We have some excellent beginner terrain in Zermatt. The resort’s mascot, Wolli the Sheep, has his own beginner area, with a number of magic carpet lifts, open to all ages. With ES that’s where we will get started with beginner kids groups and private lessons. From there, skiers can progress onto their first blue runs with chairlifts and beyond. It is a nice progression and your first chairlifts start not far from the beginner area. As a beginner, you will start skiing from the Sunnegga area, and so it can be helpful to have accommodation nearby.

If you already do other sports, you may be a natural! For some, the movements and balance needed for skiing may come quickly, in which case you may need a few introductory lessons to get started. For others, it may take a little longer. Either way, your first lesson will be spent getting used to the sensation of standing and sliding on your skis. Then you can begin to control your speed and direction. From your very first lesson, you will start to see why being a skier is so special.

It shouldn't be. If you learn in the right area, on a shallow beginners slope with the help of an instructor, learning to ski doesn’t need to be dangerous at all. It is always worth being aware of your surroundings and being vocal about your comfort zones. There are other people on the mountain too, so you need to keep an eye on what’s going on around you. Learning to ski without an instructor is more dangerous; an experienced instructor will help keep you safe and progress in the right way.

Learning to ski is often a case of mind over matter. Anyone can learn, no matter their age. Here at ES, we teach little ones as soon as they can stand, all the way through to their grandparents who want to share a snow experience with their families. You are never too old to learn to ski.

No doubt! Learning to ski isn’t just for kids. Plenty of people pick up the sport at all ages, and there’s no time limit on it. Here at European Snowsport, we have a variety of instructors who can cater for any learner, confident or nervous. We make sure you can learn at your pace in a way that suits you.

Three days worth of private lessons should get you off to a good start. It’s long enough that you can start to work on your skills and with your instructor's help, hone that muscle memory so that you can stand on your skis with confidence. Depending on how you take to the sport you may be up and out of the beginner area and exploring the mountain in no time.

A full day private lesson can be a fantastic kickstarter for your skiing. As a beginner, the first lesson can be tough on the legs, so it’s worth taking a few breaks throughout the day to keep yourself energised. It is entirely possible that by the end of the day you will have a good grasp of stopping on your skis and maybe turning too.

Certainly! A week of lessons is an excellent way to get started. By the end of the week, you will be away from the beginner area, trying out chairlifts and seeing the sights on your skis. Everyone learns differently and at varying speeds and this means private lessons are a great way to get going. Most people are delighted with how much they have achieved after their first week on the snow.

Skiing is an extreme sport, so it’s best to start in the right area on the mountain and know a little about the equipment to make the best use of it. To make good progress, you really do need lessons. Although it’s possible to muddle through these first steps without an instructor, it’s certainly not easy, and it can lead to unnecessary injury. Bad habits picked up along the way can have a knock-on effect later on, and they can be challenging to unpick later in the process.

Dry ski slopes are a great way to get started when there’s no snow around. If it’s a concern of not enough snow out in resort then why not try some guaranteed snow resorts. Look for resorts that are high enough to maintain proper conditions and have artificial snowmaking facilities. Resorts like Zermatt have some of the highest slopes in Europe meaning great conditions throughout the winter months – there’s even skiing in summer on the glacier!

Learning anything new is all about breaking it down into achievable steps. As long as these steps aren’t skipped or rushed, skiing is possible for anyone. We tend to come across learning plateaus and eureka moments throughout our skiing careers. Everyone has these, enjoy the breakthroughs and with an instructor you will get through the plateaus and onto the next level. Learning and improving is a lifelong process in the mountains.

Lessons are essential for beginners, it is the only way to get going on the snow safely and with confidence. Gentle guidance through those first few steps with an instructor can save you time and money, avoid unnecessary embarrassment and prevent injury. If you can already ski to a reasonable level, a lesson could give you the little bit of help you need to escape your most recent learning plateau.

Whether it’s the first time you’ve clipped into a ski binding or you’re looking for a way to tackle the moguls for the first time, an experienced instructor can ensure you stay safe, grow in confidence, and avoid picking up bad habits. Even if you don’t want to learn anything specific, taking an instructor to guide you around the resort and show you the best runs and restaurants will make sure that you make the most of your time on the mountain and find the best snow and best runs for your ability.

Private lessons are all about you. People learn in different ways, at different speeds. This becomes particularly apparent when progressing away from the beginner slope. A private lesson can be tailored flexibly to you. Take the lesson in the direction you want and discuss your goals with your instructor more closely. Private lessons do not have to be one-on-one either; with European Snowsport, the cost of a private lesson doesn’t go up if you add more people!