Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen / Snowmass
Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands & Buttermilk
November 27, 2008 - April 12, 2009
November 27, 2008 - April 12, 2009
Information & Programs
Listed below are the Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado ski and snowboard lessons available from Stay Aspen Snowmass. Please call us at 888.649.5982for information on other ski and snowboard school programs not listed here, for example, children's programs for ages 8 weeks to 6 years and private lessons offered by the Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen / Snowmass. Lessons must be purchased seven days in advance and through Stay Aspen Snowmass in order to take advantage of these rates.
Ski and snowboard lessons MUST be purchased in conjunction with lodging! To reserve lessons without lodging, please visit www.aspensnowmass.com.
| Adult Ski & Snowboard Programs | ||||
| Program: | Level | Quantity of Days | Times | Rate |
| Beginner's Magic™ 3-Day: (Includes lift, lesson and vochers for equipment.) | 1 - 4 | 3 Days | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm | $352 |
| Beginner's Magic™ 1-Day Extension: (Includes lift, lesson and vochers for equipment.) | 1 - 4 | One Day (must be sold in conjunction with 3-Day Beginner's Magic) | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm | $125 |
| Adult Group Lesson: | 5 - 9 | Full Day | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm | $119 |
| Mountain Explorers™ 4-Day: | 5 - 9 | Four Days; Monday - Thursday | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm | $599 |
| Women's Edge: | 4 - 9 | Four Days; Monday - Thursday Offered January 9 - March 27 |
10:00 am - 3:00 pm | $599 |
| Kids' & Teens' Ski & Snowboard Programs | ||||
| Program: | Level | Quantity of Days | Times | Rate |
| Kids' Group Lesson 3-Day: | 2 - 9 | 3-Days | 9:30 am - 3:15 pm | $273 (ages 7 - 12) |
| Teens' Group Lesson 3-Day: | 2 - 9 | 3-Day | 9:30 am - 3:15 pm | $258 (ages 13 - 17) |
| Kids' & Teens' First Turns 3-Day: (Includes lift, lesson and voucher for equipment.) | 1 | 3-Day | 9:30 am - 3:15 pm | $299 (ages 7 - 17) |
| Snowmass Steep Camps: | 8 - 9 | Four Days; Monday - Thursday; February 20 -23, March 13 - 16, March 20 - 23 | 9:30 am - 3:15 pm | $599 (ages 12 - 19) |
Ski & Snowboard Program Descriptions
Beginner's Magic™ | Adult
Group Lessons | Mountain Explorers™ | Women's
Edge | Kid's Group Lessons | Teens' Group
Lessons | Kids' & Teens' First Turns | Snowmass
Steep Camps
Beginner's Magic™
| Description: | Specifically designed to meet the needs of beginner-level skiers and snowboarders, Beginner's Magic utilizes a teaching method that promotes peak performance, confidence and mountain awareness. Fully trained pros will familiarize you with the use and feel of the specialized beginner equipment and how it works with the snow surface. As you progress, you will learn how to use the chairlift and will access more and more of the mountain. Your progress will astonish you… it's guaranteed. The Beginner's Magic package includes instruction, lift ticket and specialized equipment rental voucher (over $230 per day if purchased separately)! Extensions are encouraged and are available through level 4. Lessons are available every day at Snowmass and Buttermilk. Arrive at the meeting place at 9:45 a.m. with your lift ticket, lesson ticket and equipment. TIP: Save time and hassle by picking up your Beginner's Magic equipment after 2 p.m. the day before at the Beginner's Magic Store in Base Village (open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or at any of our five other Four-Mountain Sports rental locations (open until 9 p.m. in Snowmass and Aspen). Allow one hour prior to lesson start time for equipment rental if renting the morning of the lesson. |
| Who Should Participate: | Adults 18+ levels 1-4. This includes very first timers up to" I'm keeping my skis parallel at the end of the turn with some skidding. I am comfortable on most green terrain and may be ready to try some easy blue runs" and "I can turn in both directions and am starting to link my turns on the snowboard." |
| Where to Meet: | Buttermilk: Meet at the bottom of the
Summit Express Lift at 9:45 a.m. Snowmass: Meet at Elk Camp Meadows at the top of the Elk Camp Gondola. (Allow 10 minutes to ride the gondola.) |
Adult Group Lessons
| Description: | If you are beyond Beginner's Magic, take your skiing or riding to the next level by joining an adult group lesson. Learn more with a group of similarly-skilled skiers or riders as you polish your turns and master the bumps, steeps and deeps. Riders focus on all-mountain skills and gain confidence in the park & pipe. Park & pipe group lessons for skiers are also available on Snowmass and Buttermilk by prior arrangement. Skiing is offered every day on all four mountains for intermediate to expert skiers. Snowboarding is offered daily at Snowmass and Buttermilk for intermediate to expert riders. Plan to arrive at the meeting place at 9:50 a.m. with your lift ticket, lesson ticket and equipment.. |
| Who Should Participate: | This program is for adult skiers and snowboarders Levels 5-9 who want to access more of the mountain, gain confidence in varied conditions like steeper terrain, add efficiency to their skiing or riding, or learn specific skills. (Levels 1-4 look for Beginner's Magic.) |
| Where to Meet: | Skiing: Snowmass - Mid-station of the Village Express lift (Allow 10 minutes to ride the lift.) Aspen Mountain - Top of Aspen Mountain outside the Sundeck (Allow 20 minutes to ride the gondola.) Aspen Highlands - Mid-mountain, to the right of the Merry-Go-Round restaurant (Allow 15 minutes to ride the lift.) Buttermilk - Bottom of Summit Express lift Snowboarding: Snowmass - The Treehouse plaza Buttermilk - Bottom of Summit Express lift |
Mountain Explorers™
| Description: | For intermediate to advanced skiers, Mountain Explorers is the ultimate "ski week" designed for fun, mountain exploration, learning and camaraderie. You stay with the same pro and same group every day so you have fun and explore our mountains as a team. Mountain Explorer groups begin at Snowmass, travel to other mountains and "graduate" with a fun après-ski party. |
| Who Should Participate: | Adults levels 5 and above (LEVEL 5 = skis are parallel throughout a turn and you feel comfortable on all green and some blue terrain, or you are a skier who wants to learn to ski the whole mountain, double blacks and more!) who are interested in a multi-day program where the focus is on learning the elements of dynamic skiing while building a fun, team environment. |
| Where to Meet: | Meets in Snowmass on Monday mornings at 9:45 am, mid-station of the Village Express lift (Allow 10 minutes to ride the lift). |
Women's Edge
| Description: | Share an exciting and fun four days on the slopes with women-specific, certified pros. Whether you are an intermediate skier looking to build confidence in your abilities or an advanced skier eager for the challenges of double-black terrain, Women's Edge provides an opportunity to advance your skills and develop lasting relationships. Offered Monday through Thursday every week from January 7 to March 27, the program includes video analysis, a women's luncheon, equipment lectures, and the option to travel to our other mountains with small groups of similar abilities. On the first day, please arrive at the meeting place at 9:45 a.m. with your lift ticket, lesson ticket and equipment. |
| Who Should Participate: | Women levels 4 and above(beginning to make parallel turns on green and blue; terrain) who are interested in a multi-day program where the focus is on learning the elements of dynamic skiing while building a fun, team environment. |
| Where to Meet: | Snowmass: Meet at 9:45 am at the Cirque Bar & Grill deck; at the end of the Snowmass Village Mall, ready to hit the slopes. Your group will decide when and where to meet the remaining days. |
Kids' Group Lessons
| Description: | Camp Aspen/Snowmass kids explore the coolest trails and adventure zones, and practice jibbing skills in the park & pipe - all while making friends and learning to ski and ride in a fun, supportive environment. Classes are divided according to age and ability and include a supervised lunch. Park & pipe group lessons for skiers and riders at the appropriate ability level are available at Snowmass and Buttermilk only. Highlights of the week include Pinãta Day and Marshmallow Day at Buttermilk, and race days at other Camp Aspen/Snowmass locations. To take lessons at Highlands, kids must be level 5 or higher and able to do a hockey stop in both directions on skis or link turns on blue runs on a snowboard. Kids should arrive at the meeting place at 9:15 a.m. with their lift ticket, lesson ticket, registration form, helmet, and equipment. Rentals are available at The Treehouse for Snowmass participants. HELMETS ARE REQUIRED. |
| Who Should Participate: | Ages 7 to 12, skiing or snowboarding |
| Where to Meet: | Snowmass - The Treehouse plaza, Aspen Highlands (Levels 5 & up ONLY) - Edge of the snow at Highlands Plaza (bottom of Exhibition lift) Buttermilk - Bottom of Summit Express lift (free transportation available to Buttermilk available on Max the Moose bus from the gondola building in Aspen at 8:45 a.m. |
Teens' Group Lessons
| Description: | Our Teens' Too-Cool-for-School program, offered every day throughout the season, is taught by our most fun-loving and qualified coaches. Teens explore the mountain, checking out all of the terrain, from the beginner areas and the easy groomers to the park & pipe and the bumps and steeps. Groups are divided according to skill level and goals. Park & pipe lessons are available at Snowmass and Buttermilk only. To take lessons at Highlands, teens must be level 5 or higher and able to do a hockey stop in both directions on skis or link turns on blue runs on a snowboard. Teens should arrive at the meeting place at 9:15 a.m. with their lift ticket, lesson ticket, registration form, equipment, and money for lunch. HELMETS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. |
| Who Should Participate: | Ages 13 to 17 skiing or snowboarding |
| Where to Meet: | Snowmass - The Treehouse plaza Aspen Highlands (Levels 5 & up ONLY) - Edge of the snow at Highlands Plaza (bottom of Exhibition lift) Buttermilk - Bottom of Summit Express lift (free transportation available to and from the gondola building in Aspen to Buttermilk) |
Kids' and Teens' First Turns
| Description: | Our fun one-day package for kids and teens skiing or snowboarding for the first time will start them off right. The First Turns package includes instruction, lift ticket and an equipment voucher, redeemable for ages 7-12 at The Treehouse in Snowmass or for kids and teens at Four-Mountain Sports Snowmass or Buttermilk. Lunch is included for kids ages 7-12. Kids and teens should arrive at the meeting place at 9:15 a.m. with their lift ticket, lesson ticket, registration form and equipment. HELMETS ARE REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN AGES 12 AND UNDER AND RECOMMENDED FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. |
| Who Should Participate: | Kids and teens ages 7 - 17 years who have never skied or snowboarded before. |
| Where to Meet: | Snowmass - The Treehouse plaza Buttermilk - Bottom of Summit Express lift (free transportation available to and from the gondola building in Aspen to Buttermilk) |
Snowmass Steep Camps
| Description: | These four-day camps are for advanced and expert skiers and are designed to teach kids and teens how to ski North America's toughest black and double black diamond terrain in a fun, dynamic environment. Small groups stay together with the same pro for the week and are joined by some of the top freeskiing competitors. |
| Who Should Participate: | Ages 12 - 19, levels 8 & up |
| Where to Meet: | Snowmass - The Treehouse plaza. |
Guide to Levels
Skiing
| Level 1: | I have never skied. |
| Level 2: | I've just learned to make a beginner's turn. It's rough, but I can manage. I feel ready to ride the chairlift. |
| Level 3: | I can link turns without stopping. I feel good on the chairlif and easy green terrain. |
| Level 4: | I'm keeping my skis parallel at the end of the turn (a "christy") with some skidding. I am comfortable on most green terrain and may be ready to try some easy blue runs. |
| Level 5: | I feel comfortable on all green and some blue runs. My turns are rhythmic and my skis are usually parallel throughout the turn. |
| Level 6: | I am confident on most groomed blue terrain and may be ready to explore some groomed blacks. My skis are always parallel. |
| Level 7: | Black runs are okay when they are groomed. I am making reliable linked parallel turns and using my poles on all blue runs, but need work on controlling my speed. |
| Level 8: | I ski blue bumps and groomed blacks, but no double blacks (yet). I am linking short radius turns in the fall line. I can ski advanced terrain on all four mountains. |
| Level 9: | Blacks are a piece of cake. I am working on tactics and line in extreme terrain. |
Snowboarding
| Level 1: | I have never snowboarded. |
| Level 2: | I can slide across the hill both ways and stop. I'm starting to get the hang of this. |
| Level 3: | I can control my speed while moving across the hill and am starting to turn. |
| Level 4: | I can turn in both directions and am starting to link my turns. |
| Level 5: | I am linking skidded turns while controlling my speed and am starting to try blue terrain. |
| Level 6: | I am confident on most blue terrain under good conditions. I am beginning to carve my turns. |
| Level 7: | I am fine tuning dynamic turns and seeking more challenging situations, including riding bumps, riding switch and dealing with varying snow conditions. |
| Level 8: | I am confident performing dynamic turns, riding switch and exploring techniques in all snow conditions, terrain, pipes and parks. |
| Level 9: | I can ride the entire mountain with confidence and ease. I am working on tactics and new moves in extreme terrain, pipes and parks. |
Redeem RSVP Credits
Use your RSVP credits toward purchases with Stay Aspen Snowmass! When you purchase lift tickets, ski rentals or ski lessons through Stay Aspen Snowmass, you can receive cash back for your valid RSVP credits from the Aspen Skiing Company.
More information on the Return Skier Visit Program
