Ski instructors and convention

For private lessons in Austria and Switzerland, an hour or all day, is tipping expected ? Especially after an all-day session, thanks?

dustyfog wrote:For private lessons in Austria and Switzerland, an hour or all day, is tipping expected ? Especially after an all-day session, thanks?

Not while I have breath in my body

dustyfog wrote:For private lessons in Austria and Switzerland, an hour or all day, is tipping expected ? Especially after an all-day session, thanks?

If the instruction has been good and you have achieved progress, then do what you feel is appropriate. Salaries for ski teachers (in ski schools) in Europe are not high. It's not a job where they expect to get rich, so gratuities from happy clients are normally most welcome.

teaching children's groups in niederau, i used to get LOTS of boxes of chocolates from happy parents!
but yes, if you are happy, with the instruction, the odd fiver is welcomed!
L.

I think tipping all sports instuctors is the norm if you have had good instuction and made good progress. My Son coachs tennis, but his is a bit different he has coached some of his people for a year or more, sees them every week so gets to know them a bit more and they generally are a bit better off. Christmas he had enough bottles of quality booze to open an off licence and one pupil gave him a new Xbox as a gift of appreciation.........but I have suspicions about that one
We usually give a tip to our ski instuctors.

Many thanks. Am from NY where I been following this as convention, ski instructors who teach my boy are usually young kids in their teens to mid 20's, and I tip them, generously, since almost all have taught him well (he is an awesome skiier, he just turned 6 and is a carver-machine!), most importantly, I am implicitly grateful that his love for the sport grows after every period with them (this also applied to our trip to Sunshine Village in Alberta last year), and they bring him back safe, those chairlifts always make me wonder, and hence their safe escorting of my boy is deeply appreciated by me and his mom.

On the other hand, adult instructors, many of whom are my age or considerably older, often regular professionals in Medicine, Finance, Real Estate, Engineers etc, that is a bit trickier. Lets put it this way, if and when I am good enough to instruct( a ways to go still), I would decline any tips. Anyway, the instructor who spent some time with me this season and with my son, he is older than I am, got a pair of POC Lobes Goggles (Black, with green lenses), that seemed more kosher so to speak and I believe he genuinely appreciated that gesture.

It comes down to who is instructing. And reading your knowledgeable responses, it appears in Europe, its more of a full-time profession and hence appreciation, even monetary is expected. Thanks much, any other insights are appreciated. I think I understand the differences between Europe and North America a bit better now.

The dude who said " not while i have a breath left" or something to that effect, I laughed out loud reading that..have a good day folks.

We will be in Lech-Zurs over the Easter period, praying for good snow and great skiing, and looking forward to an unparalleled instructor who we have corresponded with. Son's skiing should improve exponentially, skiing with native Germanic and other European kids, while Dad is going to ski with a shredded rotator cuff and damaged arm..but as my friend Kenny's granny said it " we are'nt here for a long time, make sure its a good time" ... hence surgery after we get back.

Hi dustyfrog Think you're right in that there is a difference between the States and Europe. I think the europeans do "hope for" a nice tip at the end of the week, whereas in your part of the world it's not "the done thing" Just have to say that I LOVE NY.
And the "dude" you mentioned isn't even Scottish!!! He's a meanie from south of the border

i feel quite bad now, i have never thought of tipping the instructor, and no i am not a meanie, i tip waiters etc, i feel quite bad now after such an excellent weeks instruction in N, i did buy him a beer and a schnapps though on the last day does that still count???

looks like i will just have to nip back and tip him