Ski and snowboard school

No matter how easy you think skiing and snowboarding might be you should always book yourself some tuition with a reputable ski and snowboard school.

You will normally find at least one ski and snowboard school in most winter sports resorts but in recent years more and more schools have appeared in the bigger resorts so you should have no problem finding a good instructor.

Lessons are usually offered on a group basis or for a higher fee you can learn with a private instructor.

If you choose to participate in group lessons ask the school for details on the maximum number of students per instructor.

You will be less likely to progress if there are more than 12 students per instructor.

Group lessons may start early in the morning - probably no later than 10am - so if you are not an early riser you may want to consider the afternoon lessons.

If you are completely new to skiing or snowboarding try to arrange your tuition before your holiday or on the day you arrive in the resort. That way you can be sure you will not miss the first morning lessons and it will give you time to sort out your equipment hire and lift passes etc.

Unless you speak the local language you should also check that your instructor speaks good English.

If you are unhappy with your instructor, ask if you can change groups for any future lessons or consider using another school.

New teaching philosophies and improvements in equipment mean that the tuition you receive should allow you to progress your technique in a safe and fun environment.

You will often be asked to follow your instructor down the pistes trying to imitate his or her technique. However, you should also receive good technical tuition from your instructor.

If you are simply being told to "bend your knees" and "follow the instructor" you should consider whether another instructor or school would be more worthy of your money!

Don't expect to master skiing or snowboarding after just one lesson. Most beginners book themselves onto several lessons usually for a few hours each day. This makes it easy to learn the basics and gives you a chance to practice in between lessons.

Everyone learns at a different rate and don't be put off if you feel like you are spending more time falling over than sliding gracefully down the mountain. Take your time, listen to your instructors, watch how they move and try to imitate their technique. Eventually you will get the hang of it.

Once you have learnt the basics there are still plenty of lessons available to help you improve your technique in all areas such as parallel turns, moguls (bumps), freestyle, or off-piste. So no matter what your level or ability you should always consider taking lessons to help you make the most of your skiing and snowboarding.