The Best Way to Get Better at Skiing

Expert skiers and snowboarders who want to push it to the next level should consider taking an advanced lesson at a top ski resort in North America. Advanced lessons are the best way to get better at skiing because it is specialized training aimed at expert skiers and riders who want to improve. Taking a lesson or attending a camp is a great way to reinvigorate a passion for the sport and maybe even learn a new trick or two. Experts who want to push the envelope should consider one of these awesome camps or advanced training sessions.

Hiring a guide to show you all the best spots on the mountain is a perfect way for an expert skier to maximize their time on the slopes. In many cases, you can skip the lift line and get after it!

Steep and Deep Camp – Jackson Hole, Wyoming

The Steep and Deep Camp at Jackson Hole is a great way to get better at skiing. It starts with blue run skiing but quickly advances to double blues and off-piste terrain. Camps are held in January and February. Small, four-person groups give skiers and riders room to breath and lots of opportunity for one-on-one instruction from a certified ski pro. This intense camp is way more than a ski lesson, though! Skiers and riders can work on technique and fundamentals under the watchful eye of a top pro and enjoy perks like lift line priority and endless terrain choices.

Steep and Deep Ski Camp is perfect for advanced through expert adult skiers who want to learn how to read a slope, find the best line, select the best terrain and make the ideal run. Along the way, you’ll hit some of the most epic spots at Jackson Hole like the Hobacks, Expert Chutes and the infamous Corbet’s Couloir.

Contact Jackson Hole at (800) 450-0477 for more information on Steep and Deep Ski Camp.

Advanced and Expert Off-Trail Workshops – Alta, Utah

Hit the deep powder at Alta Ski Resort for some of the best off-trail skiing in North America. Workshops are headed by a seasoned off-trail coach who knows all the best places around the resort that will help you get better at skiing. Skiers should be confident on groomed black runs and strive to achieve the same level of confidence when skiing off-trail. The afternoon workshops begin in mid-December and start at 1:30 p.m. Workshops run for about 2.5 hours and are limited to five skiers per group. Skiers meet at the Watson Shelter Meeting Place.

Another option for ski aces at Alta is a private lesson. Private lessons are a great way to get the undivided attention of an expert instructor. A recommended lesson time of two to three hours gives ample opportunity for skiers and snowboarders to improve on existing skills and receive guided instruction on Alta’s wide variety of terrain. Two- and three-hour lessons are available. There is also a one-hour early-bird excursion at a reduced rate from 8:30-9:30 a.m. daily.

Alta Ski Resort provides excellent intermediate and expert terrain in the stunning Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The world-class ski resort only 30 miles from the Sale Lake City International Airport. Both the workshop and private lesson packages are available by calling the Alp Engen Ski School at (801) 799-2271.

Advanced and Expert Programs – Palisades Tahoe, California

Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows in California have a few specialty programs geared for advanced and expert skiers and riders that help you get better at skiing and helps improve technique and strength on the mountain.

Alpenglow Guided Backcountry Tour: Intermediate and advanced athletes can ski and ride outside the ski area boundaries under the direction of a certified guide. Preferred lift access means there’s no waiting in line and more time ripping.

Women of Winter Clinic: Ladies who want to learn to ski all terrain confidently in a fun, supportive environment should consider the popular Women of Winter Clinic on Wednesdays and Sundays during the season. At the clinic, female instructors give tactical tips and help develop skills and techniques designed specifically for women. The Women of Winter Camp is a three-day event that takes place in late January and early March. The multi-day event is a perfect brush-up for advanced female skiers over age 18.

Masters Program: The Masters Program at Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows helps build skills and confidence in a variety of snow conditions across increasingly challenging terrain. Skiers and riders can choose between gate training and free skiing every day of the week except Wednesdays. The Master Program provides access to more than 6,000 acres of prime terrain along with limited line cutting privileges when accompanied by a coach. The program is open to skiers and riders over age 21.

Skiers and snowboarders can reserve lessons online or call (800) 403-0206 for more information.

Expedition: Kirkwood – Kirkwood, California

Avid adventurers who want to conquer Kirkwood’s famous expert terrain and get better at skiing will love the Expedition: Kirkwood program offered through the resort. The outing provides access to unique and untouched terrain at one of California’s best expert ski areas. Ski aces can choose from a variety of specialty clinics, backcountry excursions and private guided experiences at Kirkwood Mountain Resort. Signature programs at the resort include:

Freeride Workshop (Ski and Snowboard)
Masters Program (Ski and Snowboard)
Steeps (Ski and Snowboard)
All-Mountain 1-Day Clinic (Ski and Snowboard)
All-Mountain 2-Day Clinic (Ski and Snowboard)
Progression Sessions (Ski and Snowboard)

Expedition: Kirkwood outings can be reserved by calling (209) 258-7360.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort presents a whopping 58 percent of its terrain for advanced/expert skiers and riders. The resort is conveniently located about 30 miles south of South Lake Tahoe, California – only 83 miles from the Reno airport and about 100 miles from Sacramento International Airport. Both airports have several direct non-stop flights daily from major U.S. cities.

Adult Mountain Experience – Snowbird, Utah

Just down the road from Alta, Snowbird serves up some challenging advanced lessons as part of its Mountain Experience package to help you get better at skiing. Guides assist skiers and snowboarders find all the best places at the resort that you won’t find on the trail map. Experiences include priority lift-line privileges, so there’s no waiting in line.

Skiers and riders can hit black and double-black terrain daily beginning in mid-December. Lessons run from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a break for lunch. (Lunch not included in package.) Check-in begins at 9 a.m. at the Plaza Deck at Snowbird Center.

Snowbird also has an advanced- and expert-level teen program for skiers and riders age 11-17. The multi-week program provides special guests, avalanche training and solid skill development for teens. All members must participate in an ability evaluation the first week. There are 10-week and 13-week sessions available.

Why not hit Alta for a lesson and then spend a day exploring Snowbird? Both resorts are less than an hour’s drive from the airport in Salt Lake City. For more information on programs at Snowbird, call the Plaza Deck at (801) 947-8222.

Share Your Experiences

Are you an expert skier who learned something new at a camp or private lesson that helped you get better at skiing? Do you have a favorite resort or instructor that pushed you to the next level? What was the catalyst that pushed you from an intermediate skier or snowboarder through to the expert level? We’re always curious to learn everyone’s individual story. Share your experiences here and let’s keep the conversation going.