Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to commonly asked questions.

Where do I teach?

My home mountain is Breckenridge, but I teach at any Vail Resorts mountain: Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Breck and beyond. Tell Vail where you’ll be skiing when you book.

How do I book a lesson with you?

All lessons are booked and paid through Vail Resorts, not through this site. Call the Vail private lesson line at (970) 453-3272 or email at lrn2ski@vailresorts.com and request Mark Foyteck by name. Have your dates, resort, number of skiers, ages and ability levels ready. Or fill out the lesson form on this website and I will work with you to book the lesson.

What kinds of lessons do I teach?

Group lessons, Elevate (Vail’s advanced lesson), Breck Club, private lessons, and family private lessons. If you want me specifically, book a private.

What is Breck Club?

It’s Breckenridge’s season program for advanced adult skiers. It’s sold in three packages, 5, 10 or 15 lessons, and the lessons run on select days through the season. One of the benefits is that you can ski with the same group and instructor every week. You keep building on what you worked on last time.

What is Elevate?

It’s for advanced skiers (PSIA Level 6+) who want to get better on the hard stuff: bumps, trees, steeps. It is an all day lesson.

Do you teach kids?

Yes. I’m a PSIA Children’s Specialist 2, which means I’ve been trained and assessed specifically on how kids learn at different ages. I adjust everything to your child’s age, confidence and goals.

Can the whole family ski together?

Yes, that’s what a family private is for. Mixed ages and abilities are fine. I’ll keep the beginners progressing and the stronger skiers challenged.

Do you teach advanced skiers?

Absolutely. As a PSIA Level III instructor I spend a lot of time with experts working on bumps, trees, steeps and powder. We build the lesson around what you want to fix.

How do I prepare for my lesson?

Check road conditions on I-70 and Hwy 9, dress in layers, drink lots of water (Breck’s base is 9,600 ft), and arrive early. Rushing is the fastest way to a bad first run. If you are traveling from a part of the country that is close to sea level consider spending a night at altitude to acclimate before skiing.

What’s CARV and will we use it?

CARV is a sensor in your boot that measures how you’re actually skiing. I’ll use the data to show you exactly what’s changing.

Why does it matter that your instructor is PSIA certified?

PSIA certification means your instructor has been trained and tested to a national standard, with Level III as the top level. I’ve been teaching for 34 years. You’re getting someone who knows how to teach, not just how to ski.