KTDontheGO: January is Learn to Ski or Snowboard Month

MY FATHER TAUGHT me to ski when I was seven. Using a pair of old, aluminum skis I shared with my brother and sister, I stumbled and slipped and cried my way down (and up) a gentle slope at Snoqualmie Pass near Seattle. I understand why Dad thought he could teach us, he was a former alpine racer and ski jumper, and presented as pretty a picture of downhill finesse as anyone would want in those days. He was also (in his mind) decidedly cheaper than the local ski schools who wanted money for something he felt he could do better. 

A problem presented itself in the form of whining, complaining and crying - something I would have never dreamed of doing in front of a cute ski instructor but had no qualms about with my father (it drove him nuts). As a consequence there was more shouting than teaching, more snuffling than schussing. Until I reached high school and the community ski bus where I learned, sans weeping, how to do a wedge or a christy, and could parallel my way down all but the blackest of black diamond runs. Eventually, I even became an instructor myself and saw, firsthand, legions of other parents trying to teach their offspring in a manner similar to my own father’s. 

Help is here, moms and dads. January has been designated as Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. In 2007 a bunch of ski industry moguls (get it?) and professional instructors got together to provide beginning skiers and riders an opportunity to learn outside the boundary of parental assistance; LSSM now crowds slopes in 32 states and 300 resorts including Alaska.

Two areas are offering deep discounts on lesson packages for beginners. Alyeska Resort near Anchorage is offering a $99/per person special, with three lessons, a lower-mountain ticket and equipment rental. Kids who wish to learn to ski must be at least five; youth who want to give snowboarding a try must be at least eight so they can take full advantage of the resort’s “magic carpets,” Bear Cub quad and Lift 7. Alyeska Resort’s Mountain Learning Center instructors are excellent, but even better, they are enthusiastic ambassadors for the sport of alpine skiing. They also know kids and understand things like bathroom breaks, lost mittens, and occasional tears. 

In southeast Alaska, Eaglecrest Ski Area has also jumped on the alpine bandwagon with a variety of ski or ride packages that begin at just $54 for two hours of skiing, equipment rental, and lift tickets. They even have a “Bring a Friend” program, since we all know learning a new skill can be more fun with a buddy. Eaglecrest is a smaller mountain, perfect for families looking for a more intimate skiing experience. Located across the Gastineau Channel in Douglas, Eaglecrest also offers nice views from it’s forested brow. 

Adults are included in this deal, too. Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month is targeting adults who for years may have thought they were “too old” to learn a new skill like skiing. With the right instructor to boost confidence, skiing is a sport to be enjoyed by every age and every stage. 

Don’t forget, when skiing in Alaska (particularly at Alyeska), one must dress warmer than the average Lower 48 resort. Standing in a lift line or sitting on a metal chairlift gets chilly, indeed. Pack handwarmers, wear a neck gaiter, and consider goggles for a full-face warm up. Children and adults should wear helmets, too - check with the rental shop for a loaner. Also, bring kids inside periodically to check on their fingers and toes and know when to stop for the day; most skiing injuries occur on the proverbial “last run.” 

Erin Kirkland blogs about skiing and other Alaskan family activities at AKontheGO.com.