Learning to Ski for Beginners How Easy is Skiing? Hucksters Lodge

Your Previous Experiences Will Influence Your Skiing Ability

To answer simply, the question of skiing difficulty depends on several factors. Firstly, skiing prowess will be influenced by the skier’s experience. If you learnt to ski when you were younger and are feeling a little rusty or you do some sports or activities that have transferrable skills, you may find skiing easier than someone without these life experiences. Therefore, for these individuals, the time taken to learn will be reduced.

However, don’t worry if you’re completely new to skiing and similar experiences. With a ski instructor, most people become ski-savvy in a few hours to a few days, reaching the minimum standard required for skiing without being accompanied by a trained professional. This includes safely taking the lifts, controlling your speed and direction, performing control linked turns and stopping safely. Most people are surprised how quick they can pick up these essential parts of skiing practice.

Of course, you could book some extra time with your instructor to really nail your skiing over the week in the French Alps to ensure you will be skiing down the slopes with your friends (both new and old!). Most beginners will find they will be able to ski down the easy slopes at the end of a weeks holiday with practice and coaching from instructors.

Alternatively, we suggest heading to a UK indoor ski slope before your holiday to give you an extra head-start to make the most of your trip here. There are plenty of indoor slopes around to pick from that allow you to get a taster of what your skiing holiday will be like (minus the amazing views and authentic feel!). Centres offer private lessons with equipment hire, much like in ski resorts. This will ensure you get used to wearing skis and the boots, as well as putting on the skis themselves. It can all feel a little alien when you’re a beginner so you may want to get used to the feeling beforehand.

Is It Better to Learn as a Group or Alone?

Again, this will depend on you. Both options have their advantages. Private lessons can offer a beginner one-to-one attention which will encourage them to learn to ski quickly. This is because the learning process will be accelerated and focused, so if your key aim is to get out on the slopes on your own as soon as possible, then this may be the best option for you. Additionally, if you benefit from personalised learning experiences then private lessons may be of interest. Of course, private lessons will incur higher costs so it’s important you factor this into your holiday budget.

If you have come as part of a big group, whether that’s the group you travelled with or some new friends, it can make the experience a lot more fun and relaxed. Remember that in a group environment you will all be in the same boat in terms of experience which means you don’t need to worry about making mistakes in front of each other. A drink after a group lesson can be a great way to spend your afternoon making friends from all over the world talking over your new shared experience. What’s more, group lessons will be cheaper - perfect for those budget-savvy travellers.

If you’re the only one in a group who needs some lessons, don’t feel like you’re missing out either. You can meet up with your friends in the downtime for a drink and tell them all about how you got on. Within a few days, you can all ski down the easy slopes together!

Check the Piste Maps and Area

Beginners should make sure they pick an area that caters to their skills. A resort piste map can be a great way to know what pistes are on offer and which ones will be best for you. Piste maps are colour-coordinated depending on difficulty level; however, it is important to note that these colours can vary from location to location so check the key.

Over your first few days, you will want to familiarise yourself with the training area as this is where your lessons will take place. Check the accessibility of the slopes and areas you should be visiting. Our accommodation is ideally placed to cater for all types of skiers but if you want any questions answered specifically to your party and their needs, be sure to get in touch with us.