Find an instructor that will deliver the ski lesson you dream of
You will find below questions clients often ask when they are not super familiar with private ski lessons. Please contact me to discuss.
Please note I only accept lessons through the Park City Ski School, at the ski school rate. You can check consult these rates on the official Park City resort site.
1. Can I choose my private ski instructor?
Absolutely. If you know whom you want to hire, you can request this person when booking your lesson with the ski school. Hence the importance of inquiring ahead of time.
Otherwise, the ski school call center will make their best effort to understand your needs and find an instructor for you, but chances are they book who is available in their system. And sometimes they do not see everything in their system! For example, if it my day off, they will see that, but I can still decide to work that day and ask them to make a booking for me.
2. How can I figure out the private instructor quality & credentials?
In the US, ski instructors can be certified by their professional association (PSIA) at 3 different levels which demonstrate increasing proficiency.
- Level I instructors are qualified to teach beginners, and mostly teach group lessons.
- Level II instructors can teach through the intermediate zone.
- Level III instructors are qualified to teach all ability levels and on advanced terrain, and mostly teach private lessons
Seasons of ski teaching experience are important! A seasoned ski instructor will be able to handle any difficult situation gracefully – weather related, terrain related, client related, etc.
3. How about teaching style and personality?
Teaching style is important. The ski instructor training program in the US highlights 3 different skills sets in their model, which instructors have to master: Technical skills, people skills and teaching skills.
While any level 3 certified has a great basis in all 3 areas, everyone of us have their area(s) of strength – you might want to talk with your prospective instructor, ask them where they view themselves and how they would approach the lesson for your party.
4. How does a private ski lesson work?
Privates ski lessons can be half day or full day. You can have up to 6 people in the lesson, and you can organize your day as you wish. For example, some of your party skies in the morning and the others ski in the afternoon with the instructor. Or the full party skies all day. You decide.
It takes experience to handle lessons where participants have different levels of abilities. You will find details on the main types of lessons I teach and how I personally approach them here.
A good instructor will tailor the lesson to your needs after having discussed this with you. Progress is tracked during the days so that the instructor can make adjustments.
5. Logistics
You are responsible to have a lift ticket, and to rent your equipment. I personally like to meet my clients and help them with equipment if they so wish.
The lesson usually starts from the base at Park City Village or at the Canyons. But instructors are usually happy to meet you at your hotel or at a lift if this is a possibility for you.