First Day, Whistler Adult Ski School, BC, Canada
What to Expect the First Time on the Mountain
All Adult Beginning Lessons Take Place on Whistler Mountain
On the first day, go to the prominent "Ski School" area near the gondola lineup and check in at the kiosk. All beginning skiers are assigned to Level One, and over time progress to Level 3 at which point they are considered competent and ready for free skiing or specialized expert lessons. New skiers should take lessons until they can easily parallel turn and do a "hockey stop" on a moderately steep blue run. This could be up to 5 days or more, but is a lifelong investment that will make skiing more enjoyable over the long run. Consider taking a lesson at the beginning of each ski season to relearn the fundamentals, which could be mostly lost if the ski trip is annual.
Instructors wear the same outerwear and are clearly visible. After check-in, look for the appropriate level indicated by a sign, either "1", "2" or "3." An instructor inquires about each skier's ability, provides a name tag, and puts skiers into smaller groups. Groups then upload via the specially marked lane that bypasses the normal lift line.
Skiers Learn at the Specially Zoned Instruction area
The gondola makes two stops, the last being the Roundhouse center near the top of the mountain, with an intermediate stop at mid-station. New skiers and their instructor disembark at mid-station, and make their way to the adjacent training zone.
The training zone has its own lift and t-bar so that students can learn how to manage these. However, the first lesson will be on basics like getting in and out skis after which the instructor will move into the most important part of skiing: How to stop. Students will work on a very gentle slope and practice basic "snowplough" stops in which the ski tips are pointed inward. Turning will be added, and then when everyone feels comfortable, a ride up the t-bar will happen.
The t-bar slope is a bit more challenging, but hopefully the students are getting comfortable and the instructor will move the group onto the short Olympic ski lift. This is the first real slope and is just over one hundred meters long. New skiers will be looking up the mountain to the "Upper Olympic" green run, which appears steep and dangerous. Within two days however, these same skiers will be happily cruising that same run and after 5 days will likely be bypassing it to get onto more challenging runs.
Real Skiing Starts Under the Olympic Lift and then Moves Higher
Before lunch, the group will have done several runs and will be feeling confident. The group will reload onto the gondola and go up for lunch and some rest before venturing onto the easy green roads from the Roundhouse. Instructors typically take Papoose and the Pony Trail runs down to the Big Red Express lift, and then repeat.
The lessons finish up with enough time for parents to pick up children or for some free skiing until the mountain closes. Beginners should think about downloading from the mid-station rather than skiing to the base because the crowds are considerable and the runs are somewhat steep in parts. A skier should have reasonably good control before "skiing out."
It is optional, but many skiers support their instructor with a respectable tip of ten to twenty dollars.
See the Whistler website for more detailed information.
See the separate article on what to expect before the first day of ski school.
