Taking a lesson with a professional instructor will help you get better, faster. They make learning to ski or snowboard easy and fun. Already know how to ski or ride? You can always take your skills to the next level with a lesson. Even instructors professional ski and snowboard instructors work with coaches to improve their skills.

Find a Ski School Near You

Top 10 Reasons to Take a Professional Ski or Snowboard Lesson

  1. To stay friends with your friends (friends don’t let friends teach friends).
  2. To ski and ride with your friends and family.
  3. To get better faster.
  4. To graduate from beginner (green) runs.
  5. To save your relationship.
  6. To make winter more fun.
  7. To be your best, by learning from the best.
  8. To learn the easy way.
  9. To progress from beginner (green) to advanced (black) runs.
  10. To ski and ride to your fullest potential.

Taking a professional lesson is the best way for you to learn, or to improve your current skills, so you can join, or keep up with, your family and friends on the slopes this season.

Watch How to Videos

Learn about skiing and snowboarding BEFORE you leave home. Watch these videos on our YouTube channel to browse them all, or check out some below:

Find a Resort

Ready to hit the slopes? Use this map to find a ski or snowboard school at a resort near you.

Get Deals on Tickets, Rentals, and Lessons

Discoversnow.org helps you find deals on lift tickets, rentals, or lessons to help make learning to ski or snowboard more accessible and fun.

What to Expect from Your Lesson

Smaller groups. This season, you’re more likely to end up in a private lesson or in a small group of skiers or snowboarders.

Household or family groupings. Many ski schools have traditionally grouped lesson participants based on their ability and when they show up, meaning you were likely to end up in a group with folks you didn’t know. This season, you can expect to stick with members of your household or whomever you’ve arrived with, instead—so it’s a great time to plan a day on the slopes with family or friends!

In addition to taking a lesson, there are lots of options for you, your family and your friends to get outside this winter. Also, there are alternative activities for skiers and snowboarders who want to maximize physical distancing this winter season.

Why Go With a Pro?

  • Professional instructors are trained to teach others how to ski or snowboard, and many instructors are certified to teach snowsports.
  • Instructors know how to make learning easier so you can develop your skills.
  • With over 32,000 members, PSIA-AASI is the world’s largest organization dedicated to training and certifying ski and snowboard instructors.

Alternatives to Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding

Cross Country Skiing

Want a workout, minus the lifts? Cross country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, might just be for you! Many ski areas have Nordic centers where guests can rent equipment, book a lesson, and take to the trails.

Learn more about the basics of cross country skiing.

Tubing

It’s hard to beat snow tubing for a day of fun the whole family can enjoy. Many resorts have a tubing hill, complete with rentals and a magic carpet to the top, adjacent to their lift-served skiing. Snow tubes typically have handles and are made of sturdy rubber material, so this activity is a little more forgiving than tobogganing in the backyard. Plus, who doesn’t love getting a ride to the top, rather than hauling the sled each time?

Ski.com put together a list of the best tubing hills in the U.S. Check to see if your destination has a tubing hill before your next trip to the mountains!

A kid goes snow tubing

Snow (Fat Tire) Bikes

Most people swap their bikes for skis when the snow starts to fly – but if with tires wide enough, you can ride bikes year-round. Snow bikes (also called fat bikes) have become hugely popular, and some Nordic centers have even installed single-track snow trails expressly intended for winter bikers.

Rules and rental availability vary by ski area, so check your individual resort or Nordic center’s snow bike policy.

Two people snow bike down a trail

Ski Bikes, aka SNO-GO

You’ve probably seen SNO-GO ski bikes whizzing past you on the slopes before. These contraptions are meant to combine the intuitive feel of riding a bike with the winter fun of skiing. Some resorts even offer lessons –although it’s an easy learning curve! Here’s our webinar and e-learning course on SNO-GO.

Tons of ski areas allow SNO-GO-style ski bikes, although not all have rentals available. Before you show up, find out whether your destination allows SNO-GOs.

A sno-go rider on the ski hill

Snowshoeing

If you can walk, you can snowshoe — but snowshoeing is a lot more fun! Modern snowshoes are lightweight and easy to use with any sturdy winter boots, and you won’t need any specialized equipment beyond those and a pair of poles to keep yourself steady. The flotation on snow allows you to explore off the beaten path and experience the quiet of a winter wonderland.

Many resorts have snowshoe trails in or adjacent to their Nordic centers. Check with your destination to see what’s available and where you can rent snowshoes.

A group of four people snow shoeing

Uphill Skiing & Splitboarding

Many resorts offer guests the ability to ski without using lifts. Using special equipment, you can attach “skins” to your skis – —snowboarders do the same thing with a splitboard, which works like skis uphill and transforms to a snowboard for the ride down — to walk uphill, then ski back down.

Here’s a quick primer on what uphill skiing is and what equipment you’ll need.

Some resorts require a special pass, which can be picked up from guest services or ski patrol. Resorts’ policies vary (sometimes this is allowed only outside of normal operating hours, for example). Be sure to check with the resort you plan to visit.

A skier put skins on his touring skis

Take a lesson from us. Friends don’t let friends teach friends. Let the snow fly!