Winter Park
From a “Quick Tips Learning Lane” (on the lower Cranmer trail) complete with video analysis for just 15 minutes and US$5 (one run), through to a full Guest- Centered Teaching system, Winter Park has a highly flexible ski school program.
Winter Park has two seperate ski schools, one for children and one for adults. The Ski and Snowboard School lesson desk is located in Balcony House at the base of Winter Park Resort (970-726-1551) and offers lessons to everyone aged 15 and older. Adult beginner lessons are offered at 9:30 am and 12:45 pm daily, and adult mogul lessons are offered at 12:45 pm daily. Private lessons (one or two people) can be scheduled for 9:30 am, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm daily. Ski group size is limited to eight for adult lessons.
While locals proudly proclaim, “No Pain, No Jane,” ski instructors beg to differ. A full day lesson will have you pounding the bumps like a pro and keep you from a full body icing later that night. Winter Park also offers full day bump camps. Check the resort calendar for details and book spots early since space in these mogul clinics tends to fill up quickly.
The Children’s Center caters to kids aged two months to 14 years and is located next to West Portal at the base of Winter Park Resort (970-726-1551.) Children’s Center lessons begin at 9:30 am and continue until 3:00 pm but children can utilize the facilities from at 8:00 am through 4:00 pm. A non-ski program for children from two months to five years, with structured activities and lunch, is available on site. Reservations are required and ski group size is restricted to six for kids’ lessons. The minimum age for childcare is two months. Children’s Center lessons are for kids aged three and older if potty trained and willing.
For disabled skiers-children and adults alike- The National Sports Center for the Disabled has, for 33 years, been offering outdoor therapeutic recreation programs on the ski slopes with specially trained instructors. For details visit www.nscd.org. Reservations are required.
In “big” snow years, Parsenn Bowl offers summer training camps for alpine and freestyle skiers that are open to the public. Snow Mountain Ranch offers cross-country skiing at night. The Fraser Tubing Hill offers tubing during the day on weekends and at night.