The Highest Lesson Prices Are Exponentially Worse Than Lift Tickets 

And the actual instructor gets maybe $120-$160 of that full day lesson. The rest goes to the mountain.

Lesson is don't go to big name destination resorts for first time instruction. It'll be crowded around the base where you're learning ( creating more obstacles that will be intimidating for q beginner), and you won't progress quickly enough to enjoy what makes the place a destination ( at least on piste). Find a local hill to learn, then start touristing when you're ready to walk right to the lift and take on more than green groomers

I took a private lesson for 3 hrs in Zermatt for roughly 290 dollars last season. Some of the prices in the US are crazy.

The average hour salary for a ski instructor in USA is 22 US dollars in Western Europe is around 45 to 50 US dollars and complete insurance coverage Big corporation. Are killing the whole ski industry

Learned to ski at bever creek. The ski instructors there used to be great. Many former ski racers and experienced European instructors used to be there. But despite the high price the ski instructors at Vail BC are paid like shit, and have terrible housing. Most of the best instructors have either left or they only take filthy rich clients who tip larger amounts. It’s kind of sad to see because you would think that with such high rates for everything at Vail BC they could at least pay the employees more.

I like the shout out for Eldora - that used to be my home mountain, and the one time I took a private lesson there, the instructor guided me through a bunch of glades that I would never have found on my own. Honestly, I wish more mountains had a "guided skiing" option, instead of just lessons.

I worked in a rental shop at Stowe last year and I had no idea they were this insane lol. Couldn’t imagine having so much money to spend on something you might not even enjoy doing

For these prices y'all can fly to Austria and spend a week in the Alps . Insane

I took a single day group lesson and then a 3 day group lesson at vail last year. My 3 day group ended up just being a private lesson as I was far ahead of the others in my group, so they just sent me off with my own instructor. I paid $695 for the 3 days of lessons including my lift ticket. 10/10 would recommend

As a Boston native I learned how to ski at wachusett, for $150 you can get 3 passes and lessons along with rentals. Greatest deal of all time

It seems insane to me at this point in time that anyone who is not already into skiing would even consider getting involved. It's like starting a smoking addiction when you know it will cost you tons of money and eventually kill you.

Finding a bunny hill and figuring it out for myself sounds more appealing than a full day private lesson.

Not to mention a tip which private lesson instructors fully expect. Even if you fully enjoyed your private lesson and want to book that person again. If you didn't tip, they will definitely take other clients. But for real I teach at one of these resorts and I normally work group lessons. I honestly feel guilty when I get assigned to a private lesson and it gives me MAJOR imposter syndrome. Additionally the private lesson instructors aren't ashamed to whore themselves out, I've even seen some with a venmo QR code on their name tag, some have dropped their clients off at their hotels. I just can't bring myself to do that. But I guess that's why I love teaching groups. Great video btw lmao

I have never taken any lessons ever. startet skiing mby 10 years ago, when i was about 6 years old. you just have to start in the small slopes and learn from others. after a while you build up confidence and dare to go to the bigger and steeper sloopes. you also learn a lot from watching videos on yt.

So glad I learned to ski at Cochran's in Richmond VT. Both with a after school club then later in High School did 4 years of racing and training there

40 year old east coasters may remember the American Skiing Company group of mountains (Sugarloaf, mt snow, attitash, sunday river) and then mobil gas was running a deal. Fill up 3 times and either get $10 full ticket, $5 half day or FREE BEGINNER LESSONS! I did that twice when learning to snowboard. I took the beginner lesson twice. Such an amazing deal.

You can literally fly down to Chile, get a lesson there in the off-season of North America, with accommodations and food. And still spend less than some of these prices.

right before you announced the number one spot my guess was vail and then I second guessed myself thinking it would be beaver creek

If you want to learn to ski/snowboard, my advice is work part time at a ski resort. At the resort I work at, even someone working the mailroom just one day a week gets a free unlimited pass with no blackout dates, 3 days of free rentals, and two free lessons. Not to mention huge discounts on gear, day passes for friends, food, free transit, etc.

I paid about $180 for a half day group lesson at Jackson Hole a few years back. I asked for an advanced/expert level and I was the only person in the lesson. It had been snowing all day and I told the instructor to take my to the best powder stashes as long as they didnt have any mandatory cliffs. We cruised pow and got walk on trams rides all afternoon. ❄️

I learned to ski in the Midwest and now live in Wyoming. Except for one or two yearly trips to destination resorts such as Jackson Hole, I largely ski at smaller independent facilitues in the Bighorn and Wind River ranges and would always recommend these types of facilities for brand new skiers/riders for the lower prices, smaller crowds, and less intimidating atmosphere. Instruction at these locations can be very affordable. For example, a one-on-one adult lesson at Antelope Butte (Shell, WY) can be had for $100 with group or youth lessons available for $50 or less.

You can still get a great one-on-one lesson at a very good rate at Nubs Nob! Opening weekend is this Friday, too.

I took one full day lesson when I was 12 (2008) at my local small hill and learned the rest watching my dad ski. Most people don't need anything fancy. Just get out there and practice and enjoy the mountains!

Sun valley actually has an even higher priced option to ski with a “legend” who are all just retired World Cup skiers (one of which happens to be my good friends dad) or dudes who were freestyle skiers so long ago that I know 9 year old kids that do better tricks then they did in their prime.

One big hack is to just put on some skates and get good at the local odr. The cross over is not 100% transferable but you'll get used to things fast enough to just teach yourself and progress. The muscle groups used are not all too different either if you stay on the groomers.

I taught myself how to ski, watched some RU-vid videos, went to the mountain and just figured it out

Wow, Mt Hood Meadows offers a beginner progression pass with three group lessons, unlimited rentals, and unlimited access to four lifts for $509. This can be upgraded to full mountain access in the spring for $200 or less.

My kids did their first lessons at a hill made on an old LANDFILL. It was like US$60--for the whole program!

If you live in he Midwest or in the east, you should find a small hill for lessons, that way you know how to ski before you go to a big mountain.

They should have played the victory fanfare at the end in a minor key.

When I was little I did ski school/camp in Stowe all the time but it was with a large group. I didn’t know private lessons were 1200!! I guess now every time I see a private lesson on the mountain I’ll think of this 😂

Why are American ski resorts so expensive!?! Europe is much more affordable with day tickets rarely hitting over 90euros normally around 60 to 70 euro a day. I recommend everyone to look into Europe ski vacation. Plus lessons are very affordable as well. Insane

I'm a skiier but wanted to learn how to snowboard. so I went to Cataloochee in NC during the week before the holidays started and I ended up paying $80 for two 1.5 hour "group" lessons where I was the only one there, so I think $80 for 3 hours of private instruction was a pretty good deal compared to what's going on here!

That's why Shred Happy boards will come with a free lesson!

Is there anything like uber for ski instruction?

Ski instructors get about 20 dollars an hour, go to Switzerland and you will get a better pay and very good insurance

I’m pretty sure this is to prevent normie skibums from paying for a lesson and just using the instructor as a guide/lift-fastpass. If anyone wants to learn the sport they should find a cheap rental+lesson+lift package at a local mountain to get started. You should be ok from there to figure stuff out on your own.

Most private lessons require everyone to be doing the same thing (ski/board) and be at the same level and even require them to be all adults or kids. And, really, when you split the cost of a private lesson with others in your party, you are negating the whole point of private lessons (one-on-one instruction). I will say that both private and group lessons benefit from pass product discounts - for example Epic is 20% off. At least with Vail resorts, the private lessons do not give you access to the discounted lift tickets but the group lessons do. Some of the smaller resorts are better for learning (cheaper) but require private lessons for intermediate/advanced levels. Skiing/snowboarding is too expensive of a sport not to get lessons until you understand the essential skills. Having a friend teach you isn't the same and may be a frustrating experience for you and the friend. I recommend first timers take at least a half-day lesson on their first day. If you have the endurance for a full day, do that. I would advise skiers do lessons until you can do parallel turns (J and S) and hockey stops - after that, it is a matter of how quickly your budget will allow you to progress.

Ski or ride with a friend to get the basics. When you hit a plateau it really does feel worth it to pay $500 to reach that next level with a pro boarder.

Can u pls state which mountain has the lesson price in each timestamp? I dont wanna waste my time watching and can fast forward to each one

I spent 200ish the season after covid at Breck for a half day Intermidiate group lesson. I was the only person and after he tructed my ability to stop and turn he took me into some glades. I would say group lessons at non begginer levels will have the most value.

At my local resort (Wisp, McHenry), it's $150 - $200 (depending on the day) for a one hour private lesson. Their private lessons don't include equipment or lift tickets either. Their group lessons are a well priced package, but it's absurd to me how much they charge for an hour private lesson, and the instructors barely get paid over 1/10th of those costs. Not to mention the resort is only 130 skiable acres, 700ft vertical, and rarely fully open.

Private lessons are good for people who like 1 on 1 learning, but just as many others have said on this thread, go with an experienced skier/rider and you’ll learn everything for free, just offer them drinks or food for lunch since they could’ve charged you $1500, like seriously who’s buying these private lessons man, I can justify it

These prices are unbelievable. I'd say 90% of skiers cannot afford to pay these prices, nor should they. I guess these resorts only want a certain type of skier. 😒

Long story short, I had my son take lessons at Steamboat in January on a weekday and it was $400/day for a group lesson. They very good teachers and he did well but c’mon. I’m a believer in lessons for beginners. You only have to look around at others skiers to see all the bad habits formed from DIY. It will hurt Steamboat in the end though, because I’ll probably buy one more day for him and it’ll be anywhere where they don’t gouge you for instruction.

I learned to ski at Breckenridge. Watched some videos and tryed it out. Got the epic pass and used the hell out of it for years after that. Perhaps for my kids private lessons might be useful , but i think putting time into the skill works as well. Alot of schools have ski racing programs as well so these tiny kids are always shredding all over the mountain 😅.

Go to Soldier Mountain instead of Sun Valley if you're a beginner. Or Pomerelle. Both are affordable and great mountains.

Thank god I lived near a mountain had ski club in high school.

Hey Peak!

Amazing video! But these prices are ridiculously high😂.

Can you do a video on Jackson hole in Wyoming And show us your experience of skiing Corbetts cooler

Couldnt get into skiing. I tried once and never again. My knees arent the best and it hurt quit a but doing turns. Oddly enough i went ahead and tried snow skiis? And like magic my knees didnt hurt as much anymore. It felt like it was just putting on a pair of roller blades or ice skates. It was vry easy to maneuver with them than using skiis. I eventually moved back to snowboarding that day. Having the rental package to try different equipment helped a lot for me to know i preferred snowboarding.

I took up skiing 3 years ago. It was expensive and difficult to get started. But now that I am an advanced skier (per their definition, I feel that I am an intermediate), I just book group lessons and I am usually the only client, or there may be one more in a group. But for beginners, group lessons are a bad idea: you are mixed with a bunch of others and everything is lowered to the lowest common denominator.

These prices are absolutely insane. Im going to start offering my own private lessons for 1 5th of the price because I had NO idea things had gotten THIS out of control The prices theyre charging for 1 day are literally what I make biweekly

I have two friends that our ski instructor at a major resort. It would make you sick how little the ski resort actually pay their instructors. Next to nothing.

Just stay away from the expensive Rocky Mountain resorts - start off at the smaller hills instead. The big resort companies are pricing themselves out of business.

I'm an ex-instructor, I teach my wife or anyone else who happens to need it for free

this makes me think i should become an instructor!

I’m shocked aspen wasn’t on this list

The Alps would say be my local destination,done Hokkaido and BC 2019.Was looking at States for this season but can't justify handing over €1000+ for a week of boarding especially when the mountains are tiny compare to Alps.Sorry but forcing people to buy a pass before season starts takes the piss.Thats why I have notice in reason years we meet a lot of Americans and Canadians over here.It's a ticking time bomb............

10) Sun Valley ID / Stowe VT 0:59 9) Winter Park CO 3:00 8) Big Sky MT 4:17 7) Northstar CA 6:00 6) Breckenridge CO 7:17 5) Deer Valley UT 9:03 4) Park City UT 10:25 3)Steamboat CO 11:49 2)Mammoth CA 12:46 1) Vail CO / Beaver Creek CO 14:00

The fewer people learn how to ski or snowboard, the smaller the lines =)))

Private "Intro To Skiing" Lesson. Only $240. Oh, it's only for 1 hour. 🤣

yet my sons pitching coach, ex Mariner and Astro is $80 bucks an hour. My 11 yr old is in a 6 week free ride school for $1200 bucks, still steep but sheesh

Our local hill in the midwest is $57 for a 1.5hr lesson. Maybe don't travel all the way to Vail to learn to ski...

my ski lessons from the early 2000s in Switzerland were as cheap as a two person dinner in comparison

Remember that less than 5% goes to your instructor. They survive on tips. If you can afford a $500 lesson, you can afford $100 as a tip.

1 day of private lessons is almost more than my months rent bill. Where can I be an instructor to charge this much and live like a king?

$200 CDN for a 2hr private lesson with rentals and lift tickets here at Marble Mountain, in Newfoundland.

Disgusting what's happened to the ski industry in the last few years

RU-vid is my instructor 😂

Never took a lesson. Tiny ski hill in Iowa. Start at the top of the ridge. Can even click in in the parking lot if conditions are right😊. Anyways, took me 30 min to do my first run of 500 vert ft. Cuz I watched the people going by and my bindings were set to pop off if you did a parallel turn😊. Taught both kids,one at Copper when Lewis Ranch didn't exist and the other at Loveland Valley

look up "bode miller how to ski" and you could save enough for a ski setup

Essentially taught myself to ski at a small rope tow area 54 years ago. Retired 8 years ago and moved near a (Vail owned - UGH!) western resort. Always thought I'd ski right up until the end, but now, at age 70, that's very much in doubt. Although cost is always a consideration, that doesn't seem to stop ANYBODY. Ever since 2020, my "home" resort has been INSANELY crowded almost every single day. And that impacts everything from liftlines, to overcrowded runs, to parking, to using the toilet, and even just getting around town or going out for a bite to eat. SO, like anything else in life, ski resorts can charge what they do, because there are enough people willing to pay the price. Everybody has to decide for themselves if the cost is worth the benefit. Because of age, I now qualify for reasonably priced "super senior" passes at a couple of smaller resorts nearby. We'll see how they are midweek, if it's not any better, I'll be ready to say it's just not worth it anymore.

why would you pay to learn how to ski at a large resort? Just go to a small local hill and pay like 50 bucks for a 2 hour group lesson.

fly to Europa, it is cheaper, flight incl.

I strongly suspect these prices are set up specifically to discourage people from taking individual lessons. A group lesson at a fraction of the price nets the resort far more money per hour paid to a ski instructor.

These resorts are being very short sighted. They should realize that the place were a visitor learns to ski is likely the place they will keep coming back to as a skier. By charging so much they are all but guaranteeing that people will learn to ski elsewhere. Also, new skiers are the least committed to the sport so prospective new skiers might decide not to become skiers at all.

Is this why the skiers in the WE RANK PEAKS jackets are such atrocius skiers?

It’s not rocket science, there are plenty of videos from beginner to advanced. The instructor’s know most people don’t get on the slopes enough, it takes some time to learn like everything else, you’re not going to get it in one day.

I'm in the wrong business

These prices are insane. Don't pay them.

That Big Sky deal is actually not terrible. Not only would you rest easy knowing you're in the hands of an experienced guide for your first time up the Lone Peak, but you'd have endless laps for the same price and would be able to really get to know the mountain from an experienced skier's perspective. Not to mention the lift riding time where you can pepper them with questions, too!

If a plane is included then $50 000 will buy the week after Christmas on the rocks, huh? Today's prices 200 homeless meals 😁

$100 for a lesson and then you get a $40 lift ticket and $40 rental at Mission Ridge in Washington State. Friends don’t let friends waste money at mega resorts.

….and don’t forget to tip your instructor well. 😊

Hell na 😂 I learned how to snowboard by myself by getting on it and sending it on a beginner slope. U don’t need lessons. RU-vid will teach u everything.

This is why you just get your dad to teach you when you’re like 5

Ski or ride with someone who knows how to and you’ll learn everything you need to

I feel so sorry for people in America and Canada as you guys pay huge amounts for basic things such as ski lessons

There is really imo no reason to do a lesson, you can sit and watch others for awhile, practice on short spurts/runs, watch a lesson even without being a part of it.

It'd maybe be cheaper for American's to come over to Europe to learn to ski.

The North American ski industry seems hell bent on killing itself.

And the instructors get crumbs. Often minimum wage.

*In america

Ski instructors need to unionize.

Why not do a video highlighting some of the least expensive lessons? Are you more interested in views or Promoting the sport?

The US ski industry is broken...

Paying a grand to learn how to pizza.

ALWAYS SUS OUT people to find someone who knows what he's doing. And just stayed GLUED to his ass and do everything he does.