Where to learn to ski in the Mountain State
So, you want to learn how to ski. But where? What are some of the best courses to learn on?
West Virginia is renowned for its skiing. But if you’re just starting out, the choices can be overwhelming. Never fear — we have a whole list of places with the best conditions and instructors. You’ll be flying down the slopes in no time!
Winterplace Ski Resort
Winterplace prides itself on teaching first-time skiers and uses a terrain-based learning area specifically designed for use with the American Teaching System. Gentle rollers, bank turns, and pipes make learning a delight.
What’s more, if you don’t get the hang of skiing or snowboarding, your next lesson is free! Winterplace has numerous slopes for novices, too: 37 percent of the area. Beginner runs are marked with green circle so you’ll know where to stay while learning and building confidence.
The resort also stays open at night. Ski as the sun settles below the mountains— a romantic, breathtaking experience.
Snowshoe Mountain
Navigate little obstacles and gain confidence with Snowshoe’s terrain-based learning system. Balancing, turning, and stopping soon become second nature. You can also sign up for private and group classes and camps. There are clubs and lessons for kids, too.
When you’re ready, head out to the Basin Area. This vast region encompasses parks, trails, and terrain for beginners. Snowshoe expands even further with other regions and activities. Silver Creek, for example, boasts night skiing and a 5-lane tube park.
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
At Canaan, over 30% of their ski terrain is committed to those learning to ski. Timber Trail is one of the long-standing favorites along with the new Critters Crawl.
Beginning classes run Monday to Friday and include a lift ticket and rental. You can also register for one-on-one and group lessons.
This post was last updated on July 29, 2020