Learn to ski in Sierra NevadaNobody is born knowing how to stop.
If you have never had skis on, this is what actually happens on the first day, how many days you need, and what you will be skiing by the end of your first lesson.
Book my first lessonStarting from scratchWhat the first day really looks like.
Stopping comes before going down
The lesson starts on flat ground, moving around with the skis on, and moves to the snowplough. Until braking happens without thinking, going down a slope makes no sense.
The lift is taught, not improvised
Getting on a drag lift or a chairlift for the first time worries people more than the descent does, and it is where most beginners fall on day one. We practise it.
You will ski a green run
By the end of a first lesson you come down a full green run in a snowplough, braking and stopping where you want to. Slowly and with a concentrated face, but on your own.
How many daysOne day to try it. Three to ski.
One day
Enough to come down a green run on your own and know how to stop. A good taster if you are here for a short break and want to find out whether skiing is for you.
Three mornings
What takes most people from never having skied to linking turns and moving around the resort. This is what we would book if you are here for a week.
Why mornings
The snow is better, the lifts are quieter, and past a certain number of hours the body stops learning and just gets tired. Half days beat full days at the start.
Borreguiles, where everyone starts.
From Pradollano you take the Al-Ándalus gondola up to Borreguiles: a wide, gentle area with the beginner lifts. That is where we meet you, so you do not have to work out the resort on your own.
Lessons are taught in English or Spanish — you choose when you book — and all of them are private. There is no open group you are put into with strangers.
Before you come up, the snow report tells you what the day looks like, and equipment rental means you do not have to travel with skis.
What you need for your first lesson
Skis and boots are hired on the mountain, so there is nothing to buy before you come. What is worth packing well is whatever keeps you dry and warm.
How to choose your ski boots
The shell fit test, why they should feel tight in the shop, what last width is, and why your boot sole is a safety question.
How to choose ski and snowboard gloves
Gloves or mittens, waterproofing, insulation and getting the size right. A clear guide to choosing well and not freezing on the mountain.
How to choose ski and snowboard goggles
Goggles or sunglasses, lens categories, colours and getting the fit right with your helmet. A clear guide to seeing well and protecting your eyes on snow.
Ski and snowboard clothing: the three layers and their materials
The three-layer system explained, what each material does — Gore-Tex, merino, PrimaLoft, Cordura — and how to read the water column rating on a jacket.
How to choose a ski or snowboard helmet
Getting the size right, what MIPS actually does, and which standards a certified helmet has to meet. A clear guide before you buy.
How to choose sun protection for skiing and snowboarding
Why snow multiplies UV radiation, which SPF to use and how much you actually need to apply so you don't burn on the mountain.
Price of your first lessonLessons from €110.
The price is for the whole lesson, not per person: if there are several of you, you share it. Pick your options and we will tell you what yours costs.
How many of you?
The price covers the lesson with the instructor only: it does not include the lift pass or equipment hire, and we sort both out separately. Each extra person always adds the same. If there are more than 10 of you, message us and we will organise it with you.
“Hemos dado clase con Pepe y es la mejor inversión que podríamos haber hecho. Hemos aprendido muchísimo y nos lo hemos pasado genial! Un 100/10! Volveremos!”
“Si queréis aprender con una buena persona y mejor instructor, no dudéis en contactar con Pepe de Snow Riders Academy. 100% implicación y una experiencia inolvidable. Lo mejor para introducirte en este deporte y/o para perfeccionarte.”
“Cada vez que voy a Sierra Nevada contacto con esta escuela para perfeccionar mi técnica. Gracias a ellos he mejorado mucho para ir más seguro sobre la tabla y conseguir disfrutar más de mis días de nieve. Lo recomiendo mucho.”
“Una experiencia increíble en Sierra Nevada! Di clases con Pepe y además de aprender muchísimo y enseñarte súper bien cada movimiento, te lo pasas genial. En la segunda hora de clase ya estábamos esquiando por las pistas azules!”
“Academia top, aprendí en un par de horas lo más básico, fueron geniales en el trato. Cuando vuelva repito sin duda.”
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn to ski?+
In a first lesson you come down a green run in a snowplough, braking and stopping where you want to. Linked turns usually arrive on the second or third day. It depends on fitness and on nerves, which slow people down more than anything else.
How many days should I book?+
Three consecutive mornings is what takes most people from never having skied to coming down a green run on their own. Half days work better than full ones at the start: past a certain point the body stops learning and just gets tired.
What happens in the first lesson?+
Putting the skis on flat ground and learning to move in them, sliding on a very gentle slope, braking in a snowplough and using the beginner lift. The first thing is not going down. It's stopping.
Do the instructors speak English?+
Yes. Lessons are taught in Spanish or English, and you say which when you book.
Is skiing easier than snowboarding?+
At the beginning, yes. With your feet apart you keep your balance more easily and you progress faster. After that first phase, snowboarding tends to come on quicker.
Where do beginners learn in Sierra Nevada?+
In Borreguiles, at the top of the Al-Ándalus gondola from Pradollano. It is the wide, gentle area with the beginner lifts, and it is where we meet you.
Do I need to bring equipment?+
No. Skis, boots and poles are hired up on the mountain and fitted there. Bring warm clothing that keeps the wet out, good gloves and goggles.
Can I start at 40, 50 or older?+
Yes. Age doesn't change whether you can, it changes the pace: you progress just the same, but it is worth spreading the hours rather than doing a full day on day one.
Your first ski lesson in Sierra Nevada
Tell us your level and your dates, and we'll put together the lesson that fits you.
Talk to an instructoror call us at +34 687 47 58 28