Here's what my first ski "lesson" looked like in the 1970s: My father, armed with knowledge from his college alpine racing and ski jumping days, drove my brother and I to Snoqualmie Pass near Seattle.
Grabbing one pair of skis and boots from the back of our Volkswagen bus, he stuffed the boots into my brother's hands, the skis into mine, and bid us to follow him to the nearest rope tow. For an entire day, we slipped and slid on thick Northwest snow, exchanging gear and trying to understand terms like "snowplow" and "downhill ski." I was 8, my brother was 9, and I think there were tears involved, most likely from my father.
Skiing or snowboarding is part of a greater collective of activities that require money, equipment, and instruction before sufficient mastery can occur. It's not a cheap sport, least of all for families with growing children, and while my dad may have gotten away with the ubiquitous swapping of gear 40 years ago, today's skiers and riders must meet a higher standard for proficiency.
Then, too, there's the issue of access, even in Alaska, where not everyone lives close enough or has the right vehicle for a trip to the slopes.
The snow sports industry takes a fair amount of heat for expenses related to this form of outdoor recreation, but still, people go. The National Ski Areas Association reported nearly 54 million people visited U.S. ski hills during the 2014-15 season, and while no data is readily available for how many of those were newcomers to the sport, one glance at bunny slopes during the high season between December and March tells the story.
Fortunately, I was not permanently damaged by my first ski lesson, and, in fact, went on to become an instructor at the same Snoqualmie Pass hill years later. By then, formal ski schools were the norm rather than the exception, with professionally trained teachers handing out high-fives and smiles to legions of pint-sized rippers. Today, the success of organized instruction is a testament to organizations like the Professional Ski Instructors Association and American Association of Snowboard Instructors, especially in January, when a grassroots effort-turned-industry event amped up motivation for new skiers and riders.
Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month began in 2009 as an initiative to encourage families to become at least acquainted with snow sports. With a handful of ski areas offering discounted ski lessons, the initiative's first endeavor was fueled in part by worries of an increasing number of children staying indoors during the long, cold, post-holiday month of January.
Mary Jo Tarallo, executive director of Learn to Ski and Snowboard, says that since the first January event, 600,000 children and adults have signed up for lessons at more than 150 ski areas. Operating under the mantra that "humans were never meant to hibernate," the organization strives to provide professional lessons at reasonable rates, along with events promoting the fun factor. The result? Safe skiing or riding, and hopes of a lifelong commitment to the outdoors.
Alaska's largest ski areas, Alyeska Resort in Girdwood and Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau, are participating this January, as they have since Learn to Ski and Snowboard's early days. Eaglecrest, in fact, has rolled out the proverbial red magic carpet for beginners of any age, and Director of Marketing and Snowsports School Jeffra Clough says that's part of the area's commitment to its community.
"Eaglecrest wants to make sure the mountain is accessible to everyone, regardless of financial need or physical challenges. January is about increasing awareness of (skiing and snowboarding) opportunities, and encouraging folks to give it a try," she said in an email. In addition to a specially priced lesson package, Clough notes, Eaglecrest is also sponsoring a series of weekend events to promote various aspects of the sport. Kids can enter a drawing for a free weekend of skiing, equipment, transportation, and lunch Jan. 16-17, and the entire community is invited to learn more about adaptive skiing techniques on Learn to Adapt Day Jan. 17. And as Eaglecrest turns 40 in 2016, the area is offering special "roll-back" prices on lessons and lift tickets Jan. 30-31.
Clough says many people from Southeast Alaska have grown up skiing Eaglecrest, an area owned and operated by the Municipality and Borough of Juneau, and it's a special thing to see a family of multiple generations plying skis and boards on the mountain's 36 runs. Alpine World Cup champion and Olympic silver medalist Hilary Lindh grew up on Eaglecrest's slopes because her father, Craig, was one of the original surveyors of the Eaglecrest site on Douglas Island.
In Southcentral, Alyeska Resort is offering a three-lesson package consisting of gear rental, lessons, and a lower mountain lift ticket for $99 in January, made even more attractive by the fact the lessons can be used any time between now and the end of February.
"This is a great way to get people energized to get into a winter sport," says Alyeska Ski Resort Ski School Director Garth McPhie. "So many people in Alaska are looking for alternative ways to stay active during the winter time and skiing and snowboarding are both equally challenging and fun ways to promote and sustain a healthy, active lifestyle. The January Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month is great because it plays into people's New Year's resolution to get fit and active; it's a program that Alyeska has been involved in for over five years."
What's in it for parents? The knowledge that young adventurers will receive instruction by someone who knows best how to translate the "wedge" maneuver into "pizza" for little kids, and understands the budding independence of older ones.
Grownups can even embark upon a lesson themselves, since Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month knows no age boundary.
Learn to Ski and Snowboard: If you go
• Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau: Located on Douglas Island approximately 12 miles from downtown Juneau. Use your Alaska Airlines miles to fly to Juneau and make the trip a long weekend getaway. The ski area offers weekday Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month lessons for as low as $44 per person, in addition to the other event packages. www.skijuneau.com, (907) 790-2000.
• Alyeska Resort: 42 miles south of Anchorage along the Seward Highway in Girdwood. The resort's three-lesson special for $99 is an excellent deal for new skiers or snowboarders, and lessons can be used through Feb. 29. Contact the Mountain Learning Center at www.alyeskaresort.com, (907) 754-2280.
Erin Kirkland is author of Alaska On the Go: Exploring the 49th state with children, and publisher of AKontheGO.com, a resource for family travel and outdoor recreation. Connect with her at e.kirkland0@gmail.com.