WHERE TO LEARN YOUR TURNS AT 14 IKON PASS DESTINATIONS
Snapping into bindings, navigating chairlifts, and sliding down mountains — whether you’re new to skiing and snowboarding or you have aspiring little shredders, lessons are an important first step in cruising the slopes safely and with confidence.
This season, make it your mission to tackle a new alpine adventure with a professional instructor at your side and equip your kids with the skills they need to make your frantic “Pizza! Pizza!” days a thing of the past. These Ikon Pass destinations boast some of the planet’s best ski and ride schools for beginners, plus on-mountain childcare options* for family-friendly mountain days.
Arapahoe Basin
When you learn to ski or ride at “The Legend,” you can ski or ride anywhere. Beginners and parents will love Arapahoe Basin’s free parking lots, laid-back atmosphere, and easily accessible Molly Hogan learning hill. A-Basin has half-day lesson options for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, as well as bundled group lesson 4-packs — plus, beginners can snag some crazy deals, like a lesson and equipment rentals for as little as $199.
Big Bear Mountain Resort
Home to the largest beginner learning area in SoCal, Big Bear Mountain Resort offers group and private lessons for skiers and snowboarders. Be sure to check out Big Bear’s fun alternative to traditional downhill lessons — beginner-level terrain park instruction at Skill Builder Park, complete with mini versions of the resort’s famous features: slow rails, boxes, rollers, hips, and more. Big Bear also proudly sponsors the United States Adaptive Recreation Center (USARC), which uses one-on-one instruction to make skiing and riding accessible for individuals with disabilities.
Blue Mountain Resort, Ontario*
Beginners and independent learners will love the innovative Snow How Self-Learn System at Blue Mountain Resort in Ontario, Canada. Sign up for the Snow How bundle for a unique learning experience that includes equipment rentals and unlimited daily access to Blue’s beginner area. With life-sized visual learning stations and specially groomed Smart Terrain, you can progress at your own pace and master skills like speed control on skis or sidestepping on a snowboard.
Blue Mountain Resort, Pennsylvania
Learning how to ski or snowboard is more fun when you do it together — that’s why the dual-discipline instructors at Blue Mountain Resort, Poconos, created the Family & Friends Beginner Lesson. You and your group will begin your lesson at Blue’s award-winning learning center and will stay together on the mountain, regardless of age or ability. When the lesson’s over, you can continue to practice your new skills in any of the region’s largest learning areas.
Copper Mountain
The Ski & Ride School at Copper Mountain is known throughout Colorado for having some of the state’s best instructors, so you can rest assured that the kiddos and first-timers will be in good hands. World-class alpine education paired with Copper’s naturally divided terrain — uniquely situating skiers and riders on the appropriate trails, surrounded by people of the same skill level — makes this mountain an ideal learning destination.
Deer Valley Resort*
Named “Best Family Ski Experience 2023” by The Wall Street Journal, the renowned Ski School at Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, lets kids and beginners hit the slopes with private lessons, group lessons, and clinics. You can also opt for a more personalized approach to ski lessons with specialty programs that offer stance, balance, and alignment analysis — all a part of Deer Valley’s Gold Standard of Instruction.
Eldora Mountain Resort
With more than 60 years of providing professional ski and snowboard instruction, Eldora Mountain Resort is known as one the best — and closest to the Denver-Boulder metro area — places to learn in Colorado. Eldora Ski & Ride School makes it easy for new skiers and riders to get a taste of winter sports with group and private lessons, as well as multi-week programs for all ages. Check out Eldora’s dynamic lesson finder to select the appropriate option for your beginner.
June Mountain
Known as “California’s Family Mountain,” June Mountain’s Sport School offers free skiing and riding for kids 12 and under. Drop the kiddos off for group or private lessons at the June Mountain Chalet while you hit the slopes to rip through your runs. Adults can hire a personal pro for a private lesson, and bring up to four friends at no additional cost. When the lesson’s over, put your skills to work on June Mountain’s wide-open runs — perfect for beginners.
Mt Buller
Whether you’re still trying to master the basics of stopping or have a little one who wants to shred some Australian pow, the Ski & Snowboard School at Mt Buller has options for everyone. The mountain’s smallest guests can make their first turns in The Magic Forest — a special corner of the resort with its own carpets, nestled safely in the snowgums. Regular breaks for hot chocolate, games, bubbles, and occasional visits from resort mascots make learning magical and fun for kids.
Steamboat
If you need to brush off the dust before hitting Steamboat’s storied slopes, make your way to Greenhorn Ranch at Steamboat’s SnowSports School — the resort’s newest world-class, on-mountain learning center, accessible from the new Wild Blue Gondola. Greenhorn Ranch specializes in a progressive approach called Terrain Based Learning® that relies on the terrain itself to naturally teach guests while learning to ski and snowboard.
Sugarloaf*
With Sugarloaf’s Guaranteed Learning Method, beginner Loafers of all ages are sure to get the alpine skills they need to succeed. The Loaf’s littlest learners can start out in the Moosketeers program as young as 18 months old, progressing to Mountain Magic at age 3 and Mountain Adventure at age 6. Sugarloaf accommodates all skill levels, featuring favorites like the Moose Alley trail and the West Mountain Expansion with more than 300 acres of additional beginner terrain.
Sun Peaks Resort*
Welcome to the beginners’ paradise that is Sun Peaks Resort in the heart of British Columbia, Canada. With wide, rolling green runs accessible from the top of every single lift, kids and newbies can easily explore the whole resort. Hit up Sun Peaks’ incredible teaching terrain or book a lesson at Sun Peaks Sports School — whether full-day or half-day, group or private, their instructors can help you find the right program to suit you and your family’s needs.
Thredbo
Voted Australia’s Best Ski Resort at the World Ski Awards for seven years in a row, Thredbo is the ultimate place to learn how to ski or snowboard. With a dedicated beginner area, a massive range of snowsport lessons, and expert instructors, Thredbo has everything you need for your first day skiing or riding. A lesson from Thredbo’s outstanding team provides the best possible opportunity to learn technique and skills, build confidence on the mountain, and get lift line priority.
Winter Park Resort
Voted “Best for Beginners” by the Wall Street Journal in 2023, Winter Park Resort’s Ski + Ride School has an excellent set of beginner terrain to help newbies build confidence. Its proximity to Denver and varied lesson offerings makes Winter Park a superb spot for Coloradoans to get their ski and snowboard bearings. Plus, multi-week kids’ programs have progressive group instruction from the same coach, which make for nothing less than stellar mini shredders. What’s more, the Galloping Goose, a kid- and beginner-friendly lift on the Mary Jane side, is free to ride — no lift ticket required.
To learn more and book beginner lessons, visit your preferred destination’s website and find the ski and ride school page.
* This Ikon Pass destination offers on-mountain childcare services.
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