Every time vacation approaches, I find myself facing the same question: “What should I do during this vacation?” I often debated whether to get a license or study English, but this year, I decided to try something different—learning how to ski. I signed up for the winter session ski program.

This program, which runs for four days and three nights at High1 Ski Resort, includes a 24-hour lift pass, meals, and accommodation, all for 150,000 KRW. Personally, I felt it was a great value for the cost. Some people might hesitate to sign up because they worry, “Can I really do this well?”, but you don’t need to worry about that.

To be honest, I have not really learned how to ski before. I had been to ski resorts about five times, but I was just doing “survival skiing,” where I barely managed to slide down the slopes without falling. My posture was terrible, and I did not even know how to ski properly. Based on my experience, I would like to share two main advantages of this program.

First, the professional instructors provide systematic and detailed guidance. Before I signed up for the program, I worried a lot, thinking, “What if they just leave me to ski alone?” and “What if I fall behind the other students?” However, during the lessons, I always went down the slopes with a professional instructor. The instructor, who had experience coaching national team athletes, explained everything in a way that was very easy for even a beginner like me to understand. We started with the basic “A-shape” posture and moved on to weight shifts, using our hip joints, and how to create an edge. I could feel my skills improving over time. Thanks to this, most students were able to follow along well. Even if someone struggled, assistant instructors provided one-to-one coaching, making learning easier.

The biggest change I noticed after the lesson was that my body was much less sore. After learning the correct posture and avoiding unnecessary strain, I did not feel exhausted even after skiing all day. Receiving immediate feedback on specific details, such as my balance and upper body position, helped me improve much faster.

Second, learning with new people gives you courage and priceless memories. At the beginning of the program, we were divided into groups, usually with roommates. At first, it was awkward staying with strangers. I only knew one person out of seven, so I initially only talked with that person. However, as we took lessons, rode the cable cars, and stayed at the accommodation together, we naturally became close. On the last day, we all enjoyed chicken and beer together.

Moreover, as we cheered and worried for each other on the slopes, my fear of skiing gradually disappeared. On the first day, I feared beginner slopes, but by challenging myself with my new friends, I found myself speeding down the intermediate slopes on the last day. Therefore, I highly recommend this program, even if you do not have friends to sign up with. It is a valuable opportunity to share new memories while living together.

To sum up, the winter session ski program was a great experience both physically and mentally. Comparing before and after the program, my skiing skills improved significantly, and most importantly, I was able to make enjoyable memories with my new friends.

Whether you are a total beginner, an experienced skier, or just someone who is looking for new people, why don’t you try the winter session ski program?