Where To Start Skiing and Boarding - Local Ski Schools for New York City Kids

1/5/15 - By Stephanie Ogozalek

When my 6-year-old son started skiing, I was advised by a former ski instructor friend to I enroll him in skiing school and under no circumstances attempt to teach him myself. She claimed that even if you are an Olympic-level skier, which I am not, it is best that they learn how to turn and stop from the pros. Plus there is the added benefit of hitting the slopes solo while your kid is in school. Heeding her advice, we enrolled him in ski school for a day during the Christmas holidays, and he loved it!

Back home in NYC I started looking for local ski resorts providing schools for weekend day trips and was surprised to find they weren’t as common as I thought they would be. Of course most ski resorts offer private and group lessons, but I was hoping for more of a half-day or full-day option for my son. After a ton of research, we've rounded up the area resorts with ski or snowboarding schools for kids, plus everything else you need to know to get them started. So grab your skis and get going!

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Within a two-hour drive of midtown Manhattan, you'll find quite a few smaller resorts  perfect for first timers. Read on for our top suggestions:

Mount Southington Ski Area, Plantsville, CT
860-628-0954
In addition to regular lessons for ages 4-9, Mount Southington Ski area provides several unique ways to introduce your kids to skiing, such as weekday programs for kindergarten children. It offers multi-week instruction for experienced kids, too. 

Thunder Ridge Ski Area, Patterson, NY
845-878-4100
This local resort can be reached via the popular Metro North ski train, allowing skiers without cars to hit the slopes. Their half-day program, offered weekends and holidays, provides ski instruction for kids ages 5 & up. Other options include mommy & me, individual and group lessons. Rentals can be included in tuition packages. Reservations are recommended for all programs.

Mountain Creek, Vernon, NJ
973-827-2000
Mountain Creek is the largest ski resort in New Jersey and is usually pretty crowded. If you plan on skiing here with your kids, I advise making your reservations well in advance. Children ages 4-7 can sign up for half or full day lessons at Kids Kamp. Group and private lessons are also available for older kids. Advance reservations are recommended for weekdays and required for weekends and holidays.

Jack Frost/Big Boulder, Blakeslee, PA
570-443-8425
While this ski area is a little more than 2 hours away, I still included it because it has some great kids' programs. The two sister resorts both offer half-day sessions for kids ages 3-10, breaking them out by ability within their age group. Snowboard lessons are also available for kids 6-10. Class spots are first-come, first-served so plan to arrive at least one hour early to secure a spot.

Some Tips to Get Started:

-Nothing can turn kids off to skiing quicker than being cold all day, so make sure they are dressed warmly. They will need a waterproof jacket and pants, gloves, warm socks and thermals (tight pajamas will also do the trick). If you don't already have these items, you might consider borrowing them from a friend. Equipment such as helmets, skis and boots can be rented at most resorts and are often included in package prices.

-Getting into all the gear can be overwhelming for many kids. My son suffered a meltdown when he got his boots on for the first time. Stay calm and let them know that although it may feel heavy and hot while they are inside, it will be OK and keep them warm when they get outside.

-Talk to the teachers after the class. I got great information this way—they showed me the proper method for getting my son off the chair lift, what he was actually capable of, what to work on with him and how to best optimize the few runs we did together.

-If your resort only offers a half-day session, choose the morning option so you can take your child on the bunny slopes afterward if you want to.

-Unsure whether private instruction or ski school is better for your child? For a first timer, ski school may be more fun and less intimidating. However, it really depends on your child's personality and comfort level.

Find other great winter day trip ideas in our Family Travel Guide and additional seasonal fun in our Winter Guide.

This post originally published in January 2012.

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