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We're heading to Morzine.
Some good advice here and I'd just underline a few of the points above.
Group lessons are fine. But don't be shy if you're not getting on with the instructor. Ask to move groups asap. Instructors are not universally great and IME some will struggle to relate to teaching adults to ski. And agree with the language point, mixed nationality lessons can be trying for all involved.
Morning lessons tend to be better than afternoon ones due to quieter slopes and better snow. Plus you're likely to be less fatigued.
I think 4-5 lessons would be a minimum for most people so I'd budget on that and see how you both feel by the time the third one comes around.
Don't put up with uncomfortable boots. They'll be stiff and slightly weird but shouldn't pinch or rub to the point of blisters or bad circulation. Change if you don't get on with them. It's free!
I think experience of going fast downhill on a bike is a helpful parallel 😉 to the feel of skiing, so IME bikers tend to feel less uncomfortable and progress more quickly. Bear that in mind if you're skiing with someone who is not so used to being outdoors on things that go quick: MTB's, horses, motorbikes etc. It can lead to quite a different learning curve which becomes very distinct within a day or two.
Most people seem to love skiing, and an even greater proportion of bikers seem to take to it easily. But it is not for everyone, so manage expectations accordingly. And be prepared to persevere and find it tough. I don't think many people fall in love with the sport within the first few goes. It takes time.
I would add a little tip - I pop a bit of vaseline around my shin and ankle bones, a bit smeared on these places helps stop rubbing.
Also (as mentioned above), wear sunscreen, even on the cloudiest, foggiest of days, even when snowing.
@Edukator - I would like to book a lesson with junior (going to St Foy soon) at ESF. Can you message me please.
Group lessons are fine. But don't be shy if you're not getting on with the instructor. Ask to move groups asap. Instructors are not universally great and IME some will struggle to relate to teaching adults to ski. And agree with the language point, mixed nationality lessons can be trying for all involved.
100% this, I've had some group lessons that were focused on the finer details of the art of pole planting in parallel turns, for the entire morning. The prospect of a week of that filled me with utter dread so asked to be moved into a different group. That instructor had a group with a load of kids (and now me) and spent the rest of the week in the halfpipe and snow park, it was bloody fantastic.
Everything everyone else has said rings true, one thing is that nothing can prepare you for the first time you get off a lift and look over the edge and think 'how the bloody hell am i supposed to get down that'. I think as MTBers we tend to think what's the worst that could happen but you really can get yourself stuck somewhere that's hard to get down from, and you might not find that out till you're halfway down (I'm looking at you natur pistes rouges in La Plange!) learn how to side slip and it'll dig you out of the inevitable how that you get yourself in, and it'll be a great story in front of the fire that evening.
That's all true but it's easy to forget that even the harder stuff on piste is not that steep. Max 35° - 40°. I know it's hard to rationalise when you can barely turn or stop but they Really aren't in the business of trying to hurt you. It makes it more difficult to extract the last €...
Hi Bunnyhop, I'm afraid I inadvertantly pressed return so I've already hit my two-message-a-day limit. The conversation will have resume tomorrow.
you will have a great time. group lessons can be fun being with lots of people in the same boat.....although you may get separated if one of you progress much faster than the other. but you are likely to meet lots of people. Private lessons also good in that you will get much more specific instruction than the more generic instruction in a group. But as others have said private lessons are expensive.
as you are a beginner its worth bearing in mind the different learning curves with skis and snowboards. Snowboarding is much harder to learn initially (you will spend alot of time falling on you backside and pushing yourself up again), but once you can do that you will progress much faster to a higher level (over a few holidays). Skis are much easier to learn.....you will be standing a not falling over constantly pretty much straight away. Skiing takes a a lot longer to prgress from beginner to intermediate and onwards...but its much less physically punishing to learn !
just hire when you are there......buy second hand on vinted or in aldi when they are selling gear. I have always used a dark lens goggle. Yellow ones arent dark enough for me when its bright....but the dark ones still provide enough definiton when its snowy.
and following on from someones comments above......weather conditions could be anything.....if you get blue skies and fresh snow overnight thats amazing....but even in howling winds and zero visibilty you will still have fun....just take lots of layers and face covers etc etc.
Quick google of Morzine ski schools and there's several British options available. Try and do the basics in the UK either snowdome or dry slope to maximise your fun and time in the Alps.
Goggles - pink or orange tint for preference, not grey.
I have raynauds so now wear mittens with silk liners.
Learning to ski is effortful so fitness and mobility beforehand will reap rewards when you're there. It isn't all legs though, don't forget upper body and abs.
I hope you have a great time, I was gutted for Rockhopper70 when he had a less than great time 🙁
Trim your toenails a week before you go.
Aldi have their ski gear in store this week, although personally I prefer the Decathlon stuff.
If you are remotely close to Cas, Milton Keynes etc - book some lessons there first. Seriously.
It would be a crying shame to spend your first hours or days even, on your hard earned (no doubt expensive!) holiday, looking up at enormous rolling slopes flowing down beautiful alpine mountains - and be stuck on 60 metre long conveyor belt doing things like 'how to tighten your boots up' and 'how to step sideways with ski's on'.
Uncomfortable boots can be due to not knowing what they should feel like. A good boot fitter will make sure of fit, and a good instructor may also have some tricks about which buckles need to be tighter than others, where to have your weight on the footbed, and this can make uncomfortable boots suddenly work.
Don't go for the cheapest boot offer, go to wherever gets suggested in Morzine where they will take the time to fit you, not just in terms of size of foot, but arches and calves too. worth looking at suggestions for best ski hire on SnoHeads
We always wear some M&S pop socks (phwoar) inside our ski socks as this adds a little warmth and reduces friction
Sounds like you're skiing so this won't apply, but if you're learning to snowboard consider wrist braces. I was in a lesson of six snow board novices two of which didn't have braces. They both broke their wrists. Although I also damaged my coccyx so maybe it was a really bad instructor 🤔
Maybe what I should be saying is if you're massively uncoordinated like me skiing is more fun to learn. I had group ski lessons and they were great fun. 😀
Always wear a helmet. You might think you look an idiot, but you can't account for other people and they work if you slip over on an icy piste and smack your head.
Oh yeah, bright clothes. You want to be found, right?
If you are in Portes du Soleil (Morzine/Avoriaz) then have a look at TSI for lessons. Sally will give you some tailored advice and they work really hard on matching groups and moving you around in the week to keep groups working. Focus on fun. Tell them how you want to learn and see what they recommend.
(Source: came to them for lessons for kids after several ESF experiences; were recommended by trusted sources and have been with them last 2 years. Not cheapest, but I have nothing but praise for their care and approach and they keep records of progress to better match groups year on year, as well as training the PisteXcode).
Think about where you are staying, and where you will access the snow. Can you hire gear at this point? Can you book lessons with a meeting point here? You don't want to be having a trek in ski gear/boots each morning. Even more so if kids are involved.
Think about your lift pass. As a total beginner you won't need a full Portes du Soleil pass. Ask ski school what you need for lessons. I think the Morzine-Les Gets pass will be perfect.
Personally I would go with group lessons in the morning. My wife learned in group lessons and always enjoyed it. My kids went through the full suite of ESF group lessons and had a great time. I am a Secondary teacher, with a pretty wide experience in mountain/paddle sports and I have never had ANY concerns over quality of teaching from my own experience, but there must be sub-optimal ones out there.
Use a helmet. Buy gear from Decathlon or s/h. Decathlon gear is in store now. As is Aldi gear. My kids grew up skiing in Aldi ski gear and I see it everywhere. Decathlon (Wedze) is practically a uniform for every ski family, esp. en France...
Get good gloves. Probably a buff-type-thing. A little lipsalve with SPF. Put some Haribo packets in your pockets.
I have seen some teenagers (usually girls) learn to ski well in a week, with NEVER falling over. Maybe over cautious, but impressive. Equally I have seen total crash-test-dummies take a full contact approach. This is not recommended for an adult.
Most of all, enjoy yourself. There are fantastic places to go skiing, and many of the smaller (and cheaper) resorts are real gems. Some are like having your own private resort.
Be a little adventurous in the afternoon, but plan your return. It is possible to be stranded (=expensive taxi) far from home. Never be afraid to take a lift down at the end of the day.
I learnt in my early 30s- my wife had skied before. I learnt on the local dryslope with the benefit being once we hit the snow it was much easier so was a confidence boost.
We had group lessons as part of the package holiday, only drawback being in a group of c 10-15 if you're near the back its difficult to see the instructor to see what you are doing so you end up following what the person in front is doing- a bit like Chinese whispers.
Half way through the week we had a private lesson to concentrate on some of the bits I was struggling with and it consolidated the learning from the group session.
Go to Zakopane in Poland, its cheap, relatively quiet the slopes aren't too steep, ideal for learning. Buses run regularly from Krakow.
I think experience of going fast downhill on a bike is a helpful parallel 😉 to the feel of skiing,
Mountain bikers often* have an understanding of balance, weight distribution, how grip is generated and the separation of upper body and lower body movement which are also applicable to skiing.
* Some don't obviously!
@PrinceJohn I learned to ski in Morzine this year. I went out in January by myself and I spent a 6 mornings with Paddy http://www.paddymorris.co.uk/ and then a couple of mornings in Feb half term with him. I am absolutely terrified skiing and he has got me skiing so I can get down reds now. He a great teacher and a top guy. He mostly teaches around the linderet and avoriaz side of the resort.
He taught my kids about four years ago they picked it up in no time and has guided then each year they spend the mornings going down blacks and off piste with him whilst we pottle around.