| Before you begin your first ski lesson, there are a | | | | out along the way. No one way is better than the |
| few tips that will help get your instruction off to a | | | | other, but knowing which way you learn best will help |
| great start. Pick your day. Attempting to ski for the | | | | you learn to ski faster. |
| first time during a busy weekend is not conducive to | | | | Stopping and turning will be the primary focus of |
| learning. This, plus traffic, long lift lines, and busy ski | | | | your first lesson. You're instructor can teach you stop |
| rental areas makes for a long day indeed. Instead, go | | | | and turn techniques quickly and easily. Learning to ski |
| midweek. This is when things are quiet and you're | | | | is not rocket science. It should be taught with |
| much more likely to get a better value and more | | | | simplicity and clarity. In short, at end of your first day |
| personalized attention from your ski instructor. If you | | | | you should be able to stop and turn left and right. |
| can, aim for a sunny day, and not too cold. Stay in | | | | With just these skills, many want to rush to the top |
| the beginner areas as well. No one wants | | | | of the mountain to practice. This is a mistake. It is |
| experienced skiers whizzing by when you're trying to | | | | one thing to turn and stop on soft snow, but quite |
| learn to ski. Also, consider what learning style works | | | | another on the steep icy terrain one can encounter |
| for you... | | | | at the higher elevations. Stay in the beginner area, on |
| Everyone has different learning styles. Broadly, there | | | | gentle terrain with soft snow. Nail down the basics of |
| are watchers, analyzers, and doers. While most of us | | | | your first lesson. |
| incorporate a blend of these three styles, one will be | | | | Finally, save some money. Most ski resorts have |
| dominant. It's important to know which works best | | | | beginner packages at reasonable rates to get you |
| for you when learning to ski. A good ski instructor | | | | started. Pack a nice lunch, as the food can be quite |
| should be able to tell, but don't expect that your | | | | expensive and not very good or healthy. Also, pack a |
| instructor is good just because he's got a patch on | | | | positive attitude. Negativity and playing the victim |
| his arm. So, if you learn by watching, watch your | | | | don't work well on skis. You will fall - that's ok. Know |
| instructor do the exercises. If you learn by analyzing, | | | | your learning style and use it to your advantage to |
| you may want to ask questions and listen to the | | | | learn to ski great. Have fun and don't make the |
| metaphors and ski techniques designed to help one | | | | mistake of stopping after just one ski lesson. |
| visualize downhill skiing. If you're a doer, then you'll | | | | Lessons, taught well, are where you'll learn the core |
| likely just want to head on down the hill and figure it | | | | skills of downhill skiing. |