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From: michaelk@azure.UUCP (Mike Kersenbrock)
Newsgroups: net.rec.ski
Subject: Re: Teaching Methods?
Message-ID: <441@azure.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 29-Aug-85 03:29:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: azure.441
Posted: Thu Aug 29 03:29:23 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Aug-85 06:38:32 EDT
References: <273@aluxz.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 54

> 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