| With new skier visits to most resorts in the world falling behind those
trying out snowboarding for the first time, and skier visits in general
beginning to plateau out, ski resorts are trying to find more ways to attract
new skiers to the slopes. Vail has recently launched it's own Learn to
ski programs, comprising of a package deal that includes three days of
rentals, lifts, and three full days of lessons for the price of one.
Only available during the low season (capacity is too tight otherwise),
at around $140 for the three days, it's cheaper than a three day lift ticket
alone, giving excellent value. We sent Nicola McKie onto the slopes to
find out more.
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| Day One
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I'm cold. It's half nine, and I'm standing outside the front of the
rental shop looking up at the Gondola. Quite why I've agreed to do this
I'm not sure - shouldn't I be inside in the warmth. I've survived so far
without having to get down any snow covered hills on planks of wood, so
why start now? Other 'volunteers' begin to turn up, almost all have partners
who hope in three days time ski vacations will be the norm for life. Still,
all four look more terrified than me, so at least I'm not going through
it alone. The instructor, Dave, breaks the ice and gets everybody introducing
themselves, and then it's off up the gondola to get a look at what we'll
be aiming to get down in three days time.
Atop the Eagles Nest gondola, we made our way over to the ski school
lift and hill, and began to get used to our skis. Nerves began to ease
as it hit me that if millions of people do this every winter, how bad can
it be? Surrounded by clear blue skies, it wasn't long before we were making
our first, albeit tentative, turns. The day progressed quickly, confidence
building gradually amidst the relaxed atmosphere, Dave being on hand to
correct any mistakes and help iron out faults before they developed.
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| Day Two
| |
With the lesson beginning at the top of the gondola, it was time to
get our own skis and boots sorted out before heading up. Arriving early
I stole the opportunity to head out onto the learner slope and get a few
little runs in to warm up. After another morning on the learner slopes,
Dave always on hand, we turned our backs on the nursery slopes for good
and made our way out onto the mountain proper. Heading down Owl's Roost
onto Practice Parkway it began to hit me why people do this. With trees
framing the picture perfect views, snow cover romanticising everything,
and the crisp mountain air, things began to click into place. Ascending
the Avanti chairlift back up the mountains, the sense of freedom grew.
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| Day Two (cont)
| |
Maybe confidence got the better of me, or maybe I was wanting to test
out my own mortality, but I decided to head down Cubs way with Rob in the
late afternoon down to Lionshead. Plotting a route comprising solely of
greens, things seemed to be progressing well - slow, gradual turns helping
me get down the steeper sections and I was enjoying the increased speed
on the flats. But I hadn't really fallen yet, and that can only really
mean one thing I suppose - it was waiting to happen. Carrying too much
speed into one of the corners, I missed my planned turn and ended going
straight on. Speed quickly built up and I was left with no choice but to
bail out and take the fall. Heading into the softer snow at the side of
the trail, I fell back and was accompanied by a flurry of snow and skis.
Pride was dented, but the look on Rob's face made it worthwhile.
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| Day Three
| |
The final day began as the previous one ended, atop the gondola, and
warming up down the green runs taken the previous day - Dave, as ever,
there to know which were our strengths to build on. As the day progressed,
greens became blues, gentle slopes became steeper, and our turns and control
became sharper. We explored deep snow, small jumps and lightly gladed regions,
the pieces of the three day puzzle being cemented in place. And all this
time, the mountain was moving from being this scary thing to the snow covered
proverbial playground. I'd survived, and now it was time to let the challenge
begin in earnest.
Vail Resorts offers three day learn to ski or ride packages from around
$140. The same instructor accompanies the group over all three days, and
the aim is to progress from never skied before to level three or four after
the three days. It's possible to continue the series with intermediate
(levels 4 through 6) lessons, which are also available at a discounted
three-for-one rate upon production of proof of completion of the beginner
series. At the end of five days in Vail, Nicola was venturing out into
the Back Bowls on Poppyfields and Chopsticks, and into Blue Sky Basin on
Cloud Nine and Rock Creek Parkway.
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