The mountains are for everyone — including newbies. Just ask Sophia Wacker, a Snow Pro at Vail Mountain Ski and Snowboard School and co-host of the digital series Vail Mountain Minute Clinic. “We get so few opportunities to truly play as an adult, and learning to ski and ride is one of them,” says Wacker. Her co-host Francis Do, also a Vail Mountain Snow Pro, agrees. “All new adventures are intimidating,” says Do. “However, the opportunities to find freedom and a sense of accomplishment in nature outweigh these initial fears.”
Whether you’re a kid, a kid at heart learning for the first time or simply trying to take your skills to a new level, the best way to learn (or re-learn) is via beginner terrains — aka bunny slopes. “Beginner terrain is something that’s easy to find at most, if not all ski areas,” says Wacker. Check posted terrain maps for indicated beginner areas and look for slopes offering a closure that highlights slower skiing. “Most of the slower terrain should be easy to walk up to, and you will have a flat area to practice putting on your skis and snowboard,” says Do. “One more way to spot beginner terrain… there’s usually a few fearless children who will give you a helping hand.”
Ready to hit the slopes? We’ve rounded up a few places all over the world that will help every kind of athlete find their footing on the snow. After all, “tackling a black diamond on your first day skiing or riding would be like running a marathon before you’ve learned to walk,” says Wacker. “We want you to be tired enough to enjoy your post-ski hot tub, not tired enough to need your post-ski hot tub!”
Vail Mountain Snow Pros Francis Do (L) and Sophia Wacker
Best for beginners who need a lift
Zermatt
Going from bunny hill to the main mountain can be one of the most daunting transitions a skier or rider can make. That’s because they’ll have to go from a T-bar or magic carpet straight to the big boy lifts. Luckily, places like Zermatt in Switzerland offer dedicated lifts just for beginners. These lifts offer riders the chance to either get on at slower speeds or easier conditions (like simply walking into a cable car instead of skiing onto a lift) and brings them right to the beginner terrain, so they never have to worry about ending up on a black diamond chute by accident.
Stowe, Vermont has long been a family-friendly destination thanks to its inviting atmosphere, varied terrain, and excellent conditions. And, above all else, it’s a place primed for kids to learn to ski and snowboard for the very first time, thanks to its thriving kids’ camp. Located at Spruce Peak, the kids’ camp will turn even the tiniest humans among us into shredders in no time. Plus, while the kids are learning, parents can go off and take as many runs as they can handle before picking up their little ones at the end of the day for a shared hot cocoa.
Alta Badia in Italy’s Dolomites is yet another European gem for beginners. More than 50% of the mountain’s trails are listed as “beginner,” and the wide, flatter slopes create the perfect environment for smooth turns without feeling crowded out by your fellow skiers and riders. Plus, like the other mountains on this list, it too comes with several practice slopes so everyone can have a space to warm up and feel comfortable before getting on the main lifts.
Steamboat, a lovely 2,965-acre mountain in Colorado, is as dedicated as they come to ensuring the mountains are equally available to all, thanks to Steamboat STARS, an adaptive program for people with disabilities. The organization’s mission is to empower individuals with health conditions and impairments and their families through recreational activities like skiing (though the program also offers classes in cycling, horseback riding, and kayaking, but we’re here to strictly talk about the powder). Participants can learn how to carve the mountain on two-, three-, and four-track skis, along with bi-skiers, mono-skiers, and so much more.
So you’ve learned how to ski and feel confident on the blue runs, maybe even a few black diamonds. And now, you’re ready to learn a new skill — the art of backcountry skiing. There’s no better spot to go than Jackson Hole’s Mammut Backcountry Camp. This multi-day camp takes guests through some of the most pristine mountain landscapes in Wyoming and through powder so fresh you may need to let out a little squeal before heading down. Because why shouldn’t you start your backcountry journey in the very best conditions? (Guests are required to bring their own avalanche equipment, including an ABS Avalanche Airbag Pack.)
