Where to Go During January’s Skiing and Snowboarding Month

Photo source: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

January not only rings in a new year, but also ushers in "Learning to Ski and Snowboard Month." For newbies eager to learn, various ski resorts across the United States have promotions for guiding students along the slopes. By state, here is what you can find in 2016.

Wyoming

The 2015-2016 ski season marks the 50th anniversary for the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which has a top ski school, and half of its mountain is beginner and intermediate terrain. Tying in with this celebration, between January 11-31, 2016, the resort has a "Golden Ticket" promotion. This gives any skier and snowboarder with a season pass from any resort a 50 percent discounted lift ticket based on the valid in-resort, single day rate. Another resort option to consider is Snow King in Jackson, whose mountain is about 15 percent beginner-friendly.

Colorado

Colorado Ski Country USA member resorts and ski areas have various package deals on rentals, lift tickets, and professional instruction. From January 2-17, 2016, the Limelight Hotel at Aspen Snowmass has a "Beginners Incentive Package," held in conjunction with the Aspen Snowmass Ski & Snowboard Schools, to give newbies proper gear, lessons, and lodging. Also, certain CSCUSA resorts will participate in a nationwide attempt to set a Guinness World Record, for the biggest multi-venue skiing and snowboarding lesson, on Friday, January 8. They include Buttermilk, Copper Mountain, Powderhorn, Steamboat, and Sunlight.

Utah

Utah resorts have some great incentives and packages – a few particularly for the younger set. Ski Utah’s 5th and 6th Grade Passports Program is offered to schoolchildren nationwide, which, through an online application program, awards fifth graders with three free lift tickets at each of the state’s 14 resorts and sixth graders with one resort. For all first-timers, Brian Heed Resort’s University Program has a terrain-based learning program consisting of three solid lessons to get students going.

Vermont

Thirteen of the state’s resorts are giving beginners a price break with a $49 lesson, which includes equipment rental and instruction with a professional, plus access to a terrain that fits a starting level. Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Vermont’s Green Mountains has received kudos as being a family-friendly resort. Through its Snow Sport University, classes for kids are based on certain age groups and on the levels of their capacities, starting from toddlers through adolescents. Killington Ski Resort’s Snow Sports School caters to newcomers ages 18 and up, while the younger set can also have access to private lessons and various youth programs.

California

Resorts in Cali have special schools for newbies. In Mammoth Lakes, Mammoth Mountain Ski School has various educational options including adults, kids, group, private lessons, a 10-week development program, day camps, and cross-country. At Squaw Valley Resort in Olympic Valley, various starter programs incorporate ski and snowboard equipment with "catch-free" technologies for making it easier for students to start, stop, and turn, plus specialty designed terrain features.

New Hampshire

For beginners, a number of ski areas in the state are providing a $39 lift, lesson, and rentals package for downhill skiing and riding and a $19 trail pass, lesson and rentals package at cross-country ski areas. Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway applies terrain-based learning – shaped snow features to control speed and positioning naturally – toward teaching. And Loon Mountain in Lincoln has learning opportunities like First Class Beginner’s Weekends and offers savings on lift tickets to graduates.

For extra piece of mind before hitting the slopes, don’t forget to check out our adventure sports insurance packages to find the best protection for you and your family.

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