States Stepping Up to Ski and Snowboard Month

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05 January 2015

Push to The Latest: No

SAM Magazine—McLean, Va., Jan. 5, 2015—This month marks the seventh year of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and several states, including Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Vermont, are promoting statewide discounted beginner lesson packages. A few associations have recruited partners to help spread the news.

While most learn-to initiatives are left to resorts themselves to develop, in December, LSSM organizers launched the new First Day Faces campaign. This asks new skiers and riders to share photos of their first time lessons via social media for a chance to win a trip to Utah. Photos are tagged with the hashtag #FirstDayFaces.

Also new this year is Minnesota's Discover Skiing and Snowboarding program, a collaborative effort between that state's ski association and a group of ski and snowboard retail shops. The initiative combines learning to ski or snowboard with lessons on the proper clothing and how to use the equipment, according to Mary Jo Tarallo, executive director of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month.

Speaking of collaborations, Ski New Mexico teamed with a local TV channel in offering a $40 children's beginner package, and four ski areas of Ski the Northwest Rockies collaborated on the “E Z Ski/Ride 1 2 3” package. The deal includes three lessons including lift tickets and equipment at prices ranging from $99 to $159.

Ski Vermont is once again running a $29 lift, lesson, and rental package at participating resorts. The Vermont program has been successful for a number of years, and Tarallo reports that this year neighboring New Hampshire is offering a similar deal to skiers and riders in the Granite State.

Ski Areas of New York is celebrating Discover New York on Jan. 8 with $12 lift vouchers and learning programs that start at $25. Ski PA has a first-timer learning program for $49 at its member resorts.

Michigan is once again offering the “Discover Michigan” package, offering $20 cross country lessons and $35 ski and snowboard lessons at 27 venues throughout the state. Residents of Utah can sample “the Greatest Snow on Earth” via the Ski Utah $45 lift, lesson, and rental package.

Of course, many individual resorts across the U.S. are touting a variety of beginner learning programs, including free beginner lesson packages. All the lesson deals can be found at learntoskiandsnowboard.org.