Top 5 Teaching Ski Areas of North America

[@thelonelyphish]

I learned to snowboard at Mt Spokane in sleet that covered the beginner slopes in ice. I still have no idea why I kept at it, it was a miserable experience, and yet there I was trying again the next day at a different mountain, and Im so glad I did, it's changed my life.

[@matthewbennettutah]

Great story. My first day of skiing was a nice sunny day. The next day it rained. I too am glad I kept at it.

[@MeanLaQueefa]

My little hill in Wisconsin. Little Switzerland, it’s small but is excellent for beginners and they offer variable terrain learning. Also, Cascade by my sister’s house In Madison because kids are free 12 and under everyday no questions asked. $25 rental and lessons/ lift. That’s how I learned before I hit Vail and out west.

[@matthewbennettutah]

Great recommendation! Thanks.

[@snowbirdskibum]

Love this! Your local mountain is definitely the place to start!

[@matthewbennettutah]

Thanks!

[@mtadams2009]

I know your a western skier but you essentially left off the whole east coast. Yea I know it never snows and all we ski on is ice but there are more than a few Olympic a skiers who trained on the east coast. I have taken lessons at Alta, Jackson Hole and GT. They were all fine but certainly no different than Killington or Stowe. Two of my friends teach at Killington and both are certified. I do not know if it’s a requirement though. I ski a lot and you are correct nothing helps like getting the days in. Proper form also helps. Whatever I have learned skiing on nothing but ice has really helped, when I do ski out west I feel much better than I truly am. I am only kidding about the ice Killington gets about 250 inches per year and Jay Peak over 350. It’s what I hear from western skiers all of the time. Take care

[@matthewbennettutah]

With this video, I really tried to give ideas of what to look for when teaching someone to ski. You are right that I probably put a bit of a Western slant on all of my videos, including this one. I would say that snow does make a difference and I find it just a touch better out West.

[@erichoss4218]

No DV? I'm shocked! I figured that would be number one. It is expensive though.

[@matthewbennettutah]

Sorry, but I am not a fan of Deer Valley's lifts as they have a number that converge all at the same place. It gets so crowded I'm surprised there are not more accidents.

[@DaddysLittleFelons]

Excellent. Remember every weekend at Tahoe?

[@matthewbennettutah]

They were a lot of fun.

[@Professional_Dirtbag_Hippie]

Mammoth Mountain is the best given it’s incredibly linear progression of terrain

[@matthewbennettutah]

Terrain progression is very important. I took my grandson (the kid throughout the video) to Snowbird and he hated it due to lack of terrain progression.

[@brianoconnor3407]

Don't agree with that assessment Mitch. Depending on where you are teaching (Canyon, Main Lodge, Eagle?). None of them are ideal and can get too crowded in a heartbeat for a beginning class. Plus you have skilled skiers skiing through your beginning class area instead of it being separated. Nope, Mammoth is far from the best, though a great mountain in general. The very best in my experience is Diamond Peak, Incline Village, NV. The beginner terrain is right next to the lodge and separate. Once you are ready for a chair lift, you ski over to the beginner chair and you are at the top of the lift. Students can watch the unloading process before skiing to the bottom of an isolated beginner run. The best ever. Kirkwood is a close second. Park City is perhaps the worst, but it was a few years back.

[@matthewbennettutah]

@@brianoconnor3407 One of the best things you can do as a beginner is find someplace away from the crowds where you have your own area. Sounds like Diamond Peak has a great teaching area.

[@brianoconnor3407]

This is an impossible task. So many variables. Access, beginner terrain for never-evers, lift access. ease of skier access, progression of slopes. Buttermilk, CO, Kirkwood, CA, Ski Incline (Diamond Peak), Northstar, Ca. All of these are places I taught. I'd rather see a video of the worst resorts for a beginner skier.

[@matthewbennettutah]

There are a number of things to look for like PSIA certified instructors and so I tried to educate. As for resorts to avoid, I'm sure there are a lot of them.