Best kids ski program?
 

My son is 8 and has been in kiddie ski school in Colorado a little bit the last two seasons. I want to try Vermont. I want a good kids program to put him in where he will have the most fun. I have heard good things about Magic Mountain: Okemo; and Smugglers? What do you say?

Id say at any place, the lad will learn an earlier appreciation for Western snow .... :)

Is there really a difference in Eastern and Western snow??

Well I am partial to Okemo b/c that is where it really clicked for my kids, a fabulous program - however, I can't speak personally to the program recently as they are now adults ! However, I have friends and relatives who go there and are still pleased with the ski school.

But I also always hear great things about Smugglers from fellow skiers with family still in those programs too -

He is 8, he will likely do well at any of the more popular and respectable mountains that all have prided themselves on great programs -

A difference between eastern and western snow?

YIKES ! yes, yes and yes on a zillion fronts -

Out west, we never had to skirt around bare spots, mounds of ice, never had snow higher than our skiis unless we were really lucky and in a massive snow storm or skiing off trail - the list is endless -
nothing like the many choices of bowls out west -
just very different -
Many we know don't like skiing out east anymore once they've experienced the west, and will instead be satisfied to do several out west trips a year vs. weekends up north in New England.... but having been used to New England skiing all my life, I never had a problem - but appreciate the difference out west- there's a thing called SNOW ! :)

Smugglers is very well known for it's kids programs. That would be my choice.

just so you don't think escargot is alone in her thinking ---- east and west skiing are like night and day!!

<i>Is there really a difference in Eastern and Western snow??</i>

As someone who's skied in five U.S. time zones and abroad, I can only see Escargot's response as severely understated. There's a ton of difference.

And while I was being a little snarky, skiing on Eastern slopes does force young skiers to be more precise with their technique and learn skills to deal with those conditions that are more common there (ice, ice and more ice).

As an early beginner, the boy won't notice much of a difference because teaching slopes are heavily groomed. It's when he gets out of the newbie teaching area that he'll notice that the snow isn't (typically) as forgiving and is often harder when you fall.

That said, Smuggler does get high marks.

To add to escargot's list, I've never seen a ski report in the west listing the conditions as &quot;loose granular&quot;, which is just a euphemism for &quot;chopped-up ice&quot;.

My friend with 4 kids has a condo at Smuggler's and she raves about the kids' programs.

Well I didn't want to cover every difference, between east, west, Canada, abroad, - done all and that would take more than a page -

I thought saying it was different on a ZILLION fronts and that the list of differences was ENDLESS and then naming 3 or 4 reasons, including SNOW, sufficed -
sort of thought that equaled &quot;a ton of difference&quot;
:)

If you really want a zillion opinions on the difference between east and west, that could be an entirely separate thread !

But if you go during winter, at either mountain, there will be plenty of snow (for out east) and you will have a blast !

Naw, escargot you nailed it. I was just trying to over-the-top emphasize your point to the Nth degree. :)

As a Western skier stuck out East, I hate paying Colorado prices for the stuff that passes for snow here. And, goodness, do I miss the bowls ...

Maybe go a bit more north and check out Gray Rocks (an hour and a half north of Montreal)...the whole mountain is a ski school for people of all ages and abilities.

I didn't know there was a difference?

I second Grey Rocks! But in the long ago days that I use to go there was the added perk of the exchange rate!

Alas: The Canadian Dollar, and more to the point, The EURO, have made me work harder to get the same experience from my ski trips.

Or rather than blame those fine currency, maybe I should just say

DOLLAR......Come back! All is forgiven! We really miss you! (sniff)

Smuggler's Notch is tops in VT for kids by far; in New Hampshire, it's Bretton Woods.

I second Bretton Woods in NH. Good learning turf.

I'd lean towards Smugglers. They have an excellent program for kids plus a whole section of the mountain for young and beginning skiiers- magic carpet beginner trail, kids terrain park, friendly lift operaters, etc. We take our school there.
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