revatt@aluxz.UUCP (EVATT) (08/28/85)
In preparing for this season I have a friend that wants to learn to ski. Since I'm not that great a teacher (or skier) and I want to not be restricted to staying on the novice slopes, I'd like to suggest classes. NOW THE REAL QUESTIONS: What experiences have people had with the various downhill teaching methods? Is one method preferable for quick learning? How do I know the ski school will really use the method advertised and not just give some snazzy initials to each instructor doing their own thing? Are private lessons worthwhile for a beginner? If you don't want to respond to the net, send me mail. Thanks, Bob Evatt [ihnp4,etc.]!aluxz!revatt AT&T--BL, Allentown, PA Hoping the Eastern drought will be ended by big snows...
michaelk@azure.UUCP (Mike Kersenbrock) (08/29/85)
> In preparing for this season I have a friend that wants to learn to ski. > Since I'm not that great a teacher (or skier) and I want to not be restricted > to staying on the novice slopes, I'd like to suggest classes. > > NOW THE REAL QUESTIONS: > What experiences have people had with the various downhill teaching > methods? Is one method preferable for quick learning? How do I know > the ski school will really use the method advertised and not just give > some snazzy initials to each instructor doing their own thing? > Are private lessons worthwhile for a beginner? > > If you don't want to respond to the net, send me mail. > > Thanks, > > Bob Evatt [ihnp4,etc.]!aluxz!revatt > AT&T--BL, Allentown, PA > > Hoping the Eastern drought will be ended by big snows... This response isn't really what you asked for, but my experience last year might help. I went skiing for the first time last year (I'm originally from Hawaii). I took two months (17 lessons) on a "ski-ramp" at a local in-town racquet club place. This was/is an outfit working as a ski school, not connected with a ski store or the like. They have instructors that include a fellow who is/was the Oregon speed-skiing champ. Although I still ski terrible, I think I skied my first year much much better than had I not taken the ramp lessons. I go down what locally are "green" and "blue" runs usually w/o problems, and would not mind an easy black if my terror level subsides a bit. The on-snow lessons I took had "letter abbreviations" but I don't remember what they were. In any case, the snow lessons were quite a bit different depending on the teacher. I suspect this is true regardless of technique. The best part of ramp learning (other than it being warm, indoors, and nearby) is that I got to miss "the rope tow" completely, got to miss going-up hills practice (yuk) and the like for the beginning lessons (everybody at once: Ohhhhhhhh! Poor fellow!) I spent something like 25 days skiing my first year (last year) and expect more this year. I plan to hit the ramp just a few times this fall to get the ski-legs into shape before hitting the "real" slope. Good luck. Mike Kersenbrock Tektronix Software Development Products Aloha, Oregon
lowell@fluke.UUCP (Lowell Skoog) (08/30/85)
> What experiences have people had with the various downhill teaching > methods? Is one method preferable for quick learning? How do I know > the ski school will really use the method advertised and not just give > some snazzy initials to each instructor doing their own thing? > Are private lessons worthwhile for a beginner? The snazzy initials you refer to are probably GLM, or the Graduated Length Method, which was popular about ten years ago. GLM was a breakthrough since it acknowledged that short skis are easier for a beginner to turn than long skis. In a full-blown GLM ski school, the student was issued successively longer skis as he progressed, perhaps every lesson. This method is seldom seen anymore, partly because stocking all those skis was expensive for the ski school, and partly because ski instructors realized that GLM was based on an incomplete understanding of ski technique. The current snazzy initials are ATM, or the American Teaching Method, a development of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). While GLM emphasized the ease of turning, ATM acknowledges that there are three basic skills in skiing--turning, edging, and pressuring--and that all three are important. In ATM, the beginner uses a medium length ski, one that is easy to turn at low speeds, but that will also serve as he advances to higher speeds, learns to use his edges, and masters the subtleties of pressure. There are no magic tricks in ATM. It is based on an understanding of the fundamental skills in skiing, how these skills develop as the skier progresses, and how people learn. This teaching method is becoming accepted throughout the country. Nearly all ski schools in all regions are using it, or at least trying to. I recommend that you find a school that is associated with PSIA and has a good percentage of certified instructors. Unfortunately, you could still end up with a lousy instructor, but you will have minimized the risk. With a good instructor, class lessons are actually the best place for a beginner to learn. In a small, friendly group, with an instructor who is more of a facilitator than a disciplinarian, you will learn as much from each other as you do from him. Have a fun winter. On the hill: Lowell Skoog PSIA-NW Crystal Mtn., Washington At the tube: Lowell Skoog John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc. Everett, Washington P.S. Snow?! We don't even have rain. Even Rainier is starting to look naked.
mem@bubba.UUCP (09/04/85)
> NOW THE REAL QUESTIONS: > What experiences have people had with the various downhill teaching > methods? Is one method preferable for quick learning? How do I know > the ski school will really use the method advertised and not just give > some snazzy initials to each instructor doing their own thing? > Are private lessons worthwhile for a beginner? > I have been skiing two years now, and I took lessons, and would highly reccommend (sp) taking lessons from a qualified instructor. I have been in Vail both times, and I think the instructors there are wonderful (I also heard before I went there that they are the best). The first year that I went, I took two days of group lessons. This was enough to get me down the mountains, not always gracefully, but down, never-the-less. They have rates there on their 3-day lessons, but I only had 3 days to ski, and I wanted to go for it with some of my friends. The next year that I went (back to Vail), I took a private lesson with one other friend. We were on different levels, so we each took 1/2 day with the instructor. This was great. At first, the instructor skiied ahead of me. I was to observe (without falling too much!). Then after a while, she skiied behind me, and coached me in and out of the blue (intermediate) and even a couple of black (expert) slopes. I think the private lessons are great, but I wasn't exactly a beginner (just a near beginner) when I took them. Also, they are expensive. The ski schools in Vail and Beaver Creek are run by Vail Associates, and each instructor IS qualified, not to mention nice to talk to on the chair lifts. m.e. middleton -- M.E. Middleton COSI Texas, Inc. 4412 Spicewood Springs #801 Austin, TX 78759 USA uucp: {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!cositex!bubba!mem at&t: (512) 345-2780