Me and the kid, Decemberish...

[Maury Markowitz]

If I can convince her, I'm going to try to get my 7 year-old onto something a little larger that Blue Mountain (ontario) this year. I was thinking about Big White, I have a friend nearby that would join us that way.

Buuuut, looking at that 1.04 exchange rate kinda makes me think I should be heading south of the border this year. Any suggestions from the long-timers on places with a good rep for lessons? The kid is still strictly a pizza-skier, although I'm hoping to take car of that off this year.

Maury

 

[Pajarito-Bred]

Based on my experience, the place for top-notch lessons is at Snowmass (or, for kids, Buttermilk) Snowmass has massively upgraded their ski-school infrastructure this year, also. Iv'e been skiing for 40+ years, and when I got the opportunity a few years ago to take a lesson at Snowmass, I was amazed, at how many little details I wasn't aware of. This was shortly after I'd gotten my first "shaped" skis, after spending so much time making fun of them (I had to apologize for that on every fabulous shaped-ski turn, for quite a while)

at Aspen & Snowmass they have local's clinics, all-day group lessons, on Saturdays, for adults for really cheap-around $50 or so. (not sure if they have 'em for kids) I think if you know about them you're local enough to be eligible to join in.

When I learned to telemark, I took a local's clinic lesson at Buttermilk. Nothing like unstrapping the entire heel of your boot to make those blue-square runs suddenly look somehow much steeper. The instructor was really great.

Your message title says "decemberish" which might not be so great for snowmass. The best kids terrain is at Elk Camp, moderate rolling runs, that are a blast, but often aren't open yet in early december. My own neice and nephew love that terrain. Though, when younger, since they don't ski all that much, found the number of really easy -green circle- easy runs lacking. It's also not exactly the best option if you're looking for good deals on flights or lodging. I think there'd be some good Utah options, too, there's others on this board who'd be better at ski-school advice there- it'll certainly be less $$$ than Aspen (except for Deer Valley)

 

[Admin]

I think there'd be some good Utah options, too

I found the Park City-area ski schools to be exceptionally pricey, but the Alf Engen Ski School at Alta is second to none.

 

[Maury Markowitz]

Based on my experience, the place for top-notch lessons is at Snowmass (or, for kids, Buttermilk) Snowmass has massively upgraded their ski-school infrastructure this year, also.
[snip]
Your message title says "decemberish" which might not be so great for snowmass.

Well I'm just spoiled by last year at Whistler. Back then the dollar was 65 cents US so a Canadian vacation was a no-brainer, and I just happened to have lots of 2006 vacation days left to burn off the one year that they already had 10 feet on the mountain by the end of November!

That's actually a bad thing, now I expect nice snow in Dec everywhere, and I've got a bunch of vacation days to burn again...

I think there'd be some good Utah options, too, there's others on this board who'd be better at ski-school advice there- it'll certainly be less $$$ than Aspen (except for Deer Valley)

Well I certainly had fun last time I was out in the Canyon, and the view from the top of that "leftmost lift" at Brighton was worth the trip all by itself. I can't say I found the Alta terrain all that great for what I'd be looking for with the kid, it tended to vary widely on the way down, stairstep fashion. Solitude wasn't so bad in this regard, but the limited area was an issue. Maybe Brighton, I seem to remember it having some fairly consistent slopes.

But Aspen... hmmm, having never been there and hearing absolutely nothing but good about it, this might be the time to go. SKI rated Steamboat super-high for families, but I really don't know much about that hill.

Maury

 

[Tony Crocker]

Back then the dollar was 65 cents US

More like 85 cents. But all those years from 1997 to 2003 or so, 65 was about right.

That's actually a bad thing, now I expect nice snow in Dec everywhere

Unfortunately not. Based just on snow I'd be looking at Whistler again, but for a beginner 7 year old not a great choice IMHO.

Snowmass would be good for her, but don't expect much challenging terrain open for you in December. Steamboat is on average Colorado's best destination resort for early snow. It's mostly intermediate in pitch, with the advanced attraction being mainly the tree skiing when there's fresh snow. Vail is worth consideration for its good snow record also. Both of my kids loved the ski school there when they were 5 years old (1990 and 1995).

 

[Maury Markowitz]

Unfortunately not. Based just on snow I'd be looking at Whistler again, but for a beginner 7 year old not a great choice IMHO.

That's my thinking too. The ski school area over on Whistler didn't look too bad for her level, but my concern there is that it's right in the fog belt and if it's wet, that's WHERE it's wet. Nothin' like picking up a wet kid at 12:30 and still wanting to ski...

But it seems all of this has become academic. We were supposed to fly down to NYC this weekend, but as the day approached she panicked and refused to do it. *sigh* Skiing alone again...

Maury