European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 24, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ski Europe a a a everyone should take lessons by Leah Larkin features editor thanks to improvements in equipment and teaching techniques learning to ski these Days is a lot easier than it was 20, even 10 years ago. That does t mean you can master the sport in an afternoon. Like anything else practice is required. And As with most sports it is Best to begin with professional instruction. Quot everyone should take lessons Quot says Dick Reppard Avalanche and ski mountaineering adviser for the National ski patrol s european division. Quot you la learn the Correct technique and will Advance faster have More fun and have less Chance of getting  taking lessons does not mean asking a Friend who is a Good skier to teach you. Quot take them from a fully qualified instructor not a Friend or someone you think is a Good skier Quot Reppard advises. Skiing Well and teaching others to ski require entirely different skills. Those who rely on a Friend for ski instruction Quot end up As poorly trained skiers or without a Friend Quot he says. Quot it s like teaching your wife to play Golf. Don t do  Bernhard Bruckdorfer Winter sports manager at arc Carmich has seen too Many would be skiers shun lessons and head straight to the slopes. Quot these Young soldiers come Down Here get a ticket and think they can  Many end up walking Down the Mountain he says. Quot take lessons. Croup lessons private lessons two Day lessons three Day lessons we really try to fit every need Quot he adds referring to the variety of instruction available at arc resorts. Reppard who also serves As the european coordinator for the professional ski instructors of America says it s Best to limit your time in ski class. Quot More than two hours of lessons per Day is a waste Quot he says. First timers on skis May be an exception and profit from More instruction but for others it s Best to take a two hour lesson and then practice. Quot you can Only absorb so much Quot he says. Too much time in lessons May mean too Little fun. It s especially important to limit time in private or Semi private lessons which Are intense and can be stressful. Croup lessons can be fun especially if the ski instructor in addition to conducting on the Hill demonstrations and drills acts As a guide and has skiers follow him Down the Mountain. John Schwartz a former ski instructor turned ski tour operator says Quot lessons make More sense in skiing than in any other  he favors group lessons which he says Are More enjoyable. Quot even if you Don t learn anything the group dynamics will enhance your  professional instruction in group or a a Quot a f a amps Wes Booher private lessons can be expensive. Leam to ski weeks which usually offer Levels of instruction to suit All skiers Are generally the most economical. In addition to the programs at arc several european companies such As Siegi Tours and tyrolean Tours both in Austria offer All inclusive ski weeks with lessons in English especially geared to american customers. Club med Winter resorts also include extensive instruction in their ski week package prices. Several years ago realizing the need among americans for ski instruction some members of the National ski patrol in Europe made Contact with the professional ski instructors of America. Their Hope was to offer professional instruction at reasonable rates on ski club trips. After much hard work and dedication their Hope was realized. For the past few years Psia has sent one of its instructors to Europe to conduct an instructor s clinic. There Are now 29 american skiers in Europe who have completed the course and Are registered Psia instructors. They Are affiliated with american ski clubs and offer instruction on club trips. All their lessons Are two hour sessions and Are usually priced As follows private 50 Marks Semi private two to three people 35 Marks and group four or more25 Marks