How many intermediate group lessons

Question

I am in Breckenridge to ski 3 days in mid December, but haven’t skied in 10 years. The last time I was in keystone and skied green and easy blues.

I want to get a refresher and improve to the point I can comfortably ski all blue groomers.

How many days of ski school should I plan and would it be better to do half days or full days?

Thanks:)

Answer

Great question! Given your background (last skied ~10 years ago on green and easy blue runs) and your goal (refresher + getting comfortable on all blue groomers), here’s a detailed breakdown and recommendation for how many days of ski school to take at Breckenridge, and whether to choose half- or full-day lessons.

First — what does Breckenridge Ski & Snowboard School offer, and what to expect:

Breckenridge’s school has *ability-based group lessons*, including adult group lessons for intermediate skiers.
Lesson schedules:
- Half-day morning: 9:00am–11:30am; half-day afternoon: 12:30pm–3:00pm.
- Full-day group lessons run from 9:00am–3:00pm.
They encourage booking multiple consecutive lesson days, and there’s a *multi-day discount*: for adult group lessons, you can get 20% off the second consecutive day and every day after.

Next — advice on how many days to take, and what format (half vs full day) would probably be most effective for you:

How many days to plan:
- Since you haven’t skied in a decade, taking at least 2 days of lessons would be very beneficial. The first day will likely be focused on rebuilding your muscle memory, balance, and basic technique; the second day gives you the chance to consolidate what you learned, build confidence, and progressively try more challenging (blue) groomers.
- If possible, doing 3 days of lessons (i.e., all your ski days) could be ideal — that way, you use your time on day 1 to refresh, day 2 to push into more terrain, and day 3 to practice independently while still having some guidance or feedback built in (or even a more relaxed final lesson). The 20% multi-day discount makes this more economical.
Half-day vs full-day:
- Full-day lessons give you the most value, especially for progressing. You get more time with the instructor, more terrain variety, and more opportunity to reinforce good technique throughout the day.
- That said, half-day lessons can also work well — particularly if you're concerned about fatigue, altitude, or just want to break up learning so you can practice on your own in the other half of the day. Some people say that the full-day group lessons are only about $20 more than a half-day, making full day a very cost-effective choice.
- Based on feedback from other skiers:
  - Some recommend paying a bit more for the full-day because “you’ll get twice the value for a lot less than half the price.”
  - Others note that in half-day group lessons, especially for intermediate levels, the group size or mix of skill levels can vary, which might limit how much progress you make.

Putting it all together — my recommendation for your situation:

Take 2 full-day group lessons, ideally on your first two ski days. This gives you maximum instruction, helps you rebuild your skills efficiently, and takes advantage of the multi-day discount.
If you’re worried about energy or altitude, or want more flexibility, you could do 1 full-day lesson and 1 half-day lesson, leaving one day free to practice on your own with what you’ve learned.
If your trip or budget allows, doing 3 days of lessons (each day) is even better — the first two days to build and improve, the third day to ski independently but with occasional coaching or feedback.

Finally — some extra tips:

Book your lessons well in advance, especially for mid-December, since space fills up.
Arrive early for check-in (they recommend 30 minutes before lesson time) so you can gear up, meet your instructor, and talk about your goals.
Be honest about your ability level when you sign up: the instructors will group you appropriately, and other students on Reddit report being re-assessed when they arrive and sometimes moved to a different level.
Bring snacks and water, and take breaks: even in full-day lessons, there are rest breaks, but having your own gear (energy bar, hydration) helps.

In summary: 2–3 days of lessons is a solid plan, with full days being more efficient if you want to improve quickly and get comfortable on all blue groomers. If you're feeling uncertain, you can do a mix of full and half days. Either way, with good instruction early in your trip, you’ll be well positioned to ski independently with confidence on your blue runs.

Have an amazing trip — Breckenridge is a great ski resort, and you’ll likely make fast progress with good coaching!

How many intermediate group lessons

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