I would agree with those who recommend lessons. Getting connected to a group like Gavin's and Stuart Craig's Snow performance is well worth the money. I just read about a Midweek 3 session clinic at the Summit for $258. That is such a bargain for their level of teaching that I would consider it myself just for fun ( I am a retired level III Tele instructor, but love to learn more and these guys are great) It is worth a lot to have a pair of really good instructor eyes watch you. Summit is good teaching terrain and access from Issaquah. Are you Tele or Randonee? If you are on Randonee, the pool of good instructors is much bigger, and Snow performance has that to offer too.
On the less expensive side, check out the Mountaineers, and ask what kind of credentials the instructor has. PSIA Level II would be minimum, Level III preferred. They might ski great, but it is about their ability to do movement analysis of your skiing and communicate how to fix it.
As for Racing, I raced Alpine in college and taught with many racing coaches and master racers at Park City. We did an instructors Tele clinic every Thursday night with Jim Ludlow, who at that time was on the US Tele Race team and also PSIA Nordic Demo Team. It was a blast to go that fast, but it did little for my backcountry skills. As for skiing with racers, sure it is fun to go fast, but improvement is usually more when going slow, like really slow. If you have friends who were racers, who now ski the backcountry and are also trained to analyze your skiing for the basic skills, and want to do it for you, and will patiently wait while you dig out of the snow after falling, and who will tell you it is just what they want to do today instead of rip it up, you are very lucky. Otherwise pay for an instructor, who really likes what they are doing. You will have more fun and maybe go home pleased with yourself.
Jane
