New England resorts offer January learning discounts

By Matt Boxler

January is National Learn a SnowSport Month, so what better way to ring in the new year than by taking advantage of some of the many discounts that are out there this month?

Twenty-three states across the country are offering special learn to ski and snowboard packages, including New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. The following is a quick summary of programs available to first-time snowboarders during January.

New Hampshire

Balsams Wilderness (Dixville Notch) is offering Learn to Ski & Ride on Saturdays, beginning Jan 24. For $80, participants get a lift ticket, first-timer lesson and rental package. The big kicker with this program is that participants will receive a free season pass for the rest of the 2008/09 season. Call ahead to ensure availability at 603-255-3951.

Black Mountain’s (Jackson) Learn To Ski or Ride Program is offered daily for $59.
Included is a lesson, all day lift ticket and rentals.

Bretton Woods at Mount Washington Resort is offering Burton Learn to Ride with a Friend through Jan. 31, with the exception of Martin Luther King holiday weekend. For $75 per person, riders get an hour-and-a-half group lesson, snowboard rental equipment and unlimited access to the Learning Center Quad chairlift. If you learn with a friend, you will both receive a voucher for a free anytime all mountain lift ticket and free snowboard rental on your next visit.

Cranmore Mountain (North Conway) presents Happy Together Family Lessons available any day through the end of the month. For $300, up to four family members can learn to ride together. Package includes rental equipment, a learning area lift ticket for the day, and a 2-hour beginner lesson. Reservations are required; call 603-356-5544.

Crotched Mountain (Bennington) is offering Ski & Ride 101, not just in January, but every day throughout the season. For $79, riders get a lift ticket, beginner lesson and rentals.

Dartmouth Skiway (LymeCenter) is offering First-Timer Special Private Lessons every Monday through Friday, non-holidays. The $60 fee includes an hourprivatelesson,equipmentand liftaccessforthelearningcenter.

Granite Gorge (Keene) offers AdultLearntoSki/RideLessons on Fridayevenings,beginningJan.9 through Feb20,from6:15 to 7:15 p.m. For $50 you get a lesson, rental and lift ticket, and can stay and practice until 8 p.m. Complete four sessions and you will get a free lift ticket to use any time during the 2008-2009 season.

Mount Sunapee (Newbury) presents Two For One, Join The Fun through January 31 excluding Jan. 17-19.The $80 Get Into Skiing/Snowboarding Package includes a two-hour group lesson, rental ski or snowboard equipment for the day and a lift ticket to the South Peak Learning Area. To take advantage, riders must complete, print and present an on-line coupon, available at www.mountsunapee.com/mtsunapeewinter/learningcenter/jointhefun.asp.

Pats Peak (Henniker) is offering a Passport Program on any day. For $68, riders get
a beginner group lesson, rental equipment, and full day lift ticket totheValley area.By completingthreesuch packages on three separate days and buying an all-day/all mountain lift ticket, you will receive a free season pass for the rest of the 2008/09 season, valid at both Pats Peak and Waterville Valley.

Ragged Mountain (Danbury) is offering Learn with a Friend, available any day through Jan. 31 with no blackout dates. Participants buy one learn to ride package at $59, and your friend learns for free. The program includes lesson, equipment rentals ad beginner lift ticket. To participate, you must download the coupon at www.raggedmountainresort.com.

Waterville Valley’s Family First Trails is available any day. For $380, up to four family members get all the rentals they need, a lift ticket and a two- hour beginner lesson.

Wildcat Mountain (Pinkham Notch) offers the Wildcat First Tracks Pass Program. The package costs $219 and includes equipment rentals, beginner lift ticket and four lessons. Complete all four lessons and you’ll receive a Wildcat Mountain season pass for free, valid for the remainder of the 2008/09 season.

Vermont

The Vermont Ski Area’s Association is encouraging first-time snowboarders to visit the Green Mountain State by offering free lessons through Jan. 11. Reservations are required, and available on a first come-first served basis. To check availability or to make reservations, visit www.skivermont.com/slpine/lessons.

Maine

Black Mountain of Maine (Rumford) invites you to bring a friend with you on Saturdays in January and you can both ride for $30.

Camden Snow Bowl. Bring a friend to Camden to learn to ride and earn a $10 discount for your full-day ticket or a $5 discount for a half-day or evening ticket.

Lost Valley (Auburn) is offering half-price Learn to Ride lessons.

Saddleback (Rangeley) is charging $50 for its adult Learn to Ride Adult Group package, which includes rentals, lesson and lift ticket for ages 13 and up.

Sugarloaf (Carrabassett Valley) and Sunday River (Newry) are both inviting you to introduce a friend to the sport and you can ski or ride for free. Three-day advance reservation is required.

(First published Jan. 8, 2009 at skijournal.com)