There are definite similarities between football and skiing. Same with soccer, basketball, tennis and skiing. Having played one sport, instructors often convey in their opening remarks, will give students a step up in skiing. And learning to ski gives students support in other sports.

Which, of course, puts more emphasis on the opening of the 61st session of the Deseret News/KSL NewsRadio Ski and Snowboard School on Nov. 22.

The program offers three lessons ... three opportunities to learn to ski and have fun.

The three lessons, said Scott Mathers, Alf Engen Ski School training director, is actually the magical number in skiing.

"The industry standard is three lessons," he noted. "After three lessons, students are typically able to go up on the mountain and have fun. One lesson doesn't do it. The first couple of hours require an effort people are not used to, learning basic skills, so the fun factor is not high.

"After three lessons — six hours of instruction — their skill level increases dramatically and the fun factor comes into play. Students are able to control the skis and glide around the mountain. That's where it becomes incredibly fun."

The Deseret News/KSL program is based on the three lessons — Nov. 22, Dec. 6 and 13.

Of course, it hasn't always been this way. Instruction skills have improved dramatically over the years. For example, students don't fall as much. Also, based on proper instruction and with the development of new equipment, students learn a lot more quickly.

As Mathers pointed out, after three lessons, students are typically able to ski comfortably on green or beginner runs "at most other ski areas around the country. There aren't too many sports where someone can progress that rapidly."

What is taught at Alta is the traditional "wedge progression" method. The wedge describes the position of the skis in a V or wedge shape, with the tips together.

This method, he noted, "progresses the student more quickly through the learning process. The mechanics of the movements we teach leads directly to the parallel. This hasn't always been the case. At one time movements were different from the parallel, and it was difficult to bridge the gap when the time came."

As for those who try to learn on their own, all too often what happens is skiing friends take nonskiing friends up for their first time. And instead of staying on gentle slopes, they head right up the lift and hit terrain that is too steep. The new skiers, without any technical support, have a bad experience and tend to pick up bad habits and sometimes end their skiing careers right there.