Adult Ski School at Whistler Blackcomb
What to Expect Before the First Day of Instruction
First Question: Are Lessons Really Necessary?
Novice skiers, standing with ski tips crossed, in a panic on a 10-degree incline, are baffled by the effortless motion of experienced skiers who glide down steep mountain slopes at high speed. With a minimal number of good lessons, these same skiers will pick up fundamentals that allow them to control their skis to the point where most of the mountain is safely accessible. Without lessons, the same skier will take multiple amounts of time to get to the same point and undoubtedly pick up bad habits. Five days of lessons, while costing several hundred dollars, are an absolute necessity.
Whistler Blackcomb Has Built an Awesome Adult Ski Lesson Program
Intrawest, the company owns and operates Whistler Blackcomb, has consciously built a positive culture into its mountain staff. The staff all love to ski, and they are encouraged to get everyone else to also love to ski. If everyone loves to ski, then more people come to ski, ski more often and can't wait to come back to ski. With that in mind, instructors are the most encouraging group of positive individuals imagineable. An instructor never criticizes and will simply offer more help to the skiers that aren't progressing as quickly. If the skier is obviously holding up the class then the instructor may suggest a move into an alternate class. Instructors come from all walks of life: The oldest is over 80 years old, and many languages are accomodated.
Beginner programs are all similar, and as experience increases there are a number of specialized programs available that work on speed, powder, off piste, etc. However, all beginning skiers should simply go into a group lesson and not worry about individual lessons or "Supergroups." If money really is no object then individual lessons perhaps speed up progress, but a group provides opportunities to meet people and provide mutual support.
The First Ski Day Can Be Nervewracking, But Need Not Be
Every day, hundreds of people learn to ski for the first time and over the years Whistler has trained tens of thousands of skiers. All adult skiers are trained at Whistler mountain (not Blackcomb or Creekside.) Adult lessons start after childrens' lessons and end before them, so that pickups are easier. Ideally the children are also skiing at Whistler otherwise a short trip may be necessary. Lessons should be booked in advance, but Intrawest has so many instructors on call that a last-minute booking can be accomodated. Check in during the quiet afternoon before the first lesson to get lift tickets, lesson vouchers and equipment.
Intrawest only allows its own instructors on the mountain, but as they are first rate it is a perfectly fine offer. Lift tickets are available from a number of sources, but are usually purchased along with the lesson as a package. There are many options for equipment, but for ultimate convenience skis, boots and poles may be booked with lift tickets. Helmets are not required, but are strongly suggested and about half of all skiers now wear them.
Many instructors will be in the area until 5pm and will be pleased to answer any questions about the following day. For more details visit Whistler Blackcomb's excellent website.
An in-depth look at the first days of ski instruction is available here.
(Separate articles exist for booking childrens' lessons and what to expect during the first day of kids ski school.)
