Teaching wife to ski - recs?

axle hongsnort

axle hongsnort

250+ Posts
She's finally taking the plunge. I am hoping she loves it and it turns into an annual deal, although I haven't been in 10+ years.

Any thoughts on what resorts are better suited for beginners? We're going to get her lessons, and all the big resorts have ski schools, but any thoughts are appreciated.
 
Copper Mountain is great for beginners. They have a wonderful ski school (i learned there, among other places) and a large portion of the mountain is wide, green runs. You can really progress there--you're not just relegated to a bunny hill. you can head all the way to the top, and ski green all the way down. There are also some really easy blues to boost her confidence as she progresses.

Beaver Creek (Vail) probably has the most respected ski school in colorado. They know their stuff, but it's a small (but not crowded) mountian. they are really good at catering to your needs via private lessons. Vail is super large, and pretty much has something for everyone.

Steamboat also is a beginner/family friendly mountain.



before you go, just take a look at the trail maps for each mountain. Look at what you would want to ski, what has space for both of you, and have fun!
 
I'm sensing an I-70 bias here. No mention of anything in other parts of Colorado, or anything at all from New Mexico, Utah, California, Wyoming, Montana, Canada, New Hampshire, Vermont...

Just ski schools either on I-70 or just north.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
 
at least you're smart enough to send your wife to ski school. I just threw some skis on my wife, threw her on a lift to the very top and tossed her out on a Green. Not a good idea. I'm lucky I haven't been served divorce papers yet. I think send her to the spa the rest of the trip saved our marriage.
 
I highly recommend Vail, Breckenridge or Beaver Creek for first time lessons. I had guests go take lessons at Copper Mountain and they were terrible. The quality of instructors is MJUCH higher at the other 3. I did my lessons at Vail, as did my wife, and they are tops.
 
napoleon-- i don't know what your problem with colorado is, but why don't you suggest some other places if you find mine inadequate? if i wanted my wife to enjoy skiing in the future, there's no way i would suggest anything on the east coast. ice + beginners = no future ski trips.

as to breckenridge-- my family has a place on the mountain, and i go there every year. it's a beautiful mountain and town, but it's cold, windy, and high. that can be tough for a beginner, and the easier parts of the mountain (except for peak 7 which is hard to get to) are very crowded.
 
Thanks all, really appreciate the insight.
hookem.gif
 
The most important thing is...it's not the location, it's the fact that you DON'T give the lessons. Sign her up for a class with the professionals, drop her off, and meet for lunch to share how it went. Your marriage will be much better for it.
Signed,
Happily married for 25 years.
 
is there an I-70 bias in texas? i must confess, mine is born out of growing up in st. louis. i hadn't even thought about where texans like to ski, other than most colorado resorts are tired of texans coming and buying everything up, acting like they own the joints.
 
No matter where you end up going, I suggest you are NOT at the class. Let her go with an instructor 1 on 1. But if you are there, she might feel even more nervous or worried about falling and stuff like that.
 
Be sure to teach her to ski on your own... no ski school instructors required - best place to do it is on Pallavicini at A-Basin. Recipe for success.
 
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