Lesson-taking cost-saving strategies to get more value:   (Prices shown are for online reservations and may differ for other types. confirm when booking.)  

The comparisons below show generally that full-day lessons are a better value per hour versus half-day lessons. But a more important reason is that it usually takes longer than a half-day lesson to impart a new skill. Often the first half-day is spent learning a skill, and the next half-day anchors the skill with practice guided by a coach. First-time and beginner skiers in group lessons, for instance, are encouraged to take a full 3 days of lessons for this same reason. While a private lesson has advantages, it does not necessarily reduce the time needed to be spent on learning and practice.

Book Bill through the Keystone Ski School at $799/day and have him come to you there or for the same amount Breckenridge instead of booking a Breckenridge instructor at $855/day. Or have him come to you at Vail or Beaver Creek for $899 instead of booking an instructor there at $995. This idiosyncrasy is due to the different resorts having different prices at their ski schools and a travel surcharge to go to the distant resorts.

Book full-day lessons instead of half-day lessons: For instance, at Keystone, total cost ($799) of a full-day lesson is less than two half-day lessons (2 x $639=$1278). Bill can teach half-day lessons at Keystone but not elsewhere.

Extend a morning Keystone session: If you start in the morning with a regular-season half-day lesson of 3 hours (at $639) you may extend to a full-day lesson (at $799) for just $160 more. This add-on option can be useful if you are uncertain of your available time or are unsure you will have the stamina for a full-day lesson. The risk is that if an a.m. lesson Bill may get booked by another party in the afternoon before you decide to extend. And if not extended, the lesson must end on time so Bill can report for his afternoon assignment.

Start early, Stay late: Because the ski slopes sometimes open at 8:30 a.m. we might be able to start then. If we catch our last ride at 4:00 p.m., a full-day lesson can be stretched out, allowing for lunch and rest breaks. (At Keystone when there is night skiing there is even more flexibility on start time if arranged in advance.)

Run gates and/or race free: Running gates with or without timed results is free at the Vail Resort ski areas for lesson students of skill level 6 and up, when the course is open (usually). There may be a separate registration fee if vying for medals. Practicing skiing gates is a great way to tune up skiing skills even if not done for time.

If private lessons still seem costly, consider The Business Model: The cost of a private lesson has some correlation with the revenue the resort could earn from using the same instructor for a group lesson. Rates have proved compatible with ski school business model requirements within supply and demand parameters and compare with rates charged for many other individualized services available from some other sports professionals such as golf and tennis, as well as accountants, lawyers, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, and computer technicians. Like these specialists, a ski instructor is a trained professional, too, and like them is supported by an office, marketing, training, and managerial staff. Demand for instruction is such that the local ski resorts have from 200 to 1200 instructors each.

For more considerations on private lessons, and for comparing pros and cons of private lessons versus group lessons, go to Why Take a Lesson from a Professional Ski Instructor and scroll down to "Private vs. Group Lesson".

What you may expect in a Level 1 private ski lesson at River Run, Keystone

Location maps of some private lesson meeting areas at Breckenridge and Keystone

Share your personal skiing information with Bill so he can plan the best experience to meet your needs and wishes.

Get on  a contact list for Bill's annual pre-season letter.