Ride Nozawa ski and snowboarding instructors
We’re often asked which is better, ski school or private lessons, particularly for first timers/beginners and families. So we’re here to break down the pros and cons of ski school vs private lessons during your time in Nozawa Onsen.
What is the difference between ski school and private ski and snowboard lessons?
Ski school is where you are put in a group with other people who are a similar ability to you. They tend to be fairly large class sizes with one instructor teaching you how to ski or snowboard. Classes are generally aimed at beginners and first timers, but intermediate and even advanced lessons are available too. Classes are organised by ability and age group.
Private lessons are where your instructor is booked to take a lesson with only you or your small group - you aren’t mixed in with other people. Depending on the school/company you may have to pay extra to add more people to your lesson. In the case of our ski school Ride Nozawa, you can have up to 6 people in your group at no extra charge. After that we recommend booking a second instructor so that you can get more out of your lesson.
So which is better, ski school or private lessons?
Learning to ski or snowboard is a highly personal experience and no two skiers/boarders are alike. Everyone learns differently, so being able to make a decision based on your personal needs is best. Let’s break down the pros and cons of both private lessons and ski school, so you’re able to make the right decision for you.
Pros and Cons of Ski School Lessons
Ski instructor with large group size
Pros:
Cheaper than private lessons - Generally speaking, ski school is the more affordable option. You pay per person and so if you’re just one individual and want to save money, ski school is a good option. The downside to paying per person is that in a large group costs can quickly add up.
It’s a good way of meeting new people - ski schools will put you in a class with other people of a similar age and ability. This can be a great way of meeting new people, especially if you’re travelling alone.
Good if you need child care and aren’t too bothered about improving technique - If you’re a parent and want to spend the morning skiing by yourself knowing someone is taking care of your kids while they’re getting time on the slopes, ski school can be a good option. Your kids might not get an awful lot of focused learning time with their instructor, or make huge improvements, but it does free you up for some solo ski time.
Cons:
Less 1:1 time with an instructor - large group sizes mean you don’t really get much time with your instructor. It can be hard in large groups for your instructor to really see what you’re doing and give specific advice for you. As a result, advice tends to be generic and relevant to the whole group, rather than highly personalised. If you want to progress quickly, or really hone in your technique, ski school is not the best option for you.
Large groups = more time wasted on managing the group - Due to the size of groups in ski school the instructor usually spends a lot of time managing the group rather than teaching. This is especially true of kids lessons. If you want to make sure you’re maximising your time improving your skiing or snowboarding, you might want to consider a private lesson with either just you and your instructor or a couple of other people from your group. That way you can make sure all your lesson time is spent actually working on your technique, not trying to manage a large group size.
Lesson plans aren’t as flexible - Because the instructor needs to look after the group as a whole, lesson plans aren’t so flexible. If there is something really specific you would like to work on, you may not get the opportunity, especially if it isn’t aligned with the rest of the group’s needs. You may be better off getting a private lesson where you can specifically work on your goals with your instructor.
Ability mismatch - Although ski schools generally try to match ages and abilities, more often than not the whole group’s skills aren’t completely aligned. Sometimes you might find that there are one or two people who are a bit behind compared to the rest of the group and as a result the group can’t work on more advanced techniques, as they need to be held back to ensure the others aren’t left behind. Conversely sometimes you might find yourself feeling out of your depth if you’re paired with people slightly above your ability. To make sure your lesson is truly suited to your ability, we’d recommend booking private lessons so you don’t waste time and money on a lesson that isn’t right for you.
Strict meeting points - Ski schools usually have specific meeting points and times for lessons. This means that if you are staying on one side of the resort, you can’t meet your instructor where it’s convenient for you - you have to go to the meeting point even if it’s far away. Or, if you spend the morning skiing and don’t want to come down the mountain to find your lesson, you can’t just meet your instructor at the top of the mountain.
No help you with rentals and ski gear - If it’s your first time skiing or snowboarding, trying to figure out which lift pass to get, or how to make sure your rental gear fits correctly can be quite an overwhelming experience. Unfortunately ski schools aren’t usually able to help you with this and so you’re left to figure it on your own.
In summary: ski school is great if you want a cheaper option, but not if you want to really progress or have a personalised experience.
Pros and Cons of Private Lessons
Ride Nozawa Onsen instrucutor helping with gear
Pros:
More 1:1 time with your instructor - Individual and small group private lessons mean you get to spend more time with your instructor specifically working on YOUR technique. Your instructor can watch and even film you while you’re skiing or snowboarding and then tailor their advice to you. In fact many people see the same improvements in just one private lesson compared to a whole week of ski school lessons.
Quicker progression - because you get more time with your instructor, people tend to progress much more quickly. Instead of trailing along at the back of the ski school unsure if they’re doing the right thing, your instructor is working 1:1 with you to make sure you improve.
Flexible lesson plan - because you’re not at the whim of a large group, your instructor can tailor their lesson plan to you and your goals. If there is something specific you want to work on e.g. building confidence, powder technique, carving, navigating steeper terrain, or improving turns, your instructor can build a lesson plan around that goal and create a personalised lesson plan for you.
Learning at your level - there’s nothing worse than turning up to a lesson ready to learn and improve your ski or snowboard technique and then feeling as though you’re a big fish in a small pond unable to advance your skills. Or worse, feeling nervous and out of your depth being pushed to do things that you’re scared of because the rest of the group is more confident. With private lessons that isn’t an issue. Your instructor is able to tailor the lesson to your learning level rather than trying to fit you into a group level. That way they can make sure you learn and improve in your own time and aren’t pressured into conforming with a large group.
Flexible meeting point - private lessons mean you can meet us where you want. If there’s a part of the resort that’s more convenient for you to get to, you can meet your instructor there. Or if you’ve been skiing all morning and want to meet your instructor at the top of the mountain instead of coming down to a meeting point, that’s also an option. With our private lessons at Ride Nozawa we can even come and meet you at your accommodation.
Premium service - in private lessons you tend to get a premium service. Instead of being treated as just another number in a class, you get a much more tailored experience. At Ride Nozawa we can meet you where you want, help you with rentals and offer a higher quality of teaching.
Help you with fears and building confidence - if it’s your first time skiing or you’re nervous, having a private lesson means your instructor can help you build confidence. You’re not left to trail at the back of ski school feeling afraid. Your instructor can tailor their plan based around your fears and help you build your confidence without pushing you too far outside of your comfort zone. You’ll feel more safe and secure than in a large group.
Advanced technique - it’s much easier to work on advanced technique when you get more 1:1 time with your instructor. If there’s a specific techniques you want to work on, like powder, short turns, or carving, your instructor can build a lesson based around these advanced techniques. They can even film you and use video analysis to help you improve. It’s much harder for an instructor to do this properly in the large group size of ski schools, so if you want to see real improvement and really understand advanced technique, we’d recommend private lessons.
Navigate rentals if it’s your first time skiing - figuring out how to fit rental gear, which lift pass to get, and get to your lesson on time can be quite overwhelming on your first day of skiing. If you book a private lesson with us your instructor can meet you at your accommodation, walk you to your rentals, help you make sure your gear is fitting correctly (and that you’ve put it on right!) before making sure you buy the right ski pass. That way you can start your lesson feeling comfortable - there is nothing worse than ill-fitting ski boots - and that you don’t waste your money on a ski pass you don’t need. We take the guess work out of your first time skiing so that you can relax and enjoy your lesson and get more out of your time with us.
Accommodating different languages - in ski school lessons in Nozawa you will be learning in either Japanese or English depending on what you book. However with a private lesson you may have the chance to learn in another language if you would prefer. Our instructors come from all over the world and between us we speak a combined 6 different languages. So there is a chance we might be able to help you progress in your own language. Just ask when you enquire and if we can accommodate your language needs, we will!
Pay per lesson, not per person - this means that you can split the cost between your private group. In our lessons you can have up to 6 people in your class at no extra cost.
Cons:
More expensive - private lessons are a higher price than ski school group lessons. But when you consider the amount of learning time and progression you get, it’s much higher value for money. Plus at Ride Nozawa our private lessons can have up to 6 people in the class, so you can split the cost, while still getting a lot of 1:1 time with your instructor.
In summary: Private classes are a much better option if you want to see real progression and have a highly personalised experience, tailored to you and your needs, but they tend to be more expensive unless you split the cost between your group.
Want to book a private lesson with us and start seeing real results? Enquire about tailored lessons by clicking the button here.
The RIDE Nozawa team
Hopefully now you can use this information to make an informed decision about whether ski school or private lessons are right for you when you’re skiing or snowboarding in Nozawa Onsen.
Whether your a beginner or an advanced skier/snowboarder, making the right decision for your learning is important.
If you’re interested in a private ski or snowboard lesson with one of our expert instructors, you can click here to make an enquiry. We offer an English speaking concierge style service, so that you can tailor your lesson to you and your group’s needs. Each lesson is highly personalised and your instructor will make sure their lesson plan takes into account your goals, so you can reach them faster.
We hope to see you on the mountain this winter,
The RIDE Nozawa team
Book your private lesson with us now by clicking the button below and start progressing your skills this winter.