Frequently Asked Questions
Let us take the hassle out of planning ski or snowboard lessons so that you can enjoy your Niseko trip! Below are some of our frequently asked questions that we hope will help your Niseko planning. If you have any questions not listed here, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Is skiing or snowboarding difficult? Which one is easier?
This will vary from person to person, but for most guests skiing and snowboarding may be a little challenging, but not too difficult. It’s important to go at your own pace when learning and taking ski or snowboard lessons. Your instructor will be happy to plan a progressive and fun lesson for you based on your goals, comfort level and confidence. If it’s your first time or you have little experience, your instructor will show you the basics of controlling yourself, so that you can build confidence within your own comfort zone. This could be spending time on gentle slopes while your instructor creates a fun environment to learn and progress at your own pace.
Which is easier, skiing or snowboarding? A question many ask and the answer depends on yourself. As a very general rule of thumb, for most people skiing is a little easier to pick up the basics and start sliding around. Snowboarding usually takes a little longer to pick up but after the early stages, both are about the same as each other in terms of difficulty. Both are immense fun so it really comes down to you as an individual. If you have experience with similar sports such as surfing or skateboarding, rollerblading or ice skating, you can use this to get an idea of which you might prefer.
Still not sure? We can help. Contact us and we can advise what’s best for you.
Should my child ski or snowboard?
Both skiing and snowboarding are a lot of fun and will build on your child’s life skills of motivation, determination and learning to achieve. There are a couple of deciding factors other than which your child may be more excited to learn. As a very general rule, skiing is a little easier to pickup at first. If your child is very young (3 - 5 years old) then you may want them to try skiing. As children’s centre of gravity is higher than an adults, meaning they can be less stable, having two skis under them can allow for easier balance at a very young age. This is not to say that they can’t learn to snowboard early on, they certainly can and will still improve, but it usually takes them a little longer to learn the basics on a snowboard. So if you just want them to have a great time on snow, either skiing or snowboarding will lead to this.
For children over 5 years old, there really isn’t much difference in the learning of either skiing or snowboarding. It really comes down to what you and your child think they will enjoy the most. If they have similar hobbies such as skateboarding (snowboarding) or ice skating (skiing) then this will certainly give them an advantage in either one, so these can be deciding factors. Ultimately it comes down to motivation to learn vs level of fun, children will almost always be motivated by fun and what interests them as individuals. For your child to have the most success in either skiing or snowboarding, it comes down to which they are most excited to try.
It’s very important to manage your own expectations when your child is learning to ski or snowboard. Regardless of age or choice of sport, each child will learn at their own pace. As long as they are having fun and excited about skiing or snowboarding, they will progress and learn new things.
Want to know more about how to set your child up for success with ski or snowboard lessons, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Do we have to be the same level to take a ski or snowboard lesson together?
If you are planning to have more than one person in a ski or snowboard lesson then it’s very important to be very similar ability levels. Ski or snowboard lessons, regardless of private or group lessons, can only be taught to level of the least able member of the group. This is for both safety and the overall enjoyment of everyone on the lesson. For example, if one guest only has the ability to safety ski a green slope at most, then the lesson will stay there. While instructors can adapt learning tasks and drills to individuals within a group, the overall lesson will be aimed at the lowest ability within it.
It is possible to have different ability levels in a private ski or snowboard lesson, as long as all guests are aware that the lesson and terrain choice will be aimed at the less able guest. For example, two people who would like to learn together but one is comfortable and able to ski red slopes (intermediate) and the other black slopes (advanced). The lesson will only use red slopes and will focus on skills of most benefit to the weaker skier. The instructor may adapt some of the exercises to make them more challenging to the stronger skier, so they can then use their new skills on something more challenging after the lesson or in another ski lesson with the instructor. The stronger skier must be aware that they may have to wait for the weaker skier if they are slower and that the overall lesson pace will be aimed at the weaker skier.
We always recommend separate lessons when there are a mix of abilities. Everyone learns at different speeds, a first timer may take a few lessons before they are ready to move on from the early learner area or they may be using a chairlift on the first day. For this reason, it’s best to separate to ensure everyone get’s the most out of their ski or snowboard lessons. You can certainly meet up for lunch and ski in similar areas every now and then.
If you would like to get personal recommendations on lessons for your family and friends with different ability levels, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Can skiers and snowboarders learn together?
Not in the same lesson but in the same learning area. Skiing and snowboarding require different equipment, techniques and people will learn different rates. Instructors need to be on the same equipment as guests to demonstrate how to ski or snowboard well. Skiers and snowboards can certainly learn in the same area though, so if your family or friends want to learn different things but enjoy time on snow together, this is not a problem.
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders can ride together and use the same slopes. If your goal is to be taken to great powder snow then skiers and snowboarders can mix together, the instructor can show guests around and how to access the best snow for some powder guiding. They can also offer technical advice and coaching but only to the skiers if they are a ski instructor, or snowboarders if they are a snowboard instructor.
If you’d like to know the best combination of lessons for your mix of skiers and snowboarders, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
How long should I book a lesson for?
A full day ski or snowboard lesson will lead to the best experience overall, at any level. Having the time over the course of a full day to go through a well paced learning progression will set you up for the most success. You’ll have time to absorb the information and see some real changes in your skiing or snowboarding skills.
It’s also the most flexible. If you’re someone who enjoys taking breaks and having a good lunch to refuel for the afternoon of fun and learning, a full day gives you this opportunity. Maybe you’re the type of person who loves to have a long morning enjoying the fresh powder, a late lunch avoiding the crowds and then a short afternoon for some mellow skiing to wind down the day. A full day will suit your personal style of skiing/snowboarding and learning.
If you are a first time skier or snowboarder, a full day is essential. Having more time in the day to learn and progress leads to greater overall improvement and less skills forgotten between lessons.
If you’d like a personal recommendation for you ski or snowboard lessons, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
What do I need to wear?
If you’re not a seasoned skier or snowboarder, clothing can seem overwhelming at first. Below are the essentials you’ll need to enjoy your time in the snow.
Clothing:
Ski/Snowboard socks - Socks made specific for snow will keep your feet warm and dry, they’ll also keep them comfortable in ski or snowboard boots (Only wear one pair of ski socks in your boots)
Base layer - This is the first layer you’ll wear over your underwear. It’s a thin top and pants designed to keep you warm and wick moisture away to keep you dry. You’ll find them in both ski shops and sports shops
Mid Layer - Layering a smart move for skiing or snowboarding as temperatures can change day to day. A good mid layer will be warm but fit well under your jacket. Synthetic down jackets and “puffers” are a great option as they will trap heat well but not moisture
Other layers - If it’s going to be very cold, or you’re from a warmer climate, extra layers will help. Make sure you can still move freely and you can use anything that’s warm but not too restrictive. Just avoid bulky material that will trap moisture when it get’s damp
Ski/Snowboard jacket and pants - A good quality waterproof ski/snowboard jacket is essential to enjoying the snow. Some jackets are better at keeping water out than others, so check out their waterproof rating so that you can be out in the snow as long as you want, even if it’s heavily snowing
Ski/Snowboard gloves - Like the jacket and pants, a good pair of gloves is an absolute essential. No one enjoys wet hands in the cold. Some gloves are warmer than others, more waterproof or both. If you usually get cold hands, look for some with good insulation, you can even get heated gloves that come with a rechargeable battery pack!
Neck warmer - Don’t let the cold stop you from having fun in the snow, a neck warmer is essential. They come in many different styles and insulation levels so choose one that will suit you and your body’s ability to deal with cold
Equipment
Helmet - Make sure your helmet fits well for not only comfort, but for safety too. A good fitting helmet should be snug but not too tight, there should be very minimal to no wobble on your head
Goggles - Absolutely essential to have a good pair. Look for a reputable brand of goggles with a good lens in them. Good brands put a lot of effort into developing their anti fog technologies. Being able to clearly see when skiing is something you’ll always take for granted until that one day when you can’t and your whole day is spent trying to clear the fog in them - Never touch the inside of the lens and ALWAYS dry them out after skiing. Even the best goggles in the world will fog up if they are still a little damp from the previous day
Skis/Snowboard - It’s easiest to rent these until you are intermediate and might want to try something different to the rental equipment
Ski/Snowboard Boots - Whether renting or buying, a good fit is essential to a good day on the slopes. Ski/snowboard boots should be a snug fit and match the shape of your foot well to avoid any pain. They will feel tighter than your normal shoes as you don’t want any space in there. A snug fitting boot makes it easier to ski or snowboard as the movements you make with your feet control the skis or snowboard
Have any questions about what you’ll need to have the best time in the snow? Contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Do I need a lift ticket if it’s my first time skiing or snowboarding?
Not straight away. You’ll spend some time on a flat area and then a very gentle hill before getting on a lift. While it’s likely you’ll need a lift ticket at some point on your lesson, when you’ll need it is determined by how quickly you progress. This is different for everyone and hard to predict. If it’s your first lesson and you haven’t bought a lift ticket yet, don’t worry. Just make sure you have cash or a credit card to purchase one when you are ready. Lift tickets can be purchased at the bottom of any of the ski areas.
If you don’t want to purchase your ticket during your lesson, you can of course arrange this beforehand so you can simply focus on learning and enjoying your lesson.
If you’re unsure of the best lift ticket to buy or when you’ll need to arrange this, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.