How exciting (or frightening). You’ve made the decision to learn to ski..!!! Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn, or you have friends/family going to Colorado and you want to join in the ski adventure, or you are being forced to go by people who “love” you and want you to share the experience.
Relax! You’re taking a “never-ever” ski lesson from the Mt. Crescent Ski and Riding School. This lesson might be in the form of the “Station Rotation” introductory class, or it might be as a private or semi-private class. In either case, you’re instructor is completely aware of the combination of excitement and trepidation that you are feeling. Your lesson will begin in the beginner area at the bottom of the ski area and you will not go up the lift until you are completely confident of your ability to stop and to control your speed.
The $5.00 Station Rotation Introductory Lesson is held in the beginner zone at the base of the ski area. This lesson introduces the concepts of skiing, including the basic maneuver used to control your speed and stop. This lesson ends with an explanation of how best to proceed and a quick overview of how to ride the lift. Remember, this is only an overview of how to ride the lift, not an actual lift ride with the instructor.
In contrast to the 45 minute Station Rotation Introductory Lesson, the 1-1/2 hour Private/Semi-Private Lesson is where you get personal one-on-one instruction: the instructor fine tunes your basic stopping maneuver; trains you on the basic turning maneuvers, and if you have achieved the basics of stopping, takes you up the chairlift for one or more runs, depending on the time remaining in the lesson.
Most students taking a private/semi-private lessons get up the hill and take a few runs with the instructor during the lesson. Once the lesson is over, the student can enjoy the rest of the day making runs and improving on their newly learned skills!
A very effective learning process is to attend the $5.00 Station Rotation lesson and then use the $10.00 off coupon (received when you enroll for the Station Rotation lesson) to immediately enter into a Private/Semi-Private lesson.
The Station Rotation lesson is offered during “peak” periods, which are mainly on weekends and holidays. Private/Semi-Private Lessons are offered anytime the ski area is open (call ahead to book private/semi-private lessons during the week).
This is ideal for a couple of reasons: 1) by taking the $5.00 Station Rotation Lesson you receive a $10.00 coupon off of the Private/Semi-Private Lesson. 2) you will get comfortable with your equipment, environment and basic skills at the bottom, then you will have your own instructor who will take you up the lift for the first time and ski with you for your hour-and-a-half lesson on the ski runs. The instructor will fine tune your basic maneuvers for turning, controlling your speed and stopping.
If you visit the ski area during a time when the Station Rotation Lessons are not offered, then simply enroll in the Private/Semi-Private Lesson and your instructor will guide you through the learning process. If, at any time during the lesson you are ready to go up the lift, your instructor will accompany you on the lift and until the lesson is completed in an hour-and-a-half
Skiing is composed of a specific set of skills that are achieved quickly and safely through instruction. Mt. Crescent has made learning extremely affordable as they want you to have the best opportunity to enjoy yourself in this fun and beautiful winter sport and to come back and visit them many times over. Skiing is a lifestyle that is family and friend oriented, healthy, challenging, exciting and allows you to adventure up mountains and experience some of the most breathtaking views of your lifetime.
Feel free to contact me regarding lesson options. The “About” page on this website provides more information on lessons. You can contact me by email at hugh@skiwithhugh.com.