Are Ski Clinics For You?

Specific ski clinics focus the mind—yours and the instructor's.

There are a range of ski clinics and special lesson packages. These can help you change your intermediate and advanced-level skiing with some expert moves. And they provide sessions where you're skiing with other like-minded skiers.


Powder, Steeps & Exploring the Mountain Clinics

Many resorts offer courses to help advanced skiers get off the general groomed runs and into the chutes, glades and secret powder stashes.

You can take a powder clinic to learn how to ski the deep stuff. Or tackle the chutes and learn to ski the steeps. There are also ski clinics aimed at discovering the whole mountain—including its hidden runs and gladed areas.

These courses often consist of two or three consecutive days and are limited to small class sizes.


Women-Specific Clinics

Clinics for women are increasingly popular and most resorts offer them. They are taught and attended only by women. Some clinics run for 4 or 5 consecutive days while others are a session a week for several weeks.

My experience of teaching women is largely two fold. We are either:

• Frustrated that men think we are all tentative skiers who don't want to ski anything harder than an easy blue


• Or tentative indeed but want to have fun—not by terrifying ourselves with steep runs, but by enjoying the level that we're comfortable with.

If this is you, ask the the ski resort what kind of women's classes they offer and what kind of skiers they are for.


Early Morning Sessions

These are usually aimed at 'go-getter' skiers. If you want to be on the first lift up the mountain or try the tough stuff, then these sessions will probably be for you. Check with your resort for details.

And speaking of being first on the lift, check out our First Tracks page for other opportunities to get lay down a fresh track first thing in the morning.


Ski Racing

Feel the need for speed? Try a ski racing course. Classes are available at many resorts, usually on weekend days, and run for several weeks. Resorts running these classes probably have ski racing teams too.


Multi-Week Ski Clubs

Many resorts have multi-week ski clinics for both adults and kids. These are similar to group lessons in that most classes have 8 or so skiers but you ski with the same instructor and group every week.

Ski clubs usually run for a period of 6 weeks (or longer) and most are scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays. These sessions can also be aimed at something specific, such as ski racing or freestyle skiing.

Check with your resort. These are often great value for money and great fun. And especially popular with kids—see our Kids Skiing page for child-specific lessons.


Instructor Certification

Considering a ski instructor's qualification? There are several routes to this and they vary depending on the country you are in.

My personal qualification is through the New Zealand Ski Instructors Alliance (NZSIA). Based on work experience, I believe the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) has a similar methodology. Others I am familiar with are the British (BASI) and Canadian (CSIA) ski associations.

Each country offers courses and exams in several locations and times during the season. Most courses and exams run over a 3 to 7 day period. And all offer internationally-recognized certification qualifications.

There are also independent operators who offer additional training to prepare you for these courses and exams. Taking extra training was the route I took. I saw my skiing change and improve dramatically, and was able to become NZSIA Ski Level 2 certified.

Whatever course, clinic or session you choose to sign up for, check class sizes and the skill level of the skiers targeted.

Return from Ski Clinics to: General Ski Lessons or Home Page