January is Learn to Ski or Snowboard Month

New York —

Twenty-six ski areas in New York are offering 20 percent off their lift ticket, group lesson and rental package for the entire month of January.  The only blackout date is the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

Pennsylvania —

All 22 Pennsylvania ski areas in are offering a $5.00 back voucher on already discounted mid-week learning packages. Packages include a beginner lesson, rentals and a lift ticket for the beginner area.

Michigan —

“Discover Michigan” partners with McDonald’s restaurants to offer specially priced cross country, Alpine and snowboard lessons at 23 facilities. Fees are $20, $30 and $40 respectively. Other Midwest Ski Areas Association states also are offering a variety of packages.

New Mexico —

Ski New Mexico is providing a special learning program for youths ages six to 12 during January. The $30 package is being offered at eight alpine ski areas and one Nordic center, including Taos.

Colorado —

Colorado Ski Country, which represents most of the state’s resorts, is offering a  free beginner lesson and rentals at member resorts, which include Telluride, Winter Park and Snowmass.  Beaver Creek, Keystone, Breckenridge and Vail, all part of Vail Resorts, also are offering special learning programs for Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month

Utah —

Utah’s 14 ski resorts all are providing learn to ski and snowboard offers, most of which include a lesson, rental and lift ticket for less than $40. For example, Park City Mountain Resort’s “Start Now” program includes lift access, an afternoon lesson and rental for just $25, and you can take advantage of this bargain offer up to five times, by which time you should be able to handle some of the resort’s adrenaline terrain.

Be sure to visit the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, where you can sign on to be a passenger on the bobsled run.  I did.  Read about my ride of a lifetime on High Gear Media.

Lake Tahoe —

More than one dozen resorts in California and Nevada are taking part in the program, such as the $29 lesson package at Incline Village.

Wyoming —

Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee are participating.

Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana —

Ten resorts in Oregon, 13 in Washington, 14 in Idaho and 14 in Montana are participating, including Mt. Hood and Big Sky.

So grab your gloves and your goggles, and go out and play in the snow.  It’s fun, it’s great exercise, and the fresh air and the scenery add to the experience.