Also, have you had private lessons that were worth the increased costs?

I do have the Colorado pass, so Breck/Keystone/A-Basin/Vail are going to be my most-visited spots, but I wouldn't mind checking out other resorts as well.

When I last took lessons at Vail, maybe 3 years ago, I think they placed me as a 7 (on a 1-8 scale). I doubt I'd be in that group this season, though.

-I am not sure if there is a way to prove which is best (and I suspect there are good and bad instructors everywhere) but I have heard positive comments on Beaver Creek's ski school.

-The school of hard knocks.

Stick around then. Maybe we'll throw together an early season Tan-o-rama to get things started on the right foot.

I wouldn't worry about lessons right out of the gate. Get your legs under you for the first couple of months and really crank up your endurance, and you'll see huge improvements just from that. Then you can just read all of the expert advice that's given out here on RSA and you'll automatically become an expert skier.... If you'd like to become a RealSkier, however, you'll have to move to Utah.