Ski School Advice

Hi, J.,

My husband & I are avid skiers and we have a 3 yr. old daughter. We rent her equipment; part of that decision is financial...buying new skis, boots & bindings for her every year when they grow so fast doesn't make much sense for us. As for ski schools, I'm really partial to Copper Mtn. and the program they have there. Another really good one is at Winter Park.

Hope this helps!

I used to be a ski instructor at Keystone, and they have a large and very good ski school for children aged four and up. Copper Mountain's program is also excellent. The price of ski school includes equipment (at least at Keystone), and kids grow out of it so quickly I don't recommend buying any at all until they are older (middle school or later) and much more serious about it. Good equipment is also expensive, so unless you/they go really often it is not worthy buying. Renting is a graet option, or you could purchase used equipment. When they are old enough, and good enough skiers to warrant buying any equipment, the most important thing is boots...go somewhere that has expert boot fitters (I have been impressed by Christy Sports in the past). How the ski boot fits will greatly impact comfort, warmth, even (and mostly!) technique. Skiing is a wonderful, life-long sport. You should ALL take it up!

Colorado Ski & Golf has a great program for buying skis for little ones. You buy a set of skis and boots and then next year when you need bigger ones, you can trade in either or both and the next ones you buy are 50%.
Our 9 year old took lessons at Keystone 2 years ago and got along great there. They ride up to the ski school in the gondola so it was warm and not as scary as a ski lift might be to them at first. The learning slope has a covered conveyor belt to get them back to the top. Inquire at Colorado Ski & Golf about a kids pass that is good for 3 days of lessons and then it turns into a pass for the rest of the season.
You may want to sign up for lessons too if it would make you more comfortable on your skis and enjoy your time on the slopes more.

You know I am not a skiier, but when I took lessons I rented equipment through Christy sports and they had a package deal with lessons and equipment and half day lift ticket. There were a lot of kids in the class I was in, hee hee..yes I was the oldest! :) It is like $40 or was back then a few years ago.
See if he likes it first, before going all out and buying the equipment which is pricey.
Winterpark is close and offers some great schools for kids.
Contact all your local sports stores as they sometimes have deals or discounts through the store, King Soopers also sells tickets.
Like I said, I don't care for skiing but saw how great the class I was in was for the kids that were in it. They seemed to really enjoy it.
Now is a good time since kids are fearless and so much more agile....

I would definately rent. We have taken our 6year old several times and it is very reasonable. Plus sometimes you can find coupons in the Entertainment book or online. Or as one person already wrote the resorts offer packages too. Some places in town you can do a season rental for way cheaper than buying them. We had really good luck at Eldora for beginners. I don't know what they charge now it was several years ago when we went there. Good luck.

OK...I'm confused. You don't really ski but you're going to get your boys hooked on this outrageously expensive sport? (which I love, btw). Anyway, I believe it was Loveland last year that had a family lesson deal where you learn w/your kids w/ a private instructor. Lessons learned from teaching my two to ski:
-loveland and Copper (way over in Union Creek) have the best base areas for kids to navigate.
-while Winter Park has a great program, their base area is HUGE and TOO HARD to navigate for little ones in all their gear (even w/the buses). And you'll be begging for mercy carrying both their equipment and yours to/from the bus stop.
-Forget WP unless you're doing lessons. The bunny hill is too hard to get to/from and no one should repeat that agony. There's a reason they use sleds behind snowmobiles.
-Loveland, Copper, and WP are the best deals because they offer FREE lift tickets to those under 6. Vail resorts starts charging when they turn five.
I've heard really good things about the programs at Sol Vista (near Granby) and Eldora but have been to neither in this decade.
-Rent equipment by the day unless you're going to have them ski more than 10 times.
Good luck and have fun!

Boulder Ski Deals has a similar buy equipment and then trade in when they grow out of them.
El Dora is AMAZING with kids and lessons.
Have fun!

We have taken our kids to Loveland...they have a great ski school package that includes all day lessons, equipment and meals...I think breakfast and lunch and snacks. It was very reasonable, too...like $80

Good luck