Lessons & Rentals

• Your First Time Handbook
  • Skiing Must Knows
  • Snowboarding Must Knows
  • Burton Learn to Ride
  • What to Wear
  • Beginners Video
  • FAQ's
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• Adult Lessons
• Youth Lessons
• Kid Lessons
• Terrain Park Lessons
• Ladies Club
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Getting Started:

Skis come in many shapes and sizes.  Until 10 years or so ago, all skis were a traditional straight shape. They had some "sidecut," which means they were narrower in the waist than in the tip and tail. But these days, "Super Sidecut" or "Shaped" skis are the norm. Sidecuts are much more pronounced in skis today because manufacturers have discovered that this construction makes a ski much easier to maneuver. Therefore, people new to the sport or picking it back up after some time off are starting at a huge advantage. Skis are constructed to make learning and turning far easier than ever before. In recent years, ski manufacturers have fine-tuned this revolutionary technology to cater to the needs of every skier, whether beginner or expert, pipe rider or racer, groomed trail enthusiast or tree-skiing lunatic.  Knowing a few basic facts about ski construction as well as the various categories of ski types will help you find the perfect skis that are right for you.

The general categories of skis include:

• On-Trail or Carving skis are traditionally used on groomed conditions and have a normal amount of sidecut, with waist widths up to 69mm.
• All Mountain or Midfat skis are designed for all-terrain skiing and have a normal sidecut, but with overall dimensions slightly wider than carve waists. Most all mountain skis have waist widths between 72-82mm.
• Park and Pipe skis include many shapes. Many have twin tip construction, in which the tip and tail are upturned allowing for riding in either direction. Most park and pipe skis are fatter than all-mountain skis, so within this category you'll also find Fat skis which are designed for skiing powder and chopped-up snow. They tend to be wider and have less sidecut, allowing them to float through deep powder or plow through heavy crud. Waist widths on these types of skis average between 82-125 mm.
• Getting the Boot: Comfort is the Key
  There are a number of different styles of boots, but the most important thing is that the boots are comfortable and fit your feet. Ski boots come in traditional American sizes and also "mondo point," which is simply the length of the boot in centimeters.

•When trying on boots, wear one pair of medium-weight or light-weight socks.

•The fit should be snug and your heel should remain in place when you flex your knee and ankle forward into the boot.

•Your toes should barely touch the inside of the boot and then, when you bend your knee forward, your toes should slide back slightly.

•Make sure there aren't any pressure points or spots that pinch your feet and legs.

•Remember, the boots will stiffen in the cold.

Bindings and Poles:
Bindings hold your boots to the skis and are designed to release when you need them to during a fall. Many bindings also have vibration-reducing features that allow you to ski more smoothly. Integrated ski systems physically combine ski and binding components as one unique and complete unit. Poles are used to help you with your balance and rhythm while skiing. Poles can be made from fiberglass, aluminum, graphite or some combination of these materials.

A Few Key Pointers

•  When renting skis, discuss your skiing experience with the technician and be truthful.
•  Skis should be about chin high for beginners. Specifically, the tip should land between the and chin and nose. Edges should be sharp, bottoms smooth. 
•  Be truthful about your weight, height, age and skier type (beginners are type I). These factors determine your DIN (Deutsch Industrial Norm) setting on the bindings. DIN numbers correspond to the torque needed to jar a ski boot out of the binding's toe piece. The technician doesn't care what you weigh or how old you are, but he or she needs to know these accurate numbers to set your binding properly. 
•  After sliding into the four-buckle boot (you don't want a rear-entry boot), your foot should feel snug - not painful - everywhere. With ski boots, your toes should touch the front until you drive your knees forward. Then your toes should pull back, leaving a little wiggle room for comfort. "A proper fit feels like a firm handshake," said Sue Booker, a long-time boot fitter at Loveland Ski Area in Colorado. "It should feel like it is molded all around your foot and ankle, and you need to be able to flex the cuff."
• Don't tuck pant legs into boots. The boots are designed to hug your shin and calf, so you don't want any extra fabric to interfere.

Get going

Now that you're all geared up with skis, boots, bindings and poles you're ready to take it out on the hill.  First-time skiers should always take a lesson from a qualified instructor. A lesson will help you learn much faster and you probably won't be as sore the next day.

• Call ahead to the resort to find out about beginner lessons and any special deals that might be available. 
•  Don't give up. The first day on skis can be challenging, but stick with it and you'll be making turns in no time.
• Just remember the most important tip:  Have Fun!