Utah: The Best Ski & Snowboard Lessons
Want to learn to ski or snowboard? Utah is a great place to get started. All of the resorts offer private and group lessons, but the prices and offerings range widely. Most resorts align lessons by age group and coordinate time slots so that families start and stop at similar times. One added benefit of lessons is that you get to skip the lines!
You can start with group lessons at the “local’s” resorts like Brighton and Solitude at a much lower price point. Both resorts offer significant acreage for beginners, 21% and 10%, respectively, with lots to explore for advanced skills later on.
With a step up in price and accommodation, you can get a wider selection of amenities and services. Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) recently merged with The Canyons to make the largest resort in Utah (7300+ skiable acres!) with 8% dedicated to beginners.
Deer Valley (ski only) is known for its nicely groomed runs and vast resort amenities. Alta resort (also ski only) offers some “steep and deep” powder skiing, known across the globe. But with 15% beginner terrain, there is still a lot for beginners to enjoy.
For groups with varying skill levels, Snowbird and Snowbasin are known for their steep terrain for our “Black Diamond” level skiers, and yet they still offer great beginner training. So many people prefer to head in that direction once they have developed some solid skills on the mountain and want to drop off their inexperienced kids. Special note: one of the most popular attractions at Snowbird is the tram lift that takes you from the very bottom of the mountain to the highest point of the mountain. It’s the best way to spend more time on the slopes and less time trying to lift-hop your way to the top of the mountain.
Most resorts offer day-of drop-in lessons, but it can be a good idea to make reservations in advance, especially if you are in a large group. And if you will be in town for a while, try some of the multi-week camps and programs. Most of the multi-week programs are early in the season and run one full or half-day of ski or snowboarding lessons each week. PCMR offers a six-week women’s lesson series while Brighton, Solitude, and Alta offer several multi-week women’s lesson series.
One note of caution: make sure to plan your travel to the resorts carefully. The canyon drives, especially on the weekend or a powder day, can back up (for more details see our Seven Slopes tips for navigating the Cottonwood Canyons during winter).
