Learn the finer points that will make you ski better and look good on the slopes.

I always recommend that the first day of skiing or snowboarding for your trip should include a lesson to either shake off the cobwebs or to add some focus to what you want to achieve in the sport. Whether it’s piste, off piste, moguls, trees, park or powder there is always room for improvement with your style or technique. When you book your hotel with the White Horse Group we can assist you with all of your requirements at every level. Remember that the better you become the easier it is on your body and more of the mountain opens up to you. 

Ski and Snowboard Lessons

Group Lessons Lessons Times and Prices : Lessons for children can be booked for full days, this programme includes two lessons and lunch. Supervision is provided during the lunch break. The price is ¥12000 per child for the day. Morning Lesson : 10:30am – 12:30am, ¥7000 yen per person for both adults and children. Afternoon Lesson : 1:30pm – 3:30pm, ¥7000 yen per person for both adults and children. Please be ready to meet 15 minutes prior to lesson start time. Lessons will leave on time!

Private Lessons  2 Hour Lessons : 8:00am – 10:00am, 8:30am – 10:30am, 10:30 – 12:30 or 1:30pm – 3:30pm ¥20000 per 2 hour lesson. Half Day Lessons (3 Hours) : 9:00am – 12:00pm, 1:00pm – 4:00pm ¥30000 per half day. Full Day Lessons (6 Hours) : 9:00am – 4:00pm, usually a 1 hour lunch break. ¥55000 per full day.

What level are you? Ski Lesson Levels and Descriptions: Please Note: When you categorise yourself for lessons please be realistic. Don’t grade yourself on what you want to do, think about what you can do. The lesson descriptions are guides and on the lesson day your instructors will take a good look at your level and re-grade you if required. You are better to start lower and be upgraded than vice versa.

Level 1: It is your first time skiing, you have never ever skied before. Description of Lesson: Learn about the equipment and safety, moving around on your skis, how to slide and balance and stop. Use a basic wedge (snow plough, pizza, arrow) as base for control. Learn how to change direction.

Level 2: You have skied before and can stop and change direction on beginners or very gentle slopes. Description of Lesson: Learning how to turn and how to effectively control your speed using turns and the slope they are on. Learn how to increase your speed without loss of control and confidence. Decrease your dependence on the wedge (snow plough, pizza, arrow) for control.

Level 3: You can turn using a wedge (snow plough, pizza, arrow) and can navigate your way on all beginners slopes with total confidence. You are ready for intermediate slopes. Description of lesson: Develop your turn technique with the goal to eliminate the wedge (snow plough, pizza, arrow). Bring the skis into a parallel or natural position where using the slope for speed control is the emphasis.

Level 4: You are skiing on intermediate slopes, you ski with your skis almost parallel using turns and the mountain to control your speed. Steeper slopes still faze you; you find it hard to stay in control on the more difficult runs. Description of lesson: Look to refine the parallel turn and progress to steeper terrain. Improve your steering skills so you can make shorter or smaller radius turns which will enable you to tackle more varied terrain.

Level 5: You can ski on all intermediate slopes and ski them with style and confidence. Speed control on groomed runs is not an issue. You want to tackle the steepest groomed runs and venture off piste(off the groomed runs). Description of lesson: Develop your short turn, learn to go fast with confidence, look at the tactics involved with skiing off piste and on the black (most difficult) slopes.

Level 6: You are a very competent skier; you can ski on almost any slope with confidence. You want to learn situational skiing, how to ski powder, moguls (bumps), very steep slopes. Speed is your friend. Description of Lesson: Develop your fine balancing skills so you can ski anywhere on the mountain. A large emphasis on tactical skiing, using the terrain and mountain to your advantage, discussing the different challenges associated with differing terrain. You will soon be skiing and thinking like an expert.

Snowboard Lesson Levels and Descriptions: Please Note: When you categorise yourself for lessons please be realistic. Don’t grade yourself on what you want to do, think about what you can do. The lesson descriptions are guides and on the lesson day your instructors will take a good look at your level and re-grade you if required. You are better to start lower and be upgraded than vice versa.

Level 1: It is your first time snowboarding, you have never ever snowboarded before. Description of Lesson: Learn about equipment and safety, moving around on the board, how to slide, balance and stop. Learn to control your speed by side slipping and how to traverse. Get an introduction to turning.

Level 2: You have snowboarded before and are able to side slip (sliding down the hill with the board oriented across the slope) and are able to traverse on a gentle slope (go in a straight line across the slope). You have probably tried turning but cannot do it both ways successfully Description of Lesson: Learn how to turn and how to control your speed on easy slopes.

Level 3: You can turn in both directions on gentle slopes and are looking to progress to intermediate slopes. Description of lesson: Develop your turning technique, refine your side slipping skills and stance. You will move to new slopes with new challenges.

Level 4: You are snowboarding on intermediate slopes; you can control your speed with your turns and are ready to go faster. Description of lesson: Improve your board’s performance on the snow, learn edge control skills so you can handle different snow conditions and terrain.

Level 5: You can snowboard on all intermediate slopes with confidence and speed control on these runs is not an issue. You want to tackle the steepest groomed runs and want to venture off piste(off the groomed runs). Description of lesson: Improve your short turn, learn to go fast with confidence, look at the tactics involved with snowboarding off piste and on the black (most difficult) slopes.

Level 6: You are a very competent snowboarder; you can board on almost any slope with confidence. You want to learn situational boarding, how to ride powder, moguls (bumps), very steep slopes. Speed is your friend. Description of Lesson: Develop your fine balancing skills so you can board anywhere on the mountain. A large emphasis on tactical riding, using the terrain and mountain to your advantage, discussing the different challenges associated with differing terrain. You will soon be snowboarding and thinking like an expert. Hakuba Snow Sports Brochure High Res