Monarch is an excellent place to learn to ski or snowboard. Trained instructors offer lessons tailored to all levels, from Never Ever to Super Expert. New skiers will be happy to find that Monarch has mild terrain and mellow teaching lifts to make your first-ever lesson a rousing success. Experienced skiers will love the way the instructor matches their lesson to interesting terrain on the mountain.
The wise skier takes a lesson at least once each season to maximize their enjoyment and skill. No matter how smooth, agro or rowdy your skiing style, a good instructor can give you a few tips and suggestions to improve your on-snow performance.
Group lessons (for levels 1, 2, and 3) start at 9am and 11am, get there early to get signed up and geared up. For more advanced lessons, schedule a private lesson. If you have a group of 6 or more, Monarch Ski School will create a private clinic for you – a great way for friends to ski together and improve.
They do offer some afternoon special lessons if you are arriving on the mountain later in the day.
Monarch offers super discounts on Ski and Ride Lessons to all season pass holders. The Season Pass VIP Benefit Book offers nice discounts on First Timer Lessons, Semi Private and Private Lesson. Call 888-996-7669 x 5196 to make arrangements.
Cool Tip – Take the All Day Package – this includes a half day lesson, all day lift ticket and all day gear rental. This is a great deal.
Monarch Ski School is a member of PSIA/AASI-Rocky Mountain Region. Many of their instructors are PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) or AASI (American Association of Snowboard Instructors) members.
If you can, request a lesson with a PSIA/AASI certified instructor. This means they have made a serious commitment to professional ski (and snowboard) instruction and have gone through rigorous training and study, usually for years. Despite how it is shown on TV, ski instruction is hard work. Good instructors must combine high levels of interpersonal skills, skiing skills and teaching skills all while carrying on a coherent lesson.
A quick way to improve is to take a lesson
To sign up for lessons, go to Monarch’s new Lesson Center and Rental Shop, which is the large, rounded, brown building at the base area. Go in the main doors, and walk straight ahead to the Lesson Counter.
Once you have signed up, continue further into the building to get your ski or snowboard rental equipment if you need it. Or continue on out the far door to the ski lesson meeting area to meet your new best friends, your ski instructor and your classmates.
When thinking about lessons, there are two ways to go, private lessons, or group lessons.
Monarch lesson meeting point
If this is your first or second ski vacation, a group lesson is perfect. The things that the instructor will teach are pretty basic and everyone in the group will be learning together. In these first few lessons, you can expect to learn about the equipment, riding the lifts, wedges (snowplows) and basic parallel techniques. Once you have these skills in the bag, you can ski much of Monarch Mountain on your own or with understanding friends.
For 2011 – Monarch has offers a great Ski Lesson Success Guarantee. Take their beginner 3.5 hour lesson, and they guarantee that their instructors will have you riding the beginner lift, stopping and turning. This is a great idea, and super reason to take a lesson your first time.
Future lessons should really be private lessons. This means you and an instructor go out together. The instructor determines your current strengths and weaknesses and what you want to learn, and then gives you directed practice and suggestions for improving. During the lesson, you get to cut lift lines (go to the head of the lift line … as if there are ever lift lines at Monarch), and your instructor will give you a great tour of the mountain.
Exceptions to this rule might be if you are an excellent athlete, or a crossover skier wanting to try snowboarding. Then you might want to go for the private lesson right away. If you are a quick learner, there is no reason to move at the slower pace of a mixed group.
Contact the Ski School – 888-996-7669 x 5196
In summary, think about how much the ski vacation costs, make the most of it and take a ski or snowboard lesson. This is especially important for new skiers. A bad first experience may take years to get over.
Take a ski lesson at Monarch and get started right!
