MAX4 Lessons in Whistler

As we work so closely with the resort, it made sense to head over there and get some genuine, first-hand experience to share with our customers (well, that’s our excuse anyway).

We were lucky enough to experience a wide variety of amazing activities while we were out there, such as Twilight Ziptrekking and Snowshoeing, but the main highlight for me personally was our experience with Whistler Ski School. We both had three full days of MAX4 lessons but in different groups as I snowboard and Kathleen skis.

MAX4 group lessons are full or half day lessons for up to four skiers or boarders at levels 1 to 6. Unlike many ski schools, beginner lessons take place mid-mountain rather than at the base, so you get a real mountain experience right from the start.

Having worked a season in New Zealand a few years back (my first time on a snowboard), and been on trips to the Alps since, I surprisingly (and mistakenly) never made time to have a lesson. I just muddled along doing what I thought was right, without really being sure about my body positioning or technique (and was just generally a bit rubbish, to be honest!).

I was taught by friends who had no teaching experience and found that having input from so many different people left me confused, with zero confidence on my toe edge. Despite my season background, I still felt like I was at a low level - I wish I’d had this calibre of lesson experience back then!

Kathleen was at a similar level to me having skied when she was younger and having had a lesson at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead more recently on a trip with other Ski Safari team members.

We both went into the MAX4 lessons with high hopes and excited to get some professional guidance, and I’m pleased to say they did not disappoint!

We arrived at the Snow School meeting tents at 09:30 on day one, just opposite Carleton Lodge and next to the gondolas in Whistler village, and were greeted by a sea of instructors all with huge smiles on their faces. They all looked pretty happy to be there - and who can blame them, coolest office ever!

I caught them all catching glances up at the mountains as they were chatting in their quick morning gathering, obviously keen to get their groups and goals for the day organised and head up there. I liked how everyone had their home city on their badges, it made me realise that Whistler really does attract people from every corner of the world.

We were both immediately impressed by how specific the group organisation process was. Rather than just simply asking us for a level and matching us with the nearest instructor teaching that level number, the instructors asked us to talk them through our past experience and what we wanted to achieve. They then walked around to ask their colleagues with group members already assigned to them if our goals fit in with theirs.

It felt like they were putting intricate puzzle pieces together which made me feel assured having been worried that I'd booked myself into the wrong level and would be below everyone else. They really worked hard to ensure we were both put in a group with those at a similar level to us with goals that matched ours.

Kathleen’s first day was with a fantastic instructor called Marcel who was in his 70s - what a character! Marcel has been in Whistler for years, so long in fact that it wasn't even called Whistler when he first moved there. He said that "Whistler just came to him". Aside from the skiing, Marcel was able to tell us so much about the local area and even stayed late on our first day to show us to some bars near the gondola he thought we might like!

Marcel following the gondola down after our first day of lessons - can you believe that he's 70?

On the second day, Kathleen had a different instructor called Sebastiaan and felt that for her, the variety of instructors and teaching styles she experienced ensured that her lessons were not boring and kept her on her toes.

With games and a focus on having fun and improving, she left all her lessons with a great sense of accomplishment. Again, Sebastiaan was also keen to recommend places to go outside of the ski school and couldn’t do enough to ensure we were well looked after.

I went the opposite way and had the same instructor for each lesson. I was lucky enough to be paired with Dawn from Vancouver on day one and gelled so well with her that she was stuck with me for three full days!

I felt like she really got to know me, my strengths, weaknesses, techniques and goals over the three days and feel as though it really helped my progress. I’d never had somebody explain things with such clarity to me before and something just clicked in my head. Thanks to her strong teaching techniques, I finally nailed my iffy toe edge and progressed two levels in three days!