5 secrets ski instructors will not tell you!

You want to learn to ski soooo badly but you just can't seem to find the right ski resort and right ski instructor to learn.
There are some things you should know about the "ski world" that your mother did not tell you ! ( and few ski instructors will share)!

Here are some "secrets" about teaching skiing that might help you before the ski lesson starts!

1. Ski instructors are not equal!!!!
One of the myths in skiing is, if someone is an expert skier then he/she can teach me how to ski! Even better,,,, if I raced at Olympic level then I can teach skiing!
Skiing and teaching to ski requires different competencies!
Yes a ski instructor must be a "good" skier, but more important are his/hers teaching abilities. The classic "poor" ski instructor asks students to "do it like me" without explaining how!
All countries have a certification process and there are "levels"! The more "technical" the instructor the higher the grade or level!
In my experience the level 1 instructor often is an excellent skier but lacks the experience to diagnose the "why" a client is having problems. A typical level 3 examination situation ( for certification) is one where a student in a ski class has damaged ski base, yet ski instructor does not "check" why ski does not glide in same tracks!

Ask all ski instructors you have,if they are certified! If so he/she should have a "pin" indicating level!

2. Ski instructors often are short on cash in the early months of the ski season, so they will "accept" the very best deal they can get on equipment!The ski area where I worked, one ski company "gave" skis to all certified full time instructors! So if you assume that the skis they have on are "the skis" to have, you are wrong! They are the best deal given to them. When I skied alone ( without my ski school jacket)I would choose ski X but when I taught I had to ski on brand Y!

3.Some ski instructors are better than others to teach; beginners, varied ski techniques, women, moguls, etc.....
Like physicians, fellow instructors know who is good at what! Ask around, or just watch before "accepting" an instructor!
You mean you did not know that you have the "choice" in ski instructors!!!!!!

4.Triage!!!! Very important French word!!! It is used in the medical world and ski world! Any ski resort that does NOT use this procedure is wasting your money! As a client you want to be in a homogeneous group ( grouped in same ski level) so that you can get most from your lesson!

In many resorts they ask you what level you are and then place you in a group base on this information! Skiing pros all know that all men ( ok most men) say they are better than they really are!
The "serious" ski schools will ask you to ski down a set slope and at bottom a supervisor will tell you where to go!
That is triage! If you can not do a "functional turn" on an easy slope, you will not do a "functional turn" in the steeps or moguls!
If you want to determine if a ski school is well run, watch how triage is done!
If you want to see if ski school is well run, pick out ski instructor supervisors and watch how they "supervise" the instructors!

5. This last "secret" is very controversial but in my opinion valid!
There is an inverse relationship between ski group size and teaching effeciency! In other words, the larger the group the less you learn! Often I will see ( yes I was one of those ski supervisors) a ski class following an instructor. The first three skiers are doing what he/she wants the class to do, but the rest of the class are,,,,,well let's just say they are doing their thing!
Try to get into class with less than 6 skiers (of the same ability level)!

Some hints;
1. Give instructor a tip if he/she was "helpful"!
2.Ask to be placed in new group if class is too big!
3. Try to go to same instructor
4.Try to videotape progress.
5.Try to get early classes ( 9 AM)
6. If private lessons take them at 11 AM!!!
7. If instructor does not check your edges, bases and boots before class then he should!!!!
8. Try to be first (right behind instructor) when following him/her!
9. Speak to Director on what you want and what kind of intsructor you feel is best for you. In some cases women are much better teachers!
10. At end of ski week with same instructor a tip of at least $10 per skier is expected!

Enjoy your class!!!