Tuition
You’ve mastered the basic techniques and can certainly call yourself an intermediate or advanced skier or boarder but development needn't stop here. Many of our resorts offer specialist lessons whether you’re looking to perfect your off-piste technique or to land airbourne excursions safely in the park.
Group or Private Lessons?
Group lessons are still a beneficial and economical way for intermediates to progress. We offer Level 1+ Skier’s and Snowboarder’s Packs which we recommend for intermediates still wanting 5 or 6 days of group lessons. These also include the all-important lift pass and ski or board equipment. Many resorts offer half-day group lessons leaving you free to explore the ski area and practice your improved techniques.
One To One Tuition
Private tuition is an invaluable way to brush-up on your technique. Lessons can be one to one instruction or with other family members/friends to make them cheaper. Such individual attention all-but guarantees quick progression during intensive private lessons. A good plan is to book an hour’s private lesson at the beginning of the week and then an hour later on in the week to follow up on your development.
Specialist Lessons
If you find yourself riding within your comfort zone and failing to progress any further, one of the best ways to push yourself to a higher level is to take advantage of specialist lessons available in many of our resorts. Wherever possible, we offer these lessons as a pre-bookable option but always speak to your rep in resort for details of locally provided private lessons.
Here's just a few of our resorts which offer specialist lessons:
Andorra:
Pas de la Casa - Freeride snowboard camps
Soldeu / El Tarter - Freeride snowboard camps
Austria:
Saalbach - 1 or 2 day courses in small groups of 3-6 people to learn specialist techniques (carving, off-piste and freestyle)
Sölden - Freeride and freestyle specialist lessons
St Anton - Intensive specialist instruction and off-piste guided heli-skiing
Canada:
Whistler – Off-piste freeskiing, ‘backcountry adventure days’ & 3 day ‘advanced ski camps’
France:
Chamonix – Guided off-piste to areas such as the famous Vallee Blanche
Les Deux Alpes – Advanced ‘Natural Born’ skier courses from carving clinics to smoothly riding the moguls
Tignes – Off-piste adventure days
Italy:
Bardonecchia - Freestyle clinics to learn pipe and park skills
La Thuile - One of the few places in Europe where you can heli-ski in the backcountry
Sauze D'Oulx – Breakthrough specialist ski sessions
Norway:
Hemsedal – Guided off-piste days
Working Out Your Ability Level
Use our ability level chart to make sure you are clear what level you are before you research and book any lessons, in particular specialist lessons. Your ability level will be asked for at the time of booking so we book your into the correct level of lesson.
| ABILITY LEVEL CHART |
|
Skiers |
Snowboarding |
| Beginner |
Level 0
You have never skied before. |
Level 0
You have never snowboarded before. |
Level 1
You have spent a few hours on the slopes and can ski in a cautious snowplough. |
Level 1
You are able to side slip on toe or heel side, sliding to the right and to the left on nursery slopes. |
|
| Intermediate |
Level 2
You can link snowplough turns with speed control and bring skis together parallel at the end of the turn on green and blue runs. |
Level 2
You are able to complete basic turns on heel and toe side that are connected with a traverse, on green and easy blue runs. |
Level 3
You use parallel turns on smooth blue runs and would like to improve your parallel turn on more challenging terrain, including bumps, red and easiest black runs. |
Level 3
You are able to comfortably link turns with rhythm and flow, with no traverse on either heel or toe side, on all blue and easy red runs. |
|
| Advanced |
Level 4
You ski with a controlled parallel stance, maintaining rhythm and speed control on all runs. |
Level 4
You are able to comfortably link turns on most terrain and in all snow conditions including the terrain parks. |
Don’t Forget To Pre-Book Your Lift Passes
Whatever your level of skiing you'll need a lift pass to access the slopes. This can take time to organise when you arrive in resort so why spend time queuing at the lift pass office on the first morning of your holiday when you can pre-book your lift pass through Neilson and have our rep organise it for your arrival in resort, allowing you to start enjoying your holiday from the word go.