Is it necessary for first time skiers to take a lesson?

I will be going skiing with some family in December at Copper Mountain. Should I take a class or let them teach me how to ski? Also, my neighbor was a ski instructor so I could talk to him before I go for some tips. The day long lessons are about $85. What would you recommend? Is the drive from Phoenix to the Copper Mountain area scary (mountainous with big drops near the road)?Is it necessary for first time skiers to take a lesson?
Even if your friends have good technique they will not know how to teach. Your friends will probably teach you bad technique and will do it inefficiently and haphazardly.



I was skiing with a friend once, and it took me a couple of runs to pick up something that an instructor would have picked up after two turns.
let ur friends teach u... its easier... and ur not gona b goin down the big hills ur first time lolIs it necessary for first time skiers to take a lesson?
Take the lesson from the professional instructor. You will learn faster and save the friendship.
if I were you, I would probably ask ask your family and your neighbor for some tips before going, then take lessons when your at the resort
If you get a lesson, you'll get a good solid base for becoming a good skier, but you will probably stay on the bunny hill for most of the day, if not the entire day. If you let your friends teach you, they might be able to get you up on the bigger hills but you'll be a lot less comfortable on your skis and it's going to be harder for you to learn to become a real good skier because you'll probably have built up bad habits. But if the point is to have the most fun as you possibly can on just this one day, just going with your friends might be a good idea. Whatever the case, talking to that neighbor of yours is probably a good idea.
IF you are out west then def. go for the professional. they will be able to teach you and they are good at what they do. I would say leave the friends out of it. Get the basics and then let your friends teach you more stuff after that. The instructors will know what is up. HAVE FUN that is most important.
Ok, going on my 4th year here as an Instructor and PSIA certified. I have pulled 50 or more people off the mountain in 3 years because they chose not to take a lesson. Without proper training your skis become out of control rockets and you are the war head. It is a danger to yourself and those around you if you choose to just wing it. Your friends may be wonderful skiers but as any good instructor will tell you that dosent mean a thing when it come to teaching others. All in all to may be in your best interest to be with your friends and have a good time but keep in mind they are many other people at the resort also and it will not be in your best interest spending a day with your friends explaining to a 12 year old parents she is in the hospital because of your lack of responsibility.
It's probably a good idea to take a lesson. I'm sure your friends/family would be able to teach you eventually, but it will probably take much less time with an instructor who knows good ways of explaining techniques, and knows what to look for and which bad habits need correcting. Plus, your friends probably want to ski, not wait 20 feet infront of you all day long. A day with an instructor will make you much more confident much quicker. Are there any half-day classes that you could take?



Copper is wonderful - you're going to have a great time!



As for the drive from Phoenix to Copper, no, it's not scary. The pass between Phoenix and Flagstaff is about as scary as it will get. Everything through Arizona and Utah is flat and straight (if you go up through Blanding, Bluff, etc.) Out of Moab you can go NE along the river or NW straight up to I-70... the way along the river is more windy, and adds about 30 minutes, but it's MUCH prettier. There's some tight turns both before and after you go through Glenwood Springs in Colorado, but they're down along the river, so there's not much of a drop off the side, you just have to slow down through those sections (although most people don't bother slowing down). Then when you get up in elevation, it gets steeper, but there's very few places where there's a steep drop. Most of the driving is at the bottom of canyons, so the mountains are all above you. If the road is snowy, just make sure you slow down! Don't feel like you need to keep up with the other idiots on the road - you can just laugh at them stuck in the ditch when you catch up to them!
As a former ski instructor myself, you had better take the lesson. Your neighbor can give you tips, but they will be worthless to you once you strap in and get on snow. Trust me on that one.



Your friends will not be able to teach you HOW to ski. They will drag you up the nearest lift, and you will end up sliding down on your backside, or walking down, wasting a $60 lift ticket.



You don't need a day long lesson. Get a beginners group lesson. That lasts about 1.5 hours, and you will learn everything you need to know in order to play on the beginner chair for the day. You probably won't get off the beginner chair for a day or two.



If you do, you probably will want to pay for an additional lesson at that point.



If your friends are skiers, and you are not, do not plan on skiing with your friends. It just won't be possible. Or you will get hurt. You might want to try to find a fellow non-skier that would go with you guys so you can hang out together.