Hi,
I have decided on a trip to A Basin this spring. I am frustrated with the level of skiing that I am stuck at and am looking at possibly a private lesson or group lesson a day or two during my trip.
I am probably what most would consider an "advanced intermediate" skill wise. My usual ski vacation spot is Alta. I can reasonably confidently make it down any of the groomed runs there, and am starting to enjoy more off-piste skiing. I am able to make it down some of the runs off of the high traverse (sunspot, race course), though not confidently, smoothly, or gracefully. I would like to be able to ski any in bounds run at Alta confidently (Gunsight, High Rustler, etc) and smoothly some day. By far, my biggest impediment at this time is moguls and steeps.
I have had an extremely unsatisfying experience with private lessons at Alta in the recent past. I scheduled 2 half day private lessons with an instructor who came highly recommended from a different website and I had a bad experience. I specifically told the instructor what I was interested in (off piste, moguls) and received less than what I was expecting. The first problem was that the instructor wasn't exactly personable and seemed frustrated with me at numerous points during the lessons. For example, my ski boots are fitted very snug and I have to unbuckle my boots for chair rides and then buckle them at the top; the instructor seemed annoyed to have to wait the extra few seconds for me. Also, the mogul instruction only consisted of "keep really forward and follow me and turn where I turn." There was no conceptual intro to moguls, no discussion of mogul features, no discussion of different tactics to make it down mogul runs. Another point of frustration on my end, was that I would ask technique/tactics questions on the chair rides, and instead of answering the questions, the instructor would seem annoyed and would either ignore me, change the subject, or say that we would talk about that later. Basically, the impression I got was that the answers were highly guarded secrets and that the instructor would tell me the answers when and if he decided to, probably if I took more lessons. I did take away one useful exercise/drill from the two days of private instruction (pole drag drill), but I obviously was expecting much more.
I understand that a lesson is just a starting point and then I need to put the work in; that is exactly what I would be happy to do if I got better instruction about actual technique/tactics, what to focus on, what sensations to try to feel, where to look to turn on moguls, etc. I would appreciate it if anyone would have any recommendations for an instructor who is patient and is really good at talking through concepts rather than just telling me to turn where they turn and emulate them. Cost is a concern, so I would also consider group lessons if they come highly recommended.
Thanks,
Gnarvin
I have decided on a trip to A Basin this spring. I am frustrated with the level of skiing that I am stuck at and am looking at possibly a private lesson or group lesson a day or two during my trip.
I am probably what most would consider an "advanced intermediate" skill wise. My usual ski vacation spot is Alta. I can reasonably confidently make it down any of the groomed runs there, and am starting to enjoy more off-piste skiing. I am able to make it down some of the runs off of the high traverse (sunspot, race course), though not confidently, smoothly, or gracefully. I would like to be able to ski any in bounds run at Alta confidently (Gunsight, High Rustler, etc) and smoothly some day. By far, my biggest impediment at this time is moguls and steeps.
I have had an extremely unsatisfying experience with private lessons at Alta in the recent past. I scheduled 2 half day private lessons with an instructor who came highly recommended from a different website and I had a bad experience. I specifically told the instructor what I was interested in (off piste, moguls) and received less than what I was expecting. The first problem was that the instructor wasn't exactly personable and seemed frustrated with me at numerous points during the lessons. For example, my ski boots are fitted very snug and I have to unbuckle my boots for chair rides and then buckle them at the top; the instructor seemed annoyed to have to wait the extra few seconds for me. Also, the mogul instruction only consisted of "keep really forward and follow me and turn where I turn." There was no conceptual intro to moguls, no discussion of mogul features, no discussion of different tactics to make it down mogul runs. Another point of frustration on my end, was that I would ask technique/tactics questions on the chair rides, and instead of answering the questions, the instructor would seem annoyed and would either ignore me, change the subject, or say that we would talk about that later. Basically, the impression I got was that the answers were highly guarded secrets and that the instructor would tell me the answers when and if he decided to, probably if I took more lessons. I did take away one useful exercise/drill from the two days of private instruction (pole drag drill), but I obviously was expecting much more.
I understand that a lesson is just a starting point and then I need to put the work in; that is exactly what I would be happy to do if I got better instruction about actual technique/tactics, what to focus on, what sensations to try to feel, where to look to turn on moguls, etc. I would appreciate it if anyone would have any recommendations for an instructor who is patient and is really good at talking through concepts rather than just telling me to turn where they turn and emulate them. Cost is a concern, so I would also consider group lessons if they come highly recommended.
Thanks,
Gnarvin
