Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi all,
My girlfriend and myself will be in Borovets 3.1.04 and staying at the Malina Village for a week. We have skied only once before last year. It was for a week in Pas De La Casa Andorra. We had no lessons and had only watched (about 100 times) a 'learn how to ski' video. Amazingly, we did really well and after 3 days on the nursery slopes ventured on to the intermediate slopes with moderate success.

We would like to improve our skiing and don't know if we need to join one of the beginners schools again, since it's a year since our feet touched snow or if intermediate ski schools are available? Does any one know if there are ski schools for intermediate lessons? Anyone else going 3.1.04? I'm so looking forward to arriving. Please let it snow soon!!!!!

Regards

Hello,

What you learnt from last years skiing holiday you will remember in minutes. You may feel a little more cautious when you start compared to how you finished last year, but this will pass very soon and confidence will grow quickly.

Ski lessons
Borovets is a very good place to learn to ski using the ski instructors. They will help you very much.
I would suggest that for financial reasons you book ski school with your tour company before travelling to Bulgaria. The price rises considerably if you pay at the resort. As you have had no lessons before you can get very good deals through many tour company's. We used Inghams and for first time skiers ( i know your not, but they don't know that) you can book ski school, lift passes and all the equipment all in one package at great value.
Once there on the first morning they will put you into groups of about 10/12 to one instructor. If you feel and/or your instructor feels you could advance to a group which is of better standard this can easily be done and is quite the norm. Last year was not my first year so I wasn't put in a beginners group, but a group up from beginners. On the morning of day two new members joined our group having advanced quickly from their beginners group on day one. So I know advancing from the beginners group is definitely possible.
Alternatively, if you can't book through your tour company before leaving, I would suggest on your first evening or when you arrive check out some of the local Bulgarians. I remember one fella who owned and worked his bar in the evening and taught people to ski individually or in some numbers during the day.

Good luck with the snow

Have a great vacation

Thanx for the replies so far. I'm still a little confused though. If we join a beginners group the first day will be a waste of time really cause we will no doubt have to wait in line for our little bit of attention from the instructer. Once he realises we are able to plough and complete dynamic parallel turns relatively easily he will perhaps make arrangments for us to join another group a level up? So, the first day will have been wasted. How can we jump to the next level class on the second day? I presume all classes are for 6 days. When we arrive all the previous weeks classes will have been completed and all the instructors starting from scratch with the new intakes? The only way we could move to a next level would be if there were groups being taught next level skiing on day one or two, i.e. ski school for intermediates. Do such schools exist in Borovets. I emailed Bulgariaski.com from whom we can book our ski lessons on-line. The stated that they could offer ski school for intermediates. Anyone know about this or is it just a con, i.e. we will be put in a beginners school? I just dont want to waste valuable time or money booking ski school and find I spend most of my time waiting in a line of other beginners for 4 hours per day to do a bit of skiing.

Cheers

Hi, Last year was my first time skiing. We booked our ski package through this website, which included lessons. On day one we got our passes, then went & were fitted for our ski's & boots. The staff were fantastic & very helpful. Once outside, all suited & booted, we were asked what ski experience we had. Those that were like myself (3 dry-slope lessons under my belt!) were put in the beginners class, others who had done a week skiing the year previous, were put in an intermediate group. One of the guys that was in our group, learnt very quickly & was off doing his own thing with his friends by the third day. So, my advice would be, book your complete skiing package through this site (ski's, boots, poles, passes & lessons) & you'll have an excellent time. At the end of the week there was a big 'do' for everyone, laid on by the instructors, it was brilliant. Hope that helps. Have a good holiday