Here are a few of the deals found from the website: Following are a few of the lesson packages Colorado resorts are offering this season. Arapahoe Basin
Learn to ski or snowboard in as few as three lessons through A-Basin's Guarantee to Succeed program. Expert staff at A-Basin will take beginners ages seven and older for three half-day lessons and A-Basin throws in full-day equipment rentals with each lesson. Participants will also get an A-Basin-only season pass to keep honing those new skills throughout the 2008-09 ski and snowboard season. This valuable package costs $309. If participants are not skiing/riding blue terrain by their third lesson, A-Basin will provide them with more lessons until they do at no extra cost. Lessons are available any day. Call 888-ARAPAHOE (888-272-7246) for more information or to purchase this program. Aspen/Snowmass
Body, mind and soul unite for self improvement during Aspen's Ski and Life Coaching Week for Women, January 10-14, 2009. Participants receive a combination of on-hill instruction and off-hill life coaching. The goal of this intimate women-only ski camp is to allow participants to tap into their psyches, exploring what makes each woman perform at her best, whether that means mastering a powder run down Aspen Mountain, taking on the next big deal at work or raising a family. The Divas, a synchronized ski team made up of the best female instructors at Aspen/Snowmass, conduct the on-hill sessions. Meanwhile, Deepa Awal and Kathryn Mayer, experienced life and executive coaches, lead the indoor sessions, which allow participants to analyze their fears, needs and goals for self improvement. This workshop is designed for intermediate skiers who are comfortable on blue runs. Inquiries can be directed to teamdiva@hotmail.com. Copper
First-timers of any age can get a screamin' deal at Copper Mountain. During the regular ski season, newbies get $75 half-day lessons or $80 half-day lessons during the holiday season. Full day lessons are only a bit more, at $90 during the regular season and 95$ during the holidays. Book online and save 10%. For more information, please visitwww.coppercolorado.comor email Reservations@CopperColorado.com. Crested Butte
Kids get a smooth start on the slopes at Crested Butte Mountain Resort's Fun 4 Kids program. Youngsters ages 3-6 are introduced to skiing and get a chance to explore the mountain over this 8-week program. Fun 4 Kids consists of a one-hour lesson with the same instructor over eight weeks. Learning from the same instructor creates stability and boosts a child's self confidence on the snow. The program costs $292 and includes all rental equipment and a lift ticket on the day of each lesson. Kids can keep rental equipment through the entire program, from January 10th through March 14th. For questions or to book a Fun 4 Kids package, contact Heather Driggs at 970-349-4185 or by email at hdriggs@cbmr.com. Echo Mountain
Echo offers a unique chance for parents and children to learn together. With a Parent amp; Me Semi-Private Lesson, an instructor gives personalized coaching for parents to teach skiing to their children between 3-6 years of age. There is a 1:1 instructor to parent/child ratio. Lessons last one hour and reservations are required. Cost is $60. Each additional parent-and-child costs $25. To contact Echo Mountain's ski and ride school, call 303 325 7347, x4 or email lessons@echomt.com. Eldora
Eldora's ski, snowboard and cross-country classes provide kids the foundation for a lifelong love of winter sports. The sooner they start, the better they'll be, and the more fun they'll have. For six or 12 consecutive Saturdays or Sundays, children will build on the skills learned the previous week. Ski Trek is designed for ages four to six and seven to 12. Snowboard Trek is for ages seven to 12, and Cross-country Trek is for ages five to 12. Register in Person at Eldora Mountain Sports at 2775 Canyon Blvd. (28th amp; Canyon) in Boulder, by phone at 303-440-8700 or online at www.eldora.com. Loveland
One of the hottest deals in ski country, Loveland offers a free 2008-09 season pass for skiers or riders who complete three lessons. Lessons last for 2.5 hours and include a 2.5-hour lesson, beginner lift ticket and rental package for the day. Lesson one costs $73, and lessons 2 and 3 each cost $88. For more information, visitwww.SkiLoveland.comor call 303-571-5580. Monarch
For first-time skiers and riders (ages seven and older), the Monarch Ski amp; Ride School guarantees that Monarch's professional, patient, friendly instructors will have kids turning, stopping, and even riding their beginner chairlift by the end of their first 4-hour group clinic. If not, a student's next lesson is on Monarch. All day ski or snowboard rental, full day lift ticket and four-hour group lesson are included for $133. To make a reservation, call toll-free: 888.996.7669 x 5196. Powderhorn
Powderhorn's Young at Heart program is designed for the 50-and-over crowd. Participants ski or ride with a Powderhorn guide in like-ability groups. Emphasis is on fun, camaraderie, and ski time. Après ski parties are planned after every ski day. The program is held every Thursday. Lift tickets are on sale for $30 and the après ski for $8. Call 970-268-5700 ext. 2080 or visit www.powderhorn.com. Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort
Purgatory's talented instructors know what it's like to learn a new activity and will strive to make a guest's first snow experience safe, fun and memorable. The First Time Skiers program is for skiers ages 13 and up who have never skied or boarded before. The program includes one full-day lesson with a beginner lift ticket for $89 or $91 during the holiday season. Call 800-982-6103 or visit www.durangomountainresort.com. Silverton
At Silverton, skiers with some experience can learn to ski in the backcountry with a guided skiing tour. Participants in guided skiing can access up to 1,819 acres of backcountry type terrain via chairlift and without big crowds. Guided-only skiing is available in January for $119 and in February and March for $129. Contact Silverton Mountain at 970-387-5706 or visit www.silvertonmountain.com. Ski Cooper
Ski Cooper will not only teach students to ski and board but will teach them the important fundamentals, including how fast they should progress and, of course, how much fun can be had. Ski Cooper has been teaching skiing and boarding for years. Many of Ski Cooper's instructors have nearly 25 years of teaching experience and some of them even learned to ski and board at Ski Cooper themselves. A two-hour lesson, equipment rental, and a beginner lift ticket costs $50 or guests can choose a full-mountain lift ticket for $10 more. Ski Cooper is focused on guests having an enjoyable experience that is safe. Staff will challenge learners but still keep them in their safety zone. Classes are offered at 10:00, 12:00, and 1:30 daily. Ski Cooper's ski school can be reached at (719) 486-2277. Visit their website at www.skicooper.com. SolVista
At SolVista Mountain on Granby Ranch, skiers and riders can get a full two-hour lesson for $55. For those intrepid beginners who want to master the sport, SolVista also offers a $129 full-day Guaranteed Start to Ski or Snowboard program where first-timers are guaranteed to be up on their skis or snowboard by the end of the day. More information atwww.SolVista.com or call 888-850-4615.
Steamboat
Skiers Level 1 is Steamboat's premier, season-long clinic, where everything is taken care of for first-time skiers, including three full days of instruction, gear rental with 'In-Room' fitting, and lift tickets. Skiers will have the same instructor for all three days. Steamboat guarantees that guests will be skiing comfortably on green runs at the end of the program. If that's not the case, the resort offers guests free lessons until they get there. Skiers Level 1 costs $299. Lesson must be taken on consecutive days and prices are package based and not subject to discount.
Steamboat also recently made the terrain better for first time and learning skiers and riders by diverting fast skiers and riders from beginner runs, making the pitch consistent, and creating flatter terrain.
Contact Steamboat's ski school by phone at 800.299.5017 or 970.871.5375 or visit them online at www.steamboat.com.
Sunlight Mountain
The Learn to Shine program at Sunlight Mountain makes access to the exciting winter sports of skiing and snowboarding affordable. The three-day program is for never-ever skiers and the package includes lift tickets, two-hour lessons, and equipment rentals. At the end of the program, "graduates" receive a free five-day pass to hone their new skills. The program costs $250 for skiers and $265 for boarders. This program is only available to those who have not skied or snowboarded before. For more information or to book this package, call 970-945-7491 or visit www.sunlightmtn.com. Telluride
The Beginner Adventure program at Telluride includes a 4.5-hour lesson, a full-day lift ticket, and rental equipment for $150. The program is a perfect starter for skiers or riders who want to get proficient in their sport in a short period of time. Check outwww.tellurideskiresort.com or call 800.801.4832 or 970.728.7545 to book the program. Winter Park
Winter Park offers a 10 percent discount on the posted first-time lesson rates when skiers or riders book their lessons seven or more days in advance. With this deal, skiers and riders can purchase a 2.5-hour lesson, lift ticket included, for just $69 or a 2.5-hour lesson with a lift ticket and rentals for only $89. Call 800.729.7907 or go towww.skiwinterpark.comfor more. Wolf Creek
For children five to eight years old, the Wolf Pup Ski Program is an on-the-snow program that teaches the fun of skiing for beginner through intermediate levels. A full day of Wolf Pups includes four hours of lessons, lift ticket, lunch and a snack for $60.00. A half-day of Wolf Pups includes two hours of lessons, morning or afternoon, lift ticket and snacks for $50.00. Wolf Pups meet in the Wolf Pup Building which has easy access to the Magic Carpet, Nova Lift, lessons, rentals, lunch, snacks and lots of fun! Wolf Pup lessons are available every day, no reservations needed. Visitwww.wolfcreekski.comor call 970-264-5639 for details. />
