Reviews

Name: Roddy Willis Verbier Ski Instructor
Price range: $$$

Ski Instructor Reviews

Read my reviews and get the low down from my clients

My mission is always to offer high quality, private, individually tailored and fun ski instruction. Below you will find reviews of my service which have been left by my clients. Hopefully this will help you choose me for your ski lessons in Verbier.

Mike A.

Not only is Roddy incredibly knowledgeable about Verbier and the best places to go at the appropriate time of day for the given conditions, he does a great job at weaving in skill development exercises as well. I will definitely ski with Rod again in the future if possible! -

Mattias L.

I have been fortunate to have Roddy as a guide & instructor for many years and I can safely say he is one of the best in Europe. -
Talby T.

I can not say enough good things! Our trip to Verbier was made so much better for having Roddy guide us. He did such a great job of reading our various ski levels, and guiding us through terrain that was perfect for our group. Verbier is not easy to navigate. It is not signed like a colorado Vail resorts mountain; Roddy KNOWS the mountain, knows the conditions and he was truly a pleasure to spend our days with. I was unsure, prior to our trip, if a guide was a necessary expense- not only was it necessary, it made our trip! If I am lucky enough to return, Roddy will be the first person I contact. Roddy is the best. Plan ahead and book him for you ski trip! -

Sally S.

Roddy has completely transformed our skiing. We’re more confident, we’re in control and occasionally even look quite good! He’s coped with differing levels of ability and nervousness and improved us all, and some were pretty expert already. On ice, bumps, powder, everywhere we’ve made huge gains. Thank you! Sally, Gordon, Alex and Anna -
Becky S.

Roddy was brilliant from start to finish. He inspired confidence, was patient and made lessons fun! I recommend him highly and will be back for more next season. Thanks Roddy! -

Sally G.

Roddy did wonders for my confidence. Very clear technical advice that transformed my skiing in just a few hours. -
Richie s.

Roddy was very informative and I felt totally safe when exploring off piste for the first time. If you would like a buddy for the mountain and skilled teacher to help improve technique, Roddy is your man. I can highly recommend, many thanks for all your alpine knowledge. -

Tripz

Roddy was very informative and I felt totally safe when exploring off piste for the first time. If you would like a buddy for the mountain and skilled teacher to help improve technique, Roddy is your man. I can highly recommend, many thanks for all your alpine knowledge. -
Tim T.

I have just returned from a ski trip to Verbier, and our group of 7 Canadians hired Roddy Willis to guide us. What a wonderful experience being guided on this massive mountain. Roddy took us to some pristine slopes, while also making reservations at absolutely wonderful Swiss restaurants for lunch. Not only does Roddy lead with expertise, but he shared Switzerlands history, including such interesting topics as taxation, citizenship, and mountain customs. He is a very knowledgeable person, but don't be mistaken, his legs are like steel, and he will keep any group focused on skiing, leaving - where you are - to him. A definite must if you just want to just ski, and not be bothered with constantly checking your ski map. Verbier is a wonderful town, and Roddy made our vacation all the more relaxing. We all want to go back. A great Swiss ski town.
Tim - Toronto, Canada -

Silka P.

BEST SKI INSTRUCTOR IN VERBIER!
I’ve found my gem in the great Swiss mountains in Verbier. Most would say a restaurant, a particular bar or even the best chalet they stayed in...but not me...it’s my ski instructor, @Roddy Willis.
His positive and friendly can-do attitude is matched perfectly for improving all levels of skier.
My husband and I have both been using Roddy for 1:1 lessons for a few years now after trying various other instructors and have found him to be the best. He’s flexible around our children’s various ski club timings and knows exactly when to push my abilities on the slopes.
I have experienced great progress and confidence in my skiing thanks to Roddy over the years and look forward to booking him next season 👍🏾 -
Chiel t.

Had two half-day lessons from Roddy. It was great. Roddy has an enormous amount of knowledge and experience. Whether you're a beginner or already have some experience, I would absolutely recommend him. -

Waseema C.

Highly Recommend Roddy! After years of lessons, my skiing hadn't improved and I was starting to become disillusioned. A friend who lives in Verbier recommended Roddy Willis, but if I'm honest I was a bit sceptical that anyone could help me. I can't recommend Roddy enough; he has a patient manner and is an excellent communicator. He was able to completely 'dismantle' my skiing before introducing new techniques each building on the last. He has taken my skiing to the next level, and I have to say, I have now found a new passion for skiing. Thank you Roddy, see you in March! -
Antony C.

The Best Bang for Your Buck in the Swiss Alps!!! Roddy's a Swiss Brevet Federal instructor, the highest level in Switzerland, without it you are restricted to where you are allowed to take your students. Wanna ski the most dangerous terrain safely? As a Brevet Federal instructor, he has spent many years learning both the mountain-craft and the law that surrounds off-piste skiing in Switzerland. Compare his prices, and it's a no-brainer!!! -

Cameron B.

Where to begin. Roddy was the Verbier difference to our experience. I don't think we fully appreciated the need for a guide until Roddy stepped into the picture. Our experience was seamless and differentiated from previous ski trips; we cannot wait to go back. Roddy provides the perfect blend of professionalism and wit to make the day fly by and he chooses the perfect pitches to match your level of skiing and interests. Would recommend him to any and all; we had a brilliant time! -
Christopher B.

I have been coming to Verbier for many years sometimes with my daughter, and tried several ski schools. Since finding Roddy both of us have improved our skiing immensely. Despite our different skill levels, Roddy constructs joint lessons that work for both of us, that’s not easy when one of us is a super fit 30 year old who has got to off piste level in 4 trips, and the other a pensioner, but Roddy has even got me trying some of the mogul runs. Simply the best. -

Cindy O.

My family and I spent a full day skiing with Roddy at the end of December 2019. I could not recommend him more highly - he is great company and an outstanding teacher and gave helpful advice to everyone in our group with varying experience and with ages ranging from 21 years to mid fifties! He showed us all the best places to ski to avoid the queues and the best restaurants, and this set us up for the rest of our week in Verbier. He puts his heart and soul into your lessons and it is reassuring that if you book with him you know that he will be the person teaching you that day rather than being left in the hands of a large ski company who allocate an instructor to you on the day. We shall definitely book in with Roddy again when we next return to Verbier and I would highly recommend him to all levels of skier. -
Matt P.

We've used Roddy for a couple of seasons and he's great. His affable style makes him a great instructor and he will quickly assess your skill level to craft a fantastic itinerary for you - away from the crowds and lift lines -maximizing the value of your lift pass and creating a very memorable skiing experience. -

Gary A.

I heard good things about Roddy, so I contacted him and book some one on one lesson the best money I have spent, his eye for detail is that of a great coach, he explains every step so you fully understand the mechanics, even when you get it wrong Roddy explains why , safety is paramount as to were you ski.
I could go on but would say if your thinking off having coaching I would highly recommend Roddy .
All the best
Gary -
tuna ö.

Very very very valuable and another consructive and productive lessons with Roddy Willis. This time, as the second meeting with Roddy, i wanted to hear my mistakes objectively and improve them with his advises. I am still thinking how he is skiing very very slowly in steep slopes..Undoubtedly, it requires a perfect technique that believe me this gentlemen has it. I always keep what he said to me during the lessons and will hopefully meet to try more moguls and most difficult runs together in this season. Thank you for beautiful 3 days ! -

Mélanie K.

Roddy is an excellent ski instructor! I was very anxious when I started learning to ski two years ago and became easily panicked. Roddy was able to quickly ease my fears, and helped me become proficient in skiing. I now feel confident and comfortable on the slopes. I have taken both shorter and longer classes with him and come back every year to further improve. -
Wayne T.

This season was the first time I had ever been skiing. Roddy was patient, clearly very experienced, and got me up to speed very quickly, so that I could get on an enjoy the rest of my holiday on the piste with confidence. -

Andrew R.

Having never skied before, Roddy made it seem like a breeze. I had a private lesson with Roddy and I'll definitely be booking another one. Highly recommended! -
Riley S.

My wife and I had a fantastic two sessions with Roddy in March 2019. While confident on-piste, we were quite new to off-piste in the alps. Roddy was an excellent instructor helping us improve our form on powder, giving us advice on the best areas to ski and even great recommendations for restaurants.

Roddy was very friendly and a great guide. He was able to balance challenging us on new more difficult routes without us feeling uncomfortable or out of our league which we really appreciated.

If you're in Verbier, be sure to get a day or two with Roddy. -

helen p.

Roddy is a superb ski instructor. A natural teacher he makes the difficult easy, and as a beginner he gave me the confidence to ski and also enjoy myself rather than being totally terrified! Thank you Roddy. -
Victoria M.

The BEST ski instructor in Verbier! I’ve had ski lessons with a number of different ski instructors and Roddy was by far the BEST. He understood my anxieties after having a skiing accident and he was patient and informative in our lessons. He understood quickly that it was important for me to understand why I needed to make certain movements to improve my skiing. Not only did Roddy improve my skiing but also my mindset about skiing and above all, skiing became fun again! -

Freddie T.

BASI Level 2 Coaching Roddy is a talented instructor, with a wealth of experience. He trained me for my BASI Level 2 Ski Instructor Examination in just four three hour private lessons, he taught me using a variety of teaching techniques that were clear and easy to apply to my skiing. The transformation to my technique during a short period was incredible. Thank you for all your help and support, I couldn't have passed the Level 2 without you. Freddie -
Deborah S.

First Time Skiing Hi Roddy, Thx for making Ws introduction to skiing really enjoyable! We consolidated yesterday morning and he is now genuinely keen to progress! It is very difficult to learn at 54 so thanks to you it was a positive experience. Could equally have gone the other way, but thankfully not! Deborah 😀 -

Deborah B.

Verbier Ski Lessons ‘We had a great week skiing with Roddy’s expert assistance. Amongst the group there was a huge range of abilities and levels of confidence and Roddy adapted to all these various requirements, kindly swapping between us all to give us the relevant advice. By the end of the week the complete beginner was up the mountain and the most fearful had done a fair number of black runs!! Many thanks for all your help. Deborah and family. -
Julie C.

Roddy is fantastic...best ski instructor in Verbier! -

Alexander M.

I had a lesson with Roddy in early March 2019. I had not skied for 7 years and as such was a bit nervous.

I need not have been.

Roddy was amazing - friendly and a great teacher. Within only a few runs I was back to my usual confident (if poor) skiing and really enjoying being back on the scopes.

Roddy then challenged me on harder runs and it was a great three hours, at the end of which the improvement in both my technique and enjoyment was immense.

I will definitely return to Verbier for many things, but one of them is so I can have another lesson with Roddy. -
tuna ö.

Roddy, he is one of the most experienced instructors i have ever seen. He is very calm on the skis and explains each technique patiently before trial. I still remember every single words of him, as well as his positions on skis, very valuable, enable me to become a good skier. I recommend if you are the one who wants to progress in skiing and develop your technique, you should definetely learn it from Roddy. -

julie c.

Roddy is fantastic! We could not have asked for a better instructor to ski with at Verbier!!! He took us to terrain that we would have never been able to find ourselves, helped us ski better and provided an overall amazing ski experience! Only wish we had more than three days, but we will definitely go back to Verbier to ski with Roddy next season! -
James K.

Had 2 private sessions skiing with Roddy as a couple of different abilities and experience. They were a brilliant experience. Having listened carefully to what we wanted we arrived to a really well thought out and bespoke sessions on piste and off piste. He analysed our technique and went through some drills that we were then able put into practice. Got a lot from this and have continued using his advice and observation of my technique to keep trying to use it. Have used several instructors previously and Roddy was by far the best. experience. -

Suzannah V.

Best ski instruction I've ever had!

I'm a reasonable strong, off-piste skier - skied for years including working ski seasons and absolutely love it. Roddy is a fantastic professional skiing instructor having taught all his life. He really helped me to progress by breaking down many old bad habits. His instruction was clear and clarified a lot of skiing-position myths. He checks for understanding, passionate about enabling his pupils to improv, patient with questions and fun interesting company. Having been in Verbier for 15 years he knows the ski area on and off piste tremendously well so offers a fantastic days teaching and skiing. The only concern is if he is available when you are.
My recommendation - If you can find a space in his diary when you are there book it asap and start looking forward to a great day. -
Chris B.

First ski instructor to get me off piste Roddy is the first ski instructor to get me off piste, and I not only survived but loved it. We had a mixed ability group but Roddy was able to fit us all in and everyone in the group improved considerably. -

Johan H.

Great skiing and top-quality service Me and my boyfriend were in Verbier last week and we both went with Roddy on separate occasions. I had a private lesson and my boyfriend, an experienced skier, took an off-piste guide. Neither of us have experienced such a good ski school before! Great skiing and top-quality service. I would recommend anyone going to Verbier who is thinking of hiring an instructor or a guide to go with Roddy Willis. -
Emma Y.

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Stephen S.

bloody good instructor.

especially if you have a bit of a tecchy mind, i suspect... -
Lucy B.

Another fabulous day on the mountain This is my third lesson with Roddy and I am thoroughly enjoying acquiring new skills.
I am writing this as I soak my aching muscles in a hot bath after another fabulous day on the mountain working very under-used muscles!
The lessons are hard work but great fun and I can really feel myself improving. Even though we have been concentrating on one area I want to improve, Roddy has managed to keep the lessons interesting and fun. He is very good at managing my own personal frustrations and patiently bringing me through it. I am really noticing my skiing style changing for the better.
Roddy also enjoys pushing me out of my comfort zone and giving me the confidence to follow him....even when that means jumping off something I would never have considered before! -

Lucy B.

Ironing out bad habits Having not had any ski lessons since I was a child I decided it was time for me to try and take my skiing to the next level and iron out some bad habits. I took a few lessons with different ski instructors over the season but today I felt that I struck gold with Roddy. My lesson was really excellent and he really focused on my problems and got me to understand them in a way that meant it was easier to understand how to correct them. Roddy is an extremely experienced but also patient instructor. The main thing I noticed, which made Roddy differ from other instructors, was his marvellous ability to adjust his teaching method to suit the way I learn. It really made all the difference and I came away from the lesson feeling positive about my skiing; confident how to go out on my own and practise my new skills but most importantly I didn't leave frustrated. I would highly recommend Roddy if you are looking for skiing lessons in Verbier. -

Need some ski advice?

If you need help choosing which private ski lessons is for you please get in touch – I’d be happy to chat about skiing and Verbier. Or if you want a bit more information about Roddy Willis.

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