Lessons for teens?

[marzNC]

It seems like most ski programs for kids end at age 12. I'm not thinking about multi-week programs good for locals, but group lessons that can be taken during a 1-week ski vacation. Have come across a few for ages 13-17 but can't really remember where. Are there any in the northeast? Out west?

 

[WaterGirl]

Seems most mountains fail to see the potential in having a tween/teen program. Mammoth lessons kids thru 12; and 13+ is adult.

As we all know, that tween to teen age group would much rather ski with other kids than adults.
Last season we had friends who came up with 12 and 14yo kids a couple of times-- the kids were bummed either way with the lessons with little kids or the adults. They had they most fun skiing w/ DD even though they were just lapping the same easy runs

Its hard for advanced Tweens b/c at that age, their peers are either "really good and on a team" or "just beginning/ski once a year," so the "group" lessons tend to be lower level skiers.

 

[marzNC]

Discovered that Vail has special programs for girls on selected days. Includes something for teens ages 13-15. There is also Ski Girls Rock for tween girls ages 7-12.

Many Options:

• Ages 13-15
• Lionshead location
• Small Group lesson
• Full Day (1-6 day options)
• Intermediate/Advanced abilities (Levels 4-9)
• Ski only

Special Notes:

• Options available for lift tickets and ski rentals
• Lunch not included

Ski Girls Rock is only offered on following dates:

• 12/20/15 - 1/3/16
• 2/12/16 - 2/20/16
• 3/13/16 - 3/27/16

 

[marzNC]

Its hard for advanced Tweens b/c at that age, their peers are either "really good and on a team" or "just beginning/ski once a year," so the "group" lessons tend to be lower level skiers.

Exactly! My daughter was Level 7 at Alta by the time she was 11. At our home mountain back in VA, I was lucky they were flexible enough for her to do the Adv. Beginner/Intermediate group lesson, which was often a private since they would separate kids from adults as long as they had enough instructors. She would get an instructor capable of working with her on fundamentals at an appropriate level.

Once our friend's kids (brother and sister) aged out of Alta ski school at age 12, the only option that made sense to them was semi-private lessons. They only ski one week a year during spring break and were reached Level 8 by age 11 or 12.

 

[marzNC]

Smuggs has a lot of programs for kids from ages 3-17. Looks like there are separate afternoon group lessons for ages 16-17. Older tweens and younger teens ages 11-15 are grouped together.

In contrast, Stowe groups together ages 7-14. Anyone know if Stowe separates by age further depending on who shows up on a given day? Meaning would Stowe work to separate 7-10 year olds from teens, even if they are at the same ability level?

 

[marzNC]

Telluride also groups together ages 7-14. At the other end of the spectrum, Telluride offers ski lessons starting at age 2 1/2.

Children are divided into programs (2 ½ - 4 year old Cubs, 3-4 year old Otters, 5-6 year old Bears, 7-14 year old Eagles) that offer age and skill specific learning experiences. Ski lessons are available for ages 2 ½ - 14, while snowboard instruction is offered for ages 7-14.

 

[marzNC]

Killington has teens past the beginner stage covered with a MAX 5 program. Nice that can choose full-day, morning, or afternoon. Also, never-ever teens are kept separate from adult novices.

Snowzone, Ages 13-17: Specfically designed for teenage skiers and riders of all ability levels, Snowzone provides an inclusive and supportive atmosphere. We know how to teach teens without them realizing it, and keep the stoke level high with our terrain based learning techniques, progression parks, glades and more.

• Available daily from late November through early April.
• Dedicated meeting place at the Drop Zone Yurt located slopeside at Ramshead Lodge.
• Full-day program meets 9:15 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and includes lunch.
• Half-day morning session meets 9:15 - 11:45 a.m.
• Half-day afternoon session meets 1:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
• Rates are for lessons only; lift tickets and equipment rental are not included.

MAX 5
Half-day $86
Full-day $125

 

[marzNC]

Loveland near Denver does group lessons for kids up through age 14. Ages 6-14 can ski or snowboard while lessons for ages 4-5 are for skiing only. Ski school is at Loveland Valley but a class that is Level 4 or above may end up at the main area, Loveland Basin.

 

[Skier31]

Snowmass has specific teen lessons for ages 13-17:

Why Should Your Teen Take a Lesson?

• Our dedicated Pros know how to connect with teenagers, mixing instruction and skills development with on-mountain exploration and creative expression.
• Groups are divided according to skill level and goals. Your teen will be given the chance to make new friends in a confidence-building environment.
• Over the course of a lesson, your teen might learn: The fundamentals of skiing and snowboarding; techniques for mastering groomers, moguls, steeps, deep powder, terrain parks and pipes, and more.
• Teens often choose to compete with new friends at specials events such as Lowdown Showdown Park Challenge, school race day, and NASTAR.

Buttermilk and Highlands do not have teen lessons.

 

[marzNC]

Snowbird also has a teen program for holiday periods and March weekends. Wings for Teens is for ages 13-17, "blue or black." Snowbird uses five colors for different abilities: red (never ever), yellow (not ready for Snowbird green trails), green, blue, black.

Price: $168 full day. ($155 if reserved prior to November 1, 2015)
Includes lesson, lunch and lift if needed.
Check In: 9:00 a.m.
Lesson Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Chickadee Bowl, Snowbird Center
Dates: Dec 26-Jan 3, Jan 16-17, Feb 13-15, March 5-27 (Sat/Sun)

 

[marzNC]

Continuing to look around at ski resort websites for programs for teens. Not applicable to my daughter but I have friends with kids who are tweens who may want to do a trip out west during a holiday period at some point.

Whistler-Blackcomb has a few options for teens ages 13-18 that are clearly geared toward vacationers. Can do 1-day on weekdays or 2-days on weekends. What's more unusual is the 5-day package for M-F. Definitely have to check their calendar when planning a ski trip to see what fits in the schedule.

 

[marzNC]

Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine are operated by Boyne. The ski school programs for older kids are for ages 7-14. Full day or half-day, with a discount for making a reservation but walk-up is possible if there is space. The max for a group is 8 kids.

Checking on the max number is worth doing for any children's program. Can range from 3 to 8, usually depending on age and ability.

 

[marzNC]

For those in Michigan, Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands do not have anything special for teen skiers but do for snowboarders. Boyne teamed up with Burton and offers snowboard lessons for teens 13-17 at all levels. Also can start little ones ages 3-6 on a snowboard using Burton's Riglet board that can easily be towed, doesn't even need snow if a parent wants to get their kid started on grass or carpet at home during pre-season.

 

[marzNC]

It's not just destination resorts that have lessons for 13-14 year olds. Jiminy Peak in western MA and Greek Peak in central NY have children's programs that go up through age 14. At Jiminy, group lessons for kids only go up to "blue."

 

[marzNC]

Big Sky is another major destination ski resort that has group lessons for kids ages 7-14, morning, afternoon, or full-day (9:15-3:45). The only downside to the fact that Big Sky doesn't get as big crowds as some more accessible ski resorts is that a 14yo intermediate is more likely to end up with tweens instead of other teens.

 

[pinto]

Copper has quite an extensive teen program. This is for last season, but I'm sure it will be at least similar this year. Last year they began moving the teens to the Woodward barn for lessons, which is a great idea imo (gets them out of the kids' ski school environment, which won't be attractive to a teen):
Group Lessons (Ages 13-17)
Brand new this year, all Copper Teen Ski & Ride lessons will run through Woodward. Your lesson will start in the Barn utilizing our skatelite learning terrain and Burton Snowboard’s indoor ParkBoards™ and ParkSkis™ to simplify the learning curve. Lunch is included with this lesson. Maximum 8 students per class.

 

[marzNC]

Snowbird full-day lessons are for ages 7-15. Per usual, kids are supposed to be grouped by age and ability. Snowbird uses the 5-point scale (red, yellow, green. blue, black).

Alta Ski School does full-day and afternoon programs for ages "7 - Early Teen" but only for those who can ski blue and black terrain. Alta uses the 9-point scale. What's unusual about Alta Ski School is that they don't take reservations. The advantage is that parents and kids can make a decision based on snow conditions, weather prediction for the day, and how a kid happens to be feeling in the morning. There are always more than enough instructors on stand by as groups are organized.



My daughter and her friends thoroughly enjoyed Alta instructors who taught the Level 7 and 8 groups during spring break trips. Sometimes two levels were combined. After a powder storm, the two girls (age 9 and 11) were in a Level 6/7 group of six kids with two female instructors. When the parents and I were riding up the Sunnyside lift, we watched the group make their way down a black route on Vail Ridge in snow that was thigh deep on most of the kids. The girls had been with those instructors before and had a grand time that day. Level 8 groups go all over the place, including out Devil's Castle and Catherine's.

 

[marzNC]

Families with middle and high school rippers, ages 12-17, have the option of pretty special 3-day camps at Jackson Hole during school holidays. My impression is that the first TGR Fall Line Camp was held in 2011. Noticed that there are girls in the video.

The next TRG Fall Line Camp is Dec. 29-31, 2015. The other sponsored camp is the GoPro Fall Line Camp Feb. 15-17, 2016. Looks like there are also Fall Line camps two of the March weekends for families who ski during spring break.

 

[marzNC]

For something completely different from the major destination resorts like Snowbird and JH, turns out that a little non-profit ski area in Maine includes young teens in their children's program. Black Mountain ski school has group lessons for ages 7-14, as well as a seasonal program. Open Fri, Sat, Sun and a day pass is $29. Season pass categories include Family Passes for a family of 2, 3, 4, or 5.

 

[hamster on skis]

Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine are operated by Boyne. The ski school programs for older kids are for ages 7-14. Full day or half-day, with a discount for making a reservation but walk-up is possible if there is space. The max for a group is 8 kids.

Checking on the max number is worth doing for any children's program. Can range from 3 to 8, usually depending on age and ability.

We are very familiar with Sugarloaf. Their ski school is cheap and they usually do a good job. BUT the max size of a group doesn't really exist! My kids skied in groups of 15 (yes, fifteen kids) or even more with 1 (one) instructor on more than one occasion. But somehow the instruction is pretty good, and unlike many other places which differentiate by green-blue-black (where my kids have been on black since age 5 or something), Sugarloaf has various shades of green-purple-blue-silver-? and they actually teach specific techniques quite carefully. What was black at another big resort was not-quite-blue at Sugarloaf, because the instructors actually wanted the kids to master a particular technique.