St Moritz Ski School

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!

How long is a piece of string? There is always more to learn, so there is no set number. For some people having a week’s worth of lessons so they can ski from one hot chocolate stop to the next is just right. For others, a top up lesson on the first afternoon of a week’s holiday every year can be enough to get the legs going again. If you are a beginner in resort for a week, we recommend a minimum of 5 days or half days to get going on the snow.

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.

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.

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.

Of course! It doesn’t matter what age you are or what experience you have. Everyone can learn to ski. It may take longer for some than others, but with the right guidance, anything is possible. We run many programmes that cater for all ages. We also teach sessions for adaptive skiers too, who are less able, so there’s no need to feel held back when you get onto snow for the first time.

Dry slopes are a great way to try out the basics back home before booking a holiday on snow. The material you learn on, however, is a little different to snow though. So although the technique is the same, it can be a change going from dry slope to snow. Luckily it is easier to ski on snow, making it quite a smooth transition.

We do not recommend it. But you can learn to ski while pregnant yes. There are safety concerns associated with skiing while pregnant. Many ladies request a gentle, patient instructor to help them learn. Skiing doesn’t have to be fast or scary, and you can learn well within your comfort zone and enjoy the experience!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Have you ever heard of the term “all the gear, no idea”? There’s no need to buy before you ski for the first time. It’s most important to be comfortable and warm. Proper ski socks and gloves, snow-proof trousers and a jacket and some layers underneath so you can adjust your temperature. Good goggles or sunglasses and high factor sun cream are a must too. Rental skis, boots and helmets will do you just fine to get started with. But don’t forget a lesson for your first time on the snow; an instructor will help you get started safely and with confidence.

That is entirely up to you! Skiing is a sport based on gravity, so it’s essential to learn the skills to control our speed and line. That way we can choose how fast we go. Taking lessons and starting on shallow, achievable slopes is the best way to get used to the sensation of sliding at a comfortable speed. Then as we improve our technique, we can increase the speed with confidence.

Speed is dependent on the type of slope we are on and our ability level. Olympic downhill racers can easily achieve speeds over 100km per hour! For most of us recreational skiers, we are more likely to travel around 20/30km per hour. What’s important is to travel at speeds within our ability level so that we can control our skis safely.

Skiing is great exercise! Those who ski are likely to increase their cardiovascular endurance, work on proprioception, strengthen lower body muscles, improve flexibility and receive a boost to their mood too! Skiing can also help you sleep better after a long day on the hill. Skiing is great for you!

Neither sport is more dangerous than the other. Both skiing and snowboarding come down to the person in control of the equipment, just like driving a car. Learning along the correct pathway with an instructor will ensure the safest way to do either sport. Both are great ways to enjoy the mountains!

It may come down to what you have done before. If you can already surf or skateboard, snowboarding may feel more natural for you. If you have tried ice skating or rollerblading, then skiing may be your sport. Some people like the security of having their feet attached together on a board, whereas others enjoy the independence of having two separate skis beneath them.

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.