Holly Price

Apr, 11 - 2025 - 7 mins

Skiing Without Lessons: Is it Safe and What Are The Risks?

Take a second to visualise yourself on the mountain. You’re at the top of what your friends call a ‘beginner’ ski run with your skis locked and loaded. The corduroy glistens in the morning sun and you breathe in that pristine mountain air. You start off, elated by the views and the sensation of gliding down the mountain. However, you quickly realise that this ‘beginner’ run isn’t so beginner-friendly at all. Your speed is building, as is your fear. Muscles tense up, and there’s a small child standing right in your trajectory a few metres ahead. Needless to say, this isn’t going to end well.

This is an example of just one scenario that might occur if you decide to skip lessons and wing it in resort. Whether your friends have promised to teach you or you’ve said you’re going to ‘see how you get on,’ not taking lessons before your trip can lead to painful wipeouts or risky situations for yourself and others. In this guide, we’ll explore why ski lessons are worth the investment, the common pitfalls of self-teaching, and the best learning options for every skill level. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your technique, understanding the right way to learn will keep you safe - and make skiing way more fun!

Can I go Skiing Without Lessons?

While there are no laws requiring a form of training before you take to the slopes, it is also a bit like trying to drive a car without taking lessons first. Would you get behind the wheel of a car and drive down the road without knowing what you’re doing? That might sound extreme, but at the speeds you can reach while skiing, it’s not really that dissimilar. While you might be avoiding lessons for cost-saving purposes or because you’re limited on time, learning without proper instruction comes with serious downsides - ones which might end up costing you a lot more money and time in the long run.

If you’re a member of the “I’ll just follow my mates” club, I’d personally urge you to think twice - not only will your more experienced mates likely want to go for a high-speed blast on their first day of the trip, but if one of them does happen to have the patience of a saint and stick with you, they will likely be dying a bit inside. Plus, wouldn’t it be way better to disappear on a lesson for the first couple of mornings and then impress them with your skills come day three or four. You can easily book ski instructors in any resort in Europe here.

Why Ski Lessons Are Valuable at Every Level

Whoever it was that said you should never stop learning was onto something. Ski instruction isn’t just for beginners - it’s a lifelong tool for becoming a better, safer, and more confident skier. Think of any professional sportsperson, like Serena Williams or Lewis Hamilton. Even at the very top of their game, these people had coaches to help them refine their skills and have that edge to set them apart.

Skiing isn’t something you master in a few days - it’s a lifelong journey of improvement where lessons can help fine-tune technique, build confidence, and keep your skiing feeling fresh and exciting.

The More You Improve, The More Fun You Have

Crucially, the better your technique, the more of the mountain opens up to you — from deep powder and moguls to trees, steeps, and freestyle. Think of it like unlocking areas of the map as you progress in a game - as your skill level increases, so does your enjoyment.

Different terrain requires a different style of riding, which is why skiing (or snowboarding) isn’t something that can be mastered in a few days alone. The different areas you’re likely to encounter - and the style of riding you’ll be required to adapt to include:

• Off-piste: steeper lines, powder bowls, and technical descents
• **Snowparks: **safely progress onto jumps, rails, and tricks
• Moguls: tackle challenging bumps without fear, injury or fatigue
• Tree skiing: improve agility and flow through tight lines
• Carving & steeps: edge control, body positioning
• Race training or performance skiing: gates, GS/SL turns, power generation

Ultimately, the more skills you unlock via high-quality instruction, the more mountain you can explore and the more fun you can have.

Maison Sport help you find the best instructors for all levels whether you are looking to level up your carving turns or book a guide to safely explore the backcountry.

The Risks: Is it Easy to Get Hurt Skiing?

A large part of what puts people off skiing in the first place is the risk of injury. However, if you hit the ground running with some good tuition, this risk substantially decreases. According to research carried out in Austrian resorts, almost 90% of ski injuries occur from self-inflicted falls due to poor control, fatigue, or being out of depth. Other factors may include a lack of mountain awareness (e.g., etiquette, signage, avalanche danger,) developing bad habits that are hard to unlearn and remaining stuck at the same level by stalling your progress.

With all of that in mind, it’s easy to see the difference that spending a few hours with a qualified ski instructor can make!

Learning Options for Every Level

If budget is your issue, you could consider joining a group lesson where everyone is at a relatively similar level. These are cheaper than private lessons, but don’t offer you the same amount of dedicated focus on your technique, as there will likely be around 5 other people in your group. That said, instructors who take group lessons are usually really good at ensuring they spend a little time with each individual in the group.

If you’re already a confident skier looking to ‘unlock’ those new areas of the map, you could attend an intermediate or advanced clinic for off-piste or freestyle riding. If you head to the same resort every year, some private coaching could allow you to discover areas you didn’t previously know about and level up your riding.

Similarly, with specialist areas such as race training, freestyle, backcountry or carving, a coach could revolutionise your riding and give you the edge you’ve been lacking. If it’s good enough for Christiano Ronaldo….

Maison Sport gives you the freedom to browse and book thousands of local instructors who offer both private and group lessons. You can read through genuine user reviews on each instructor profile, while getting an idea of their own skiing style and terrain preferences.

Real Perspectives

Whether you’re learning or levelling up, having a ski instructor on your side in resort can make all of the difference. Take this review of a Maison Sport instructor in Courchevel as an example, from an already experienced skier: “I discovered skiing as an adult and have some bad habits. Nick is a fantastic instructor with the perfect balance of fun and technical & encouraging instruction. By the end of my lesson I was much more confident and grateful for Nick’s patience and guidance. Thank you!”

It’s also common for adult learners with bad habits and intermediate riders to have ‘breakthrough moments’ during coaching sessions when a technique or skill finally slots into place thanks to an insightful tip from a coach.

Ultimately, taking ski lessons isn’t a sign of weakness - it’s the smartest way to fast-track your progress on the slopes. The better you ski, the more fun you’ll have, whether that’s tackling varied terrain, mastering turns, or just feeling more in control. Lessons are an investment in your safety, confidence, and overall enjoyment, no matter your age or skill level.

Book Ski Lessons with Local, Experienced Instructors

Maison Sport is changing the lesson-booking game, allowing you to browse thousands of in-resort instructors and guides, read their reviews and filter instructors by area of expertise. Whether you’re a complete beginner looking to learn the basics, or you’re a seasoned skier looking to fine-tune your performance, you can choose the right instructor for you in just a few clicks.