Winter Park Resort Private Ski Lessons

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park, Colorado Private Ski Instruction

Looking to brush up your ski form or get the kids up on the hills with some instruction from someone other than yourself? Well, private ski instruction is the way to go if you are looking for hands on guidance that will result in good skiing technique.

Private ski lessons at Mary Jane and Winter Park are becoming a hot topic this year as the private ski school headquarters is moving to a new, very convenient location. The old Discovery Real Estate Center is now home to Winter Park Resort Private Lesson Headquarters. Service here includes complimentary lockers, boot dryers, customized boot fitting, a concierge service, Wii/TV for the kids and a private lift line at the Zephyr Express chairlift. Doesn’t that sound like luxurious ski school service.

Groups of seven on more skiers travelling to Winter Park in Colorado this winter can get a better deal for a private lesson than they would signing up for regular group classes. This deal is for British skiers and boarders but I think the code will work for anyone booking private ski school lessons at Winter Park and Mary Jane.

With Winter Park’s opening of the new Private Lesson Center this season guests can get a deal and use the special discount code to save $60 per person excess for groups of over three people.

The private lesson base price then works out cheaper for a group of seven than an adult group lesson and you get half an hour longer tuition than in a group lesson too.

To take advantage of the private lessons offer email Winter Park Resort Private Lessons quoting reference code UK1947.

Winter Park Lodging Company has been working with and recommending several private ski school instructors at Winter Park Resort for the last few years. Sandy Schmidt, Nigel Conners, Pam Conners and Bart Smith are all tremendous ski instructors and all around great people. These guys are available for all varieties of private lessons - Family (4 or more people), Regular (1 – 3 people), 1/2 day, full day and multiple days. They can also arrange discounted lessons/lift tickets if you book directly through them and can also assist with equipment needs and boot fitting.

Contact Sandy at sgrifschmidt@hotmail.com. She has been instructing since 1975 and teaches all ages and abilities, from first-timers to beginning moguls.

Contact Bart at bmatt_smith@hotmail.com. The kids will love his Australian accent.

Contact Nigel at nigeski@hotmail.com or on his cell at (970)531-3871. Nigel has taught skiing for 15 seasons in Australia, Canada and USA (this is his 10th at Winter Park). He is a fully certified instructor, race coach and accredited trainer (one of about six on staff at Winter Park).

Contact Pam at wpskigal@msn.com or on her cell at (303)886-0885. Pam has taught skiing at Winter Park since 1985. Pam, Nigel’s wife if you are wondering, is also fully certified. She teaches high energy lessons for all ages and abilities (and loves the bumps).

Get your skiing technique in shape and hire a private ski school instructor.

Learning to Ski at Winter Park Resort

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Resort Ski Lessons

Day three os teaching the little ones to ski at Winter Park Ski Area went rather well despite the snow and wind. We headed up to the bunny slopes with the idea that this would be our first day on the lifts. When we arrived at the resort the snow was blowing and there was no sun to be seen. We decided that it would be better to work on our skiing technique at Sorenson Park rather than risk a break down by the 2 year-olds.

It was a success as Willem skied down the whole slope looking very confident (as you can see in the video above). Nicholas has a developed a nice right turn that is effective at slowing his speed. We took about six runs down the hill with plenty of M&M’s bribery before the cold became a factor.

All in all it was a good day and we will head up to Discovery Park next week with our first ski lift for the twins. So far Nicholas and Willem are excited to go skiing and all seems to be working well. Turning is not really being done with a conscious deliberation and shuffling needs to be coaxed but they want to go to the ski hill so that, I think, is a success.

We will keep you posted as to how the ski lift goes next week so wish us luck that there are no two year old melt downs. Day three for the future Olympic skiers was a success.

Ski Helmets Mandatory for Winter Park Ski Patrol?

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Chris

Ski Helmets Mandatory at Winter Park Resort?

I came across an article this morning in the Aspen Times about the popularity and use of ski helmets. In a nutshell the old and young are being smart and the rebellious late teens and early twenties are shunning the use of the ski helmet.

This year all Winter Park Resort ski school employees and students are required to wear the brain saving head buckets. At all Vail resorts ski patrol and all on mountain resort employees are required to wear helmets. Is the inevitable coming to Winter Park Resort? I’m thinking yes especially if the insurance companies have anything to do with it.

Nationally nearly half of all skiers and riders wore helmets last season, according to an annual demographic survey performed by members of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Usage climbed to 48 percent in 2008-09 from 43 percent the season before. The latest national survey showed 77 percent of children 9 years old and younger wear helmets, as do two-thirds of those between 10 and 14. On the other end of the age spectrum, 63 percent of adults ages 65 and older wear ski helmets. Only about one-in-three skiers and riders between ages 18 and 24 wore helmets last season.

At a New Years Eve Party at our neighbors House, the Glancy’s, a discussion about ski helmet use with several Winter Park and Sol Vista Ski Patrol employees ensued. My point was why wouldn’t all on mountain employees want to wear ski helmets for extra protection. They are warm and offer protection from wayward tree branches and out of control skiers/boarders. The patrollers retort was that ski helmets only offer protection up to 10 miles an hour and the average skier skies at over 25 miles per hour. And if the resorts wanted employees to wear helmets then the resort should bear the cost of the helmet.

My final say on the ski helmet issue, not only for patrollers but for all, is if the helmet offers some protection than that is better than none. It also shows that not wearing a helmet is not a status symbol on the slopes.

So put your head in a brain bucket and try to avoid having someone wipe your rear end for the rest of your life after a ski crash.

Winter Park Ski School | Get your passes now

Posted on September 8, 2009 by Chris

Winter Park Ski School

Ski School at Winter Park has gotten more accessible. The resort is now selling four passes at Front Range King Soopers and Passwagon events. Check out the deals:

LESSON FOUR PASSES ON SALE NOW
In an effort to take your skiing or riding to the next level, the Winter
Park Ski & Ride School has created some amazing bargains for this coming season. If you are introducing someone to the sport or are looking to master your moves, these packages reward those who plan ahead. Adults, ages 13 and up, receive four half-day lessons for $99 when purchased at Front Range King Soopers and Passwagon events. Kids, ages 3-14, receive four full day lessons with lift ticket and lunch for only $299.

Check out the Winter Park kids ski school programs also.