3 steps to find the right ski or snowboard lessons for all ages, abilities, and budgets.
This post is sponsored by Ski the Northwest Rockies
Introducing the next generation to skiing or snowboarding is one of the best things parents can do to help kids develop a life-long love for winter sports and being healthy and active outside in the winter. Here in the Inland Northwest, we are fortunate to have multiple, affordable ski and snowboard areas right in our backyard, but with so many resort and lesson options to choose from, deciding what type of ski or snowboard lessons are right for your child and family can be a bit overwhelming.
These three simple steps will help simplify the process of finding the right lessons at one of the four Ski the NW Rockies association resorts—49 Degrees North, Chewelah, Wash.; Mt. Spokane, Mead, Wash.; Lookout Pass, Mullan, Idaho; and Silver Mountain, Kellogg, Idaho.
Step #1: Think about what type of lesson would be best for your child and your family’s budget and schedule. There are a lot of options from each of the resorts, from group lessons to more expensive yet focused private lessons as well as multi-day and multi-week lesson programs. Consider these options:
- Choose single lessons just to give it a try once or twice, or schedule single lessons throughout the season whenever you can make it up to the mountain.
- Multi-week lesson programs or holiday camps give your child more instruction, friendship opportunities and a more immersive experience. These programs also give parents time to hit the slopes on their own or read a book or get some work done in the lodge.
- Multi-day first-timer packages that include 3 days of lessons, rentals, and lift tickets (see EZ Ski 123 sidebar for more info).
Step #2: Decide on which ski area you want your child to take lessons from. This choice may be an easy one if you have a favorite (or season passes) at a specific resort. Or you might want to make the decision based on other factors like where friends of your child might be taking lessons or if there’s a specific lesson program at one of the resorts that seems like a perfect fit. If you are still not sure, move on to Step #3 and explore the different resorts’ lesson options.
Step #3: Visit resort ski school/lesson web pages to find the right lesson program. Now that you have an idea of what type of lessons you want for your child and hopefully know which resort you want to sign them up at, visit that resort’s lesson page below with your schedule and budget in mind. Next, find the right age-and-skill appropriate ski or snowboard lessons. Many lesson packages and camps fill up, so don’t wait! If you’re still not sure which resort or lesson package is right for you, visit each of the resort lesson QR links below and do more research.
