WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR FIRST LESSON: FUN!

SNOWBOARDERS

What happens first?

Boarders will go to the snowboard bowl, between the Inn and the Lodge. There, after introductions new riders will learn to skate with one foot buckled into the board, balance during a gliding straight run, and simulate exiting the lift.

How do I know when I'm ready to go up the lift?

Once all riders in the group can competently manage the above skills, then the group is ready to go up the lift. After a safety talk by the instructor the group will go up EZ Rider and exit to the left.

What will happen during a 2-hour lesson?

You will remove your board after exiting the lift and walk down the first face of EZ to the broad, flat area. There the instructor will introduce toe and heel side traverses (gliding across the hill). After mastering traverses, the group will move on to making toe and then heel side turns. Most groups work mainly on traverses during this lesson.

What do we do in full day lessons?

Building a balanced stance is the focus of the morning lesson, and those wanting more should definitely opt for the full day lesson, as it is difficult to learn to turn without an instructor's guidance. As with skiing, stance is everything and an instructor can help a new rider to avoid counterproductive habits.

WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

Guests often ask how many lessons they should take. We generally recommend three.

• After your first lesson you should have the basic rudiments of skiing or snowboarding down, but are still shaky and prefer to stay on relatively flat terrain.
• Your second and third, especially if they are full day lessons, should allow you to hone existing skills and build new ones while moving on to more challenging terrain.
• Frequently, but not always, guests are able to ski or ride off of the top of the mountain (that's right, go up the big lift) by their third lesson.
• Most skiers will be making parallel or near-parallel turns on green and easy blue runs, and boarders will often be linking toe and heel side turns on blue runs, in addition to learning some basic tricks.
• Lessons are also a good option if you find yourself on a plateau and unable to progress any further on your own.

Winter sports are a tremendous amount of fun, and the staff of the Ski and Snowboard School at Powderhorn would really like the opportunity to introduce you to the sports we love. There is really no feeling like that of gliding down a snowy slope after a new snow; it's as close to the freedom of flying as we can get without wings. So we hope that you'll give us the opportunity to share winter at Powderhorn with you.