Ski Terrain
First, let’s explore what makes a good ski area for new skiers. Take a look at the ski resort’s trail map. Ski trails are rated Green as easiest, Blue as intermediate and Black as advanced. A good ski area for beginners will have a significant number of green ski trails. Even more important is having a beginner area that is secluded from the rest of the mountain. Also, the ski resort should have a separate learning to ski area that features a beginner’s surface lift. Every ski resort website will have a trail map. Take a look and see how much Green terrain is featured on the map. If reading the ski trail map seems a bit overwhelming, you can look at the “mountain stats” page. This will tell you the base and peak elevation, as well as the percentage of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain.
Since looking at the maps on every ski resort website can be time-consuming, I’ve included a link to a page that displays the ski maps from destinations throughout the world.
http://www.skiindex.com/world/show_next.php?layer=2&association=30&set=20&menu=2
Caveat: Some ski resorts will occasionally redesign their terrain. If you get a “page not found” message, check the resort website.
Beginner slopes should be wide and well groomed. There should be a gradual progression form the learning area to the intermediate slopes. Big sky Montana is wonderful in this regard. The slopes are wide, impeccable groomed and never crowded. Having watched some of their instructors in action, I can safely say that their ski school is amazing.
While sufficient beginner skier terrain is certainly important, you should also look for ski resorts that offer excellent services for new skiers. For example, the hardest part of teaching new skiers to ski is the horrific rental equipment. For the most part, rental boots are simply awful. Unfortunately, they can often make or break a first ski lesson. Before choosing a ski area for your first-timer, ask opinions about the rental shop. Find out whether the ski-techs are giving the students enough attention. If you hear reports that the techs seemed rushed, or if you hear comments about an unusually large number of skiers returning their boots because of extreme discomfort, choose another resort!
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