Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month Savings in the East
Everyone’s hitting the slopes in the East to make up for a late start this ski season. If you’ve never skied or snowboarded before, National Learn to Ski and Ride Month in January is the perfect time to start. Not only do resorts offer special packages designed to make learning easy, they can save a beginner a lot of cash while learning. Here’s a general idea of what’s available to new skiers and riders in the East.
New York
Discover NY Ski Day on January 28th presents a beginner with many affordable options to learn to ski or ride. Learn to ski and ride packages at participating resorts range from $25-$35 for a beginner lift ticket, rental and lesson.
A number of these resorts add their own specialized learning programs during this time. For example, Belleayere’s “Parallel From the Start” is an all-inclusive program for new skiers that includes a lower mountain lift ticket, a 1 ½ hour class lesson and rentals. The resort “guarantees” that after the three-day lesson, beginners will have the skills to ski or ride down the mountain from the summit. Mount Peter’s Beginner Package includes a midweek beginner lift ticket and beginner’s area pass, a one-hour group lesson, and rentals at a cost of $65 for adults and $55 for juniors.
Vermont
Many of the Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA) member resorts are offering a $49 beginner lesson in January excluding holiday periods. These participating VT resorts include: Bolton Valley, Bromley, Jay Peak, Smugglers’ Notch, Mt Snow, Okemo, Pico, Q Burke, Mad River Glen, Stowe, Killington and Stratton. The beginner package includes equipment rental, a lesson, access and to beginner terrain. Packages for Vermont ski areas are such a deal, resorts are limiting one package purchase per person.
New Hampshire
Many Ski New Hampshire member resorts will offer an alpine and cross country packages during Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. Costs vary from $39 for a package that includes a beginner lesson, lift ticket and rentals for alpine skiing and riding, to $19 for beginner lesson, lift ticket, and rentals for Nordic skiing. Participating NH ski areas include: Black Mountain, Bretton Woods, Cannon, Cranmore, Gunstock, King Pine, Loon Mountain, Mount Sunapee, Pat’s Peak, Ragged Mountain, Waterville Valley and others. Not all of these resorts listed offer both programs, so check the resort’s website for details.
Massachusetts
Save on Wachusett’s Beginner Packages when you reserve your lessons online in advance. These beginner packages include a beginner lesson, rentals and lower mountain lift access. During the month, Wachusett Mountain offers experience skiers and riders savings when they bring a friend with them to learn the sport. Guests save up to 50% on regular lift access and beginner packages when purchased together online and used on the same day. Packages are valid for the current season and apply to skiers and riders over the age of 6. There may be limited restrictions so check with Waschusett’s website for all of the details.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (SkiPA) member packages offer a unique twist with beginner lift ticket, lesson and rental equipment that is valid at ANY TIME during the 2015-2016 season all for $49. Reserve your packages early because quantities are limited per ski area and sell out quickly. Ski Shawnee will be offering these limited availability packages and as well as additional beginner packages for $65 throughout January. Shawnee will reward skiers who introduce their friends to the sport with a 50% discount on their lift ticket when a beginner package is purchased for a friend at the same time. This one is not available for online purchase, and both must be used on the same day. Refer to Shawnee’s website for full details, availability and restrictions.
North Carolina
Cataloochee offers a special $59 beginning lesson, lift and rental package in January for beginners who are age 6 and older. Only 100 packages are available for purchase per day, and can only be purchased online. Lessons last 1 ¾ hours and can be scheduled any non-holiday weekday, Monday through Friday during January.
There are many ways to take full advantage of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month packages available at your favorite ski destination in the East. Participation and package availability vary by resort so as always, check your resort’s website for all the details of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard program days in advance of your trip for instructions on how to purchase and reserve your lessons. After that, don’t forget to take advantage of the savings on lodging, dining, and activities right here!