Are snowboarding lessons worth it?

Snowboarding lessons come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s worth thinking about which type might suit you best.

• Private lessons: if your budget allows, this can be a great way to hit your snowboarding goals. Maybe you want to nail your powder riding? Or simply lose those novice nerves? Focussed input from an experienced instructor will get you there a whole lot quicker.
• Group lessons: probably the most common lesson style, many people love the camaraderie of learning with others, as well as the lower price point. A good snowboard school will put you in a small group with well-matched riders of a similar standard. Lessons should offer a balance between focussing on technique and exploring the pistes.

• Guiding sessions: these can be an excellent way to improve your snowboarding without taking formal lessons. Not only is riding behind an expert instructor an exhilarating experience, it also gives you the chance to pick up some tips and see how it’s really done. And their local know-how means you’re likely to ride faster and across a wider variety of slopes than you might when riding alone.
• Specialist snowboard camps: experienced snowboarders looking to progress their skills can sign up for intensive week-long snowboard camps. They’re an ace way to hone technical performance and learn new tricks.

What’s the one thing all these lessons have in common?

The chance to learn from an expert instructor who not only knows how to ride, but also how to teach. It can seem tempting to save money and get a friend or family member to show you the ropes, but we know from experience this tends to be a much less effective way to learn. You’re more likely to pick up bad habits, injure yourself and even find yourselves arguing on the slopes!

If there’s ever a time to invest in a few lessons, it’s when you’re learning the snowboarding basics. Some expert tuition on your beginner ski holiday will give you a solid technical baseto build on later. Your instructor will be able to correct any issues with your technique before they become bad habits and help your confidence soar.

It’s no secret that learning to snowboard involves a fair amount of falling over. Doing this alone can feel frustrating and embarrassing, whilst tumbling around in the company of other learners is plain hilarious.

Yes, you’ll probably still have a healthy collection of bruises by the end of the day, but you’ll also have a big grin on your face. Snowboarding instructors lessons enjoyable and your motivation levels high, so you don’t give up during the tricky first days. And that’s super important because riding is about to get so much more fun!

Do you know how to get down the mountain but have been stuck at the same level for years? The snowboarding plateau is a common phenomenon, especially when most of us only get one week on the slopes a year. If you’ve been a safe intermediate for a while now, taking some extra lessons can help you push through that plateau and take your riding to the next level. And that opens up a whole new world of riding pleasure.

Perhaps you want to hit the freestyle park? Or learn how to cruise through powder? Or just increase your speed and style on the pistes? Learning some new skills (and there’s always something fresh to try)will keep things interesting and help you make the most of your holiday.

If ski school isn’t your thing, how about some free on-the-mountain guiding and coaching? Our Neilson Mountain Experts are professional ski and snowboard instructors, local to the area.

They can show you the best runs your resort has to offer, as well as offering expert tips to boost your technique and confidence along the way.

It's a free service available exclusively to guests staying in any of our Mountain Collection chalets, hotels or chalet hotels throughout Europe, and now six hotels which are exclusive to Neilson in the UK. You need to be over 18 (or aged 12 and over during the school holidays) and be a solid blue or red run boarder.

• Winter legs: ease back onto your board after some time away from the slopes with these gentle guiding sessions. Ideal if you’re feeling a bit rusty and want to recap on the basics. Warm up your legs, get to knowthe mountain and meet some other boarders at the same time.
• Let 'em run: eat up the miles with these exciting guiding sessions. The focus here is less on technical performance and more on letting your board do its thing as you explore more of the ski area.
• Drills & Skills: concentrateon your technique with these informative coaching sessions. Your Mountain Expert will offer individual feedback and guidance to help you improve your snowboarding and take things up a notch.

Our ideal snowboarding holiday balances expert lessons with free time on the slopes to putnew found skills to the test. What about you?