Learn-to-Ski and Ride Programs
Who Has The Best Value?
The smell of apple pie may be in your oven after visiting a harvest festival, but snow will be in the air before you know it. Living in Vermont, it's almost a given that your child must enjoy snow sports. There are many season pass and ski/ride school options to consider. To help you decide, Miss Magpie and her flock have looked at 5 local offerings for a family of four and a season-long ski/ride program for the kids (ages 6 and older). With pre-season rates ending soon, now is the time to decide.
Veteran ski program parents are encouraged to post your reviews as your insight is invaluable to the novices. For example, which instructors have the training, personality and patience to get kids out on the slopes and keep them smiling? Which program is the best for young first timers to learn to ski or snowboard?
Smuggs (Total $2,154)
Smuggler's Notch offers many types of season passes to accommodate family styles and schedules. They have a few incentives to purchase by Halloween including discounts on the season pass. Season Pass holders also receive significant discounts on rentals, lessons, equipment, camps and child care. May be a good value if you have a child that is 5 years old (no season pass needed) and you want to enroll them in the season-long ski school.
Season Pass: Family Season Pass
- Adults: 2
- Children: 2 (6 years and older)
- Cost: $1,556 (prior to 10/31)
- Cost: $1,756 (after 10/31)
Program Name: Mitey Mites Ski & Snowboard Program
- Ages: 5 to 12 years
- Length: 8 Saturdays OR Sundays (starting January 3rd)
- Time: 10:00AM to 2:00PM (lunch NOT included)
- Cost: $299/child Sat (season pass not included)
- Cost: $249/child Sun (season pass not included)
- Program Value Meter: $9.34 per hour
Bolton (Total $3,097)
May be a good value if you have a child that is 4 to 6 years old (season passes are only $25) and you want to enroll them in a 1 weekend day ski school. Lunch is included and the program is all day.
Season Pass: Family Four Alpine
- Adults: 2
- Children: 2 (7 years and older)
- Cost: $1,699
Program Name: Ridge Runners & Ridge Riders
- Ages: 4 to 12 years for ski and 6 to 12 for snowboard
- Length: 11 Saturdays OR Sundays (starting December 13th)
- Time: 9:30AM to 3:00PM (lunch included)
- Cost: $699/child (season pass not included)
- Program Value Meter: $11.55 per hour
Sugarbush (Total $5,176)
A good value for a family with kids under the age of thirteen (season pass free with accompany adult season pass) and like to ski/ride both weekend days. Note: many of the seasonal kid programs are already full (including the new 1 weekend day programs).
Season Pass: Adult All-Mountain
- Adults: 2
- Children: 2 (12 years old and under)
- Cost: $2,798
Program Name: Snow Blazers & Snow Riders
- Ages: 6 to 15 years
- Length: 16 Saturdays AND Sundays (starting December 13)
- Time: 9:15AM to 3:00PM (lunch not included but discounted 20% for cafeteria food)
- Cost: $1,189/child (season pass not included)
- Program Value Meter: $6.46 per hour
Stowe (Total $5,724)
Pretty good value for 2 full-day weekend program. It helps off-set the expense of the season passes for the parents.
Season Pass: StoweSeven+ Pass
- Adults: 2
- Children: 0
- Cost: $2,818 (before Oct. 25th)
- Cost: $3,532 (after Oct. 24th)
Program Name: StoweBusters & MiniBusters at Mansfield
- Ages: 4 to 14 years for ski and 7 to 14 for snowboard
- Length: 14 Saturdays AND Sundays (starting December 13th)
- Time: 9:00AM to 3:00PM (lunch included for kids 4 to 6 years only)
- Cost: $1,453/child (includes season pass) before Oct. 25th
- Cost: $1,788/child (includes season pass) after Oct. 24th
- Program Value Meter: $6.40 per hour
Middlebury Snow Bowl (Total $1,390)
May be a good value if your child just needs a few hours of instruction and spends the rest of the day with you.
Season Pass: Individuals
- Adults: 2
- Children: 2 (6 years old to 6th grade)
- Cost: $1,160 (prior to 10/31)
- Cost: $1,460 (after 10/31)
Program Name: Winter Mountain Masters for Skiers
- Ages: 8 thru adult
- Length: 6 Saturdays (starting January 3rd)
- Time: 10:00AM to 12:00PM (lunch NOT included)
- Cost: $115/child (season pas not included)
- Program Value Meter: $9.58 per hour
Other things worth noting:
Get your kids out there and enjoy nature's snow covered playground this winter.
Miss Magpie
Disclaimer: Please check each Mountain's web site for the most up-to-date information.
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