Vermont is Top of its Class in Skiing and Riding

With nationally ranked instructors, Vermont Adaptive at the forefront of its movement and more ski academies than the rest of New England combined, Vermont teaches all abilities of skiers and riders from pre-K to the Olympics. In recognition of this strength, Vermont will celebrate Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month with an unprecedented variety of promotions throughout the entire month of January.

SKI VERMONT FREE WEEK – January 3-9, 2011 – Learn to Ski and Snowboard for free. Adults and children eight years and older enjoy a free beginner package that includes a beginner lift ticket or trail pass, group lesson and rental equipment at participating Ski Vermont alpine and Nordic resorts. Participants must pre-register at www.skivermont.com.

BRING A FRIEND PROMOTION – Participating Ski Vermont resorts are encouraging skiers and snowboarders who love their time on the slopes to bring a friend and introduce them to alpine skiing and/or snowboarding for free. Skiers or snowboarders who purchase a full day, full price adult lift ticket will receive a free beginner package for their friend or family member. Pre-registration for the beginner package is required via skivermont.com. This is a month-long promotion excluding MLK weekend blackout dates.

TWO FOR ONE “SHARE THE LOVE OF WINTER” PROMOTION – Learn with a pal at participating Ski Vermont resorts. Two first timers connect to share their first day on the slopes learning to alpine ski or snowboard together for the price of one beginner package. This includes a beginner lift ticket, group lesson and rental equipment for the full day. This is a month-long promotion excluding MLK weekend blackout dates.

SKI VERMONT “ROAD TRIP” PROMOTION – Designed for the college crowd, this special program for first timers eager to learn to ski or snowboard is specific to Stratton, Okemo and Mount Snow and pairs a “learn to ski and snowboard” package with après-ski fun and festivities including live entertainment, contests, and more. College students enrolled in the beginner packages will receive a “Ski Vermont Winter Survival Kit” for their tailgate tour of these southern resorts. Skiing or riding across multiple resorts will be encouraged and promoted via a multi-stop calendar of events. A three day lift/lesson/rental package is tentatively priced at $99 per student with an added incentive of a spring lift ticket discount if the college student completes all three days of lessons.

WINTER TRAILS – January 8, 2011 – A free day devoted to Nordic skiing and snowshoeing at Ski Vermont participating resorts and ski areas with tips on getting started, free Nordic skiing lessons, rental equipment discounts and free trail pass enabling adults and children to explore winter in Vermont.

Gear Up for Winter sweepstakes: Enjoy a drawing a day giveaway of winter gear, apparel and accessories from Rossignol, Fischer, Kombi, Darn Tough and more – 31 days of cool stuff for fun on the snow! Find out more at www.skivermont.com.

Additional Resort Info and Opportunities:

Bolton Valley Resort
Bolton Valley teaches more than 2000 kids to ski and ride each year through the after school programs. Vermont Adaptive and Burton Chill each reach out to populations that otherwise would not have a chance to ski and ride and give them that opportunity at Bolton Valley. Bolton Valley is also a Burton Learn to Ride Center.

Bromley Mountain Resort
Bromley is recognized by SKI Magazine as the "number one resort for family programs in the nation." The Ski & Snowboard School at Bromley continues to prove itself as one of the strongest and most respected teaching programs in the business.

Moms and dads who learned at Bromley as kids bring their kids, friends bring friends, wives bring husbands and husbands bring wives. More than simple mountain loyalty, there is a trust that keeps people coming back - and trust is a cornerstone for successful learning.

Burke Mountain
Burke Mountain makes it easy and affordable to learn to ski and ride.  For the 11^thyear, Burke is proud to again offer Ski & Ride NEK Style on Sunday afternoons. With $20 lift tickets, $20 rentals, and $20 lessons starting at 12:15p.m., skiers and riders of all ages and all abilities gather on the slopes for an affordable afternoon of skiing and riding NEK style! 

Burton Learn to Ride Programs: Burke Mountain now offers this unmatched introduction into the world of snowboarding. This program is dedicated to providing an unforgettable snowboarding experience.  Burke’s instructors create an atmosphere that will leave you ready to ride and wanting more!

Mad River Glen
The Mad River Ski School philosophy is to teach people to enjoy skiing to its fullest by skiing more efficiently and to have fun. Mad River Glen instructors teach skiers to use the mountain to their advantage to improve their technique and put less stress on their bodies. “We help people discover how it feels when its done right, so they will know when they are doing it right on their own,” explains Terry Barbour, Mad River’s Ski School Director. The teaching staff at Mad River Glen has hundreds of years of combined experience. They believe that Mad River Glen is the preeminent place to teach skiing. For them, it’s the legendary terrain, camaraderie and Terry’s leadership that keep the staff coming back season after season. It is this dedication, their experience and the legendary mountain on which they work that set the Mad River Glen Ski School apart.

Middlebury College Snow Bowl
Home to the storied Middlebury College ski team, the Snow Bowl is small enough to be family friendly and challenging enough for top athletes to train and race. The Snow Bowl Ski and Snowboard School utilizes the "Middlebury Method," a unique approach that teaches a blend of skills and tactics. For more info, please contact snowbowl@middlebury.edu.

Okemo Mountain Resort
By consistently evaluating programs and services, Okemo Mountain Resort continues to improve its Ski + Ride School instructional programming, allowing participants to reach their true potential through encouragement and accomplishment. At Okemo, the difference is confidence. For children as young as six-months old, Okemo offers the Penguin Playground Day Care centers and children aged two and older can participate in on-snow readiness and learn-to-ski programs.

Okemo’s professional teaching staff is passionate about the sport and shows a true commitment to fun instruction and encouragement to help skiers and riders of all ages conquer on-snow challenges and build confidence. Ski and snowboard instruction is available for every ability level. Program highlights include Okemo’s season-long programs and Okemo’s Women’s Alpine Adventures is a perennial favorite with women who return time and again for multi-day programs throughout the season. Visit Okemo’s online press kit.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort
At Smugglers’ Notch Resort, onslope learning opportunities for skiing and riding skills are available at all levels and ages. Tots who are two and half years old start off with their own small slope and conveyor lift at Treasures Child Care Center in a flexible format mixing plenty of ski, play and rest time. Smugglers’ full-day instructional camps for children begin at age three for skiers and age four for snowboarders, running to age 15. Older teens get special treatment: a later start in the morning that allows them sleep-in time before a group lesson that connects them with their peers.

Adults Ski Camp: the Mountain Experience Camp sets up a small group of no more than five students with an instructor who can show them Smugglers’ three mountains and give them plenty of tips and guidance as they explore the Resort’s 78 trails and acres of glades. Private lessons are available for all ages. There is also a Mom & Me/Dad & Me instructional format that pairs a parent of intermediate ability or better with an instructor who assists the parent in introducing their child to skiing. As a Burton Learn to Ride Center, Smugglers’ offers beginning snowboarders the benefit of expert instruction by Smugglers’ Snow Sport University instructors paired with Burton Learn to Ride boots, bindings and snowboards specially designed to ease the novice learning curve.

Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe founded one of North America’s first alpine ski schools back in the 1930’s. Keeping with that tradition, Stowe was the flagship Burton Learn to Ride Center in 1999. In 2008, Stowe was the first resort anywhere to debut Burton’s “Primo” program; the most exclusive hands-on Learn-To-Ride in the world. “Burton Primo” is available exclusively to guests of Stowe Mountain Resort’s luxury hotel, Stowe Mountain Lodge.

The Stowe Ski & Snowboard School’s most popular programs are StoweFor Starters, Private Lessons and Kids Mountain Adventure. A multitude of additional custom lessons for all ages and abilities are also available. Visit www.stowe.com/equipment/lessons/ for complete details.