeze and that you'll come back some kind of fully fledged skier.
A mate of mine went to Kitz for his first ever ski holiday in January. I asked how he got on, and he said "yeah piece of cake, I was doing reds by the end of the week"
Funny, as when I watched his video footage he was snowploughing on a red piste that was clearly too steep for him, and he fell over about 25 times. But the good thing is, he caught the bug and wants to get better and better, and go again and again.
Not quite sure why he's gone and bought skis and boots at this stage though.....

Anyway, I digress. Group lessons all the way. Practice in the afternoons in your own time after the first couple of days too. Under supervision, of course (over to the GF here....)

Also from a social point of view I would go for group lessons - it's so much nicer when you're learning together and encouraging each other. And your GF will be meeting people in hers, so it'll be nice for you to meet people as well.

Thanks to all that have replied so far! Some very helpful responses and a very strong recommendation for group lessons it seems. I expect that's the way I'll go now. I agree with the whole social aspect of the group, encouraging each other and also the benefit of not kicking my heels on my own for a couple of hours while my girlfriend's in her group lesson.

The way they structure the group lesson in Corvara seems pretty good too. It's a 5 day course and for the first 4 days you have a 10am - 12.45pm lesson. Then on the final day it runs from 10am - 4am and the instructor takes you out and about over a few different runs for the day. Assuming you've made it to that level by then I expect!

Fitness wise it's frustrating as I'd planned to hit the gym in earnest before going but have had a cold virus lingering around for bloody ages which stopped me going! There was a fair bit of side stepping up the slope at Hemel and added to trying to get yourself up again after a fall I know exactly what a physical week I'm in store for!!

Lynn if you have pictures of Corvara it would be great to see them! Really pleased to here that it sounds like a great resort for me as a beginner and my girlfriend as an intermediate too!

danj wrote:
Then on the final day it runs from 10am - 4am and the instructor takes you out and about over a few different runs for the day.

This is to teach you how to apres ski properly :lol:
Many people find this aspect of skiing far easier to master .....

Thanks again for all the help and advice everyone! Decided to go with the majority and will sign up for some beginners group lessons when I'm there. Seems to make the most sense given my situation.

I'm so apprehensive though! Of the skiing, of coming back in one piece and of chairlifts which are waaaay out of my comfort zone! Other than all that I can't wait! Haha!

Not long now... 4am Sunday morning and we'll be jumping in the car down to Gatwick!!

Danj,
I'm sure you'll have a great time :D

Let us know how you got on when you come back.

Ally

Hi Dan, if you have a few minutes, there's a great set of videos on You Tube "Learn to Ski". This link takes you to the main page. Watch 3, 4 and particularly 5. As you improve watch the next few.

http://www.youtube.com/user/LasseLyck

We all have difficulty turning in one direction, when I was having lessons I couldn't turn left, only right. One thing nobody explained to me was that the key things are i. to get your stance right - the goal keeper, and ii. that turns are made simply by applying pressure to what is going to be your downhill or outside ski in each turn. So when you are ploughing, try doing the cross slope sections more in parallel and consciously begin your turn by pressing harder on the left ski for a right turn and the right ski for a left turn, and you'll start to a make a nice neat turn. Don't stand back in your skis, you should be leaning forward onto the front of your boots and keep your weight low and forward.

Have a great time!