Where to get a friend hooked?

[SteveInCT]

I am going to be taking a friend for a "Learn to Ski" package on Friday. I have been looking at the different mountains and trying to decide where the best place would be to get him seriously hooked on skiing. He is a athletic guy so I think he will pick it up relatively fast and I don't want him to be bored with a "learning area only" type pass. I checked out Mohawk and they offer an all mountain learn to ski at $86 and Sundown is $92 for the whole mountain. I started to look at southern MA and noticed Catamount has their base learn to ski package @ $75 and includes the Meadows area. It appears to have a decent amount of terrain over there so there would be quite a few paths I could take him down so he doesn't get bored, but then again, that is why I am here.

I am coming from southern CT for a day trip so I don't want to bring him up to VT. Does anyone have any suggestions to the best place to hook a new skier with a learn to ski package in the southern areas? What has the most FUN beginner terrain? I haven't had to look at a mountain from this perspective in so long and it is hard to tell from trail maps.

Thanks!

 

[2knees]

butternut might be a good choice. they have a true newbie area and then a longer lift that accesses a few green trails and its split off from the main area. Its been 20 years since i've been there but i do remember it being a decent place for that kind of thing. no idea what their packages run or consist of but it would be an easy day trip from s. ct.

 

[riverc0il]

I got hooked on a hill with 300 vert. Don't feel like you gotta bring him to a big mountain to have fun. The most important thing is making sure a new skier is comfortable. Make sure he has synthetic ski socks and don't take him on a cold day. Make sure it is a day/time when the ski area is not too busy. Beers afterwards can't hurt.

 

[MR. evil]

Any of the places in CT will be more than enough. I got hooked at a ski hill basically run out of a dudes backyard, the place is / was called Otis Ridge. A lift ticket with rental was like $30. But this was also 15 years ago.

 

[severine]

To a newbie, it's all exciting and potentially scary. I agree that there's no need to drive a long distance. That said, since you asked, Catamount is a nice little ski area. Get there early though--the lodge isn't very big, IIRC, so unless you're booting up at the car, you may find it difficult to utilize the lodge.

 

[Dr Skimeister]

Do yourself, your friend and your friendship the big favor of having him take a lesson from an experienced instructor. Just because you know how to ski doesn't automatically mean you know how to teach someone how to ski.

If you can swing a weekday, signing him up for a group lesson may result in a semi-private lesson.

 

[marcski]

To a newbie, it's all exciting and potentially scary. I agree that there's no need to drive a long distance. That said, since you asked, Catamount is a nice little ski area. Get there early though--the lodge isn't very big, IIRC, so unless you're booting up at the car, you may find it difficult to utilize the lodge.

There will be plenty of room in the lodge on a Friday. No problem. I agree, one of the southern Berkshire hills is probably a good choice. Catamount or Butternut. A Friday is a good day to bring someone for their first day.

 

[severine]

There will be plenty of room in the lodge on a Friday. No problem. I agree, one of the southern Berkshire hills is probably a good choice. Catamount or Butternut. A Friday is a good day to bring someone for their first day.

Granted I've only been there once, but it was a midweek day (Wed, I think?) and we ended up encountering this HUGE group of kids there for racing--there was no warning on the website about this in advance. Granted, it was 6 years ago and their events information is probably better now, but there was no room in the lodge for our gear; every peg, every spot, was taken up by kids' gear and their parents hanging out while the kids skied.

Just be prepared...