Total skiing neophyte

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a non-skiing part of the country and DH never learned to ski, either. Both of our kids have expressed interest in learning. If we want to dip our toes into skiing without it being too intense or too expensive, where should we go? We'd want to get lessons for me and the kids and we'd have to rent all the equipment.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Some places are more expensive than others, but it’s not gonna be cheap. My husband skis and took our kids for long weekends a couple of times. In middle school, you can do ski club through city of rockville (I’m sure other counties offer it) that go to liberty, whitetail, etc for the day. We did this with a couple of kids and they did lessons every time they went. It was great for them to learn consistently once a week versus a long weekend.

[Anonymous]

Good for you! Skiing is so much fun. It is expensive though, I think a beginner package at Whitetail Will include rentals lift ticket and a group lesson is around $150 for adults, a little less for kids, more expensive on weekends and less on weekdays. You can check their website to find out for certain

[Anonymous]

Oops hit submit by accident.

Skiing and snowboarding have a steep learning curve. Don't expect the first day to be fun, you'll be wet and cold and sore from falling down. but day 2 would be a lot better and if you stick with it by day three chances are you will have some control as you go down the mountain.

The group lessons are a good deal but if you can't afford it a private lesson will get you much farther much faster. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

1) borrow ski clothes if you don't have them (helmet/goggles/ski pants/ski gloves).
2) Go to liberty or other close-by mountain on a non-insanely crowded day. (As in, don't go Monday...)
3) as 12:49 said, it's a steep learning curve. Skiing becomes demonstrably easier the better you get - so if you are sore and exhausted the first day, don't worry. It gets so much easier as your technique improves.
4) stay on the bunny hill till you feel confident you can stop and turn. It sucks taking a chairlift up only to realize you aren't ready for a steeper slope...and there is only 1 way down.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I hope you read 12:54's parenthetical. If you were thinking of going on MLK day, I would really recommend you don't. MLK day is possibly the most crowded day of the year at any ski slope, and it will not be fun.

[Anonymous]

I prefer Whitetail and Liberty over Roundtop, but all three are fine for beginners and roughly about the same distance (Roundtop is the farthest.). They are owned by the same company and so have very similar pricing.

This is Whitetail's guide for beginners.
http://skiwhitetail.com/first-timers-guide

Skiing will be much more fun if you have the right gear, to minimize the cold and wet. You will need snow pants, snow jacket, waterproof warm gloves, and a hat/helmet.

If you are brand new, I might put your kids in a camp so that the instructors have the job of getting them all geared up and onto a bunny slope for the first time. Honestly, even if they don't learn that much in those crowded group kid classes, it'll be really hard for you to help them if you're a beginner too.

The first time is the hardest but it gets exponentially way more easy and fun from there on out. Have fun and good luck!

[Anonymous]

most local resorts are having learn to ski deals this month only. they are on Thursdays and around $50 for lesson, lift and rentals.

[Anonymous]

I really can't recommend taking private lessons enough - it will make all the difference in the world. I would suggest two half-day lessons for each day you're there for you and your spouse. It will be definitely more expensive than the group / free lessons, but when we did it (DH and I both started as adults) we were skiing down the greens by the end of the first half day.

[Anonymous]

Since you and DH are both beginners, you could do a private lesson together. Slightly cheaper than two private lessons. ($125 for 1 person for 1 hr, $193 for 2 ppl).

[Anonymous]

^Oh, that's at Whitetail, btw.

[Anonymous]

I learned to ski at liberty/ white tail as a child. There were older kids in my ‘class/lessons.’ And another time I vaguely recall adults in my class, such as after I had conquered the basics and took an older class.

I found that no one has time to laugh at others. I mean, everyone is having a good time. If someone saw you in trouble they would either leave you alone or more likely stop to help you for safety’s sake). I’ve seen beginners in a tough spot on the slopes, and there always seems to be someone to stop (a park employee or a vacationer) and assist.

^thats for after you’ve taken the class and are on your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I learned to ski at liberty/ white tail as a child. There were older kids in my ‘class/lessons.’ And another time I vaguely recall adults in my class, such as after I had conquered the basics and took an older class.

I found that no one has time to laugh at others. I mean, everyone is having a good time. If someone saw you in trouble they would either leave you alone or more likely stop to help you for safety’s sake). I’ve seen beginners in a tough spot on the slopes, and there always seems to be someone to stop (a park employee or a vacationer) and assist.

^thats for after you’ve taken the class and are on your own.

For the kids... I don’t know how old they are. But I spent the first time I went ONLY on the bunny hill. I had the BEST time. They’re going to have so much fun, and then later in the day, or weekend, or perhaps next time, they’ll try out the blues and blacks.

[Anonymous]

Wintergreen in late February-early spring is not as crowded as other resorts, and lessons/ski school are reasonably priced.
We were paying for a group lesson and my son either skied with only one other child and instructor, or basically had a private
lesson at a rate of a group when nobody else signed up

[Anonymous]

Liberty has a fantastic beginner program and hill. There are big groups of beginner adults out there all the time. Just buy yourself snow pants, gloves, helmet, and goggles and rent the skis and boots there. Have a great time!