I’ve been teaching skiing for a long time. I’ve taught complete first timers, nervous adults, confident intermediates who were quietly stuck and very good skiers who just wanted one small thing to click.
And I’ll say this up front.
You don’t need endless ski lessons. But most people would benefit massively from one or two at the right time.
The problem is that ski lessons have a reputation problem. People either think they’re only for beginners, or that once you’ve done a few, you should never need one again. Neither is true.
So let’s talk about it properly.
Quick answer
If you’re brand new to skiing, lessons are usually worth it. They help you progress safely and avoid habits that make skiing harder later on. If you’re already skiing green and blue runs comfortably and feel like you’re improving each trip, lessons may not be necessary right now. Ski lessons tend to be most useful at the start, when progress plateaus, or when a specific issue keeps showing up and you can’t quite self-correct.
Do you need ski lessons at all?
If you’re brand new, yes. Full stop.
Trying to teach yourself from YouTube, friends, or vibes usually means you learn bad habits early. Those habits work just well enough to get you down the hill, then haunt you for years.
A good beginner lesson saves you time, pain and a lot of unnecessary fear. It also makes skiing way more fun, way faster.
If you already ski and feel comfortable cruising blues and reds, the answer becomes more nuanced.
You might not need lessons to ski. But you might need one to ski better.
Kids should also generally get some lessons. You’ll be surprised how fast they progress with a little instruction. You can of course teach your kids to ski yourself (if you’re a solid skier). Bear in mind that there might be some tensions, and you’re also sacrificing your own skiing time. A couple of professional lessons early on can be a game-changer.
The question You're really asking
When someone asks me “do I need lessons?”, what they usually mean is:
“Is a lesson worth the money and effort at my level?”
That depends less on your level and more on whether you feel stuck.
Here are a few signs a lesson would actually help.
- You feel fine on easy runs but tense up as soon as it gets steeper
- You avoid certain terrain even though you think you should be able to ski it
- Your legs burn quickly and you feel wrecked halfway through the day
- You’ve been skiing the same way for years and nothing seems to change
- You watch other skiers and wonder why it looks so easy for them
- You want to try something new, like freestyle skiing or backcountry guiding.
If any of that sounds familiar, a lesson can be a shortcut. Not a magic fix (sorry), but a shortcut.
How many ski lessons do you need?
This is where I’ll be honest.
Most recreational skiers don’t need a season-long lesson program.
For beginners, a handful of lessons early on makes a huge difference. Enough to get you stopping confidently, linking turns and not feeling like the mountain is trying to kill you.
For intermediate and advanced skiers, one good lesson now and again can be enough.
I’ve had people book a single session, fix one key movement or mindset and ski better for the rest of their lives. I’ve also had people come back a season later because they wanted to build on that.
Lessons work best when they’re targeted. Not endless.
Why people wait too long
A lot of skiers wait until they’re frustrated.
They’ve already built habits. They’ve already decided they’re “just not good at steeps” or “not a powder person”. By then, lessons feel like admitting defeat.
From my side, those are the easiest and most satisfying lessons to teach.
Because the skier already knows how to get down the hill. They just need a couple of things reframed. Often smaller changes than they expect.
What a good lesson should feel like
This matters.
A good ski lesson should not feel like being barked at or over-coached. You shouldn’t leave with ten drills and a headache.
You should leave with one or two clear ideas, a different sensation under your feet and the feeling that skiing suddenly makes more sense.
If a lesson leaves you confused or overwhelmed, that’s not on you.
Can you get better without lessons?
Of course you can.
Mileage matters. Time on snow matters. Skiing with better skiers helps. Filming yourself helps. Paying attention helps.
But here’s the catch.
If you practice the wrong thing, you get very good at doing it wrong.
That’s where lessons earn their keep. Not by turning you into a different skier, but by nudging you back onto a cleaner path.
Group lessons vs private lessons
Group lessons are underrated for beginners. They’re cheaper, social and you realise everyone else is also figuring it out. But avoid those massive ski schools some resorts have – they’re just prioritising income over value. I won’t teach classes of more than 6 and even that is pushing it.
Private lessons shine for intermediates and advanced skiers. You get direct feedback, tailored pacing and zero waiting around.
The honest bottom line
You don’t need ski lessons forever.
You don’t need to take them every trip.
You don’t need them to be a “real skier”.
But one well timed lesson can unlock years of better skiing.
If you feel stuck, tired, or quietly frustrated, that’s usually your cue.
And if you’re having fun already? Keep skiing. That part matters too.
Skiing isn’t a test you pass. It’s something you keep figuring out.
And sometimes, having someone stand next to you and say “try this instead” is all it takes.
See you out there!
