We're taking our first ski trip with our teenage daughter to Lake Tahoe. What is the best ski class to take there? There's one on the Heavenly Web site that costs about $325 for three days and $225 for two days. Is that the best instruction for the money? Also any tips on what clothing we should bring would be terrific.

Thanks!

For daytime clothing, waterproof ski pants and jacket, long underwear, T-necks or wicking base layer, micro fleece tops, waterproof ski gloves, neck gaiter, ear band, hat, sunglasses, goggles.

For evenings, jeans and a sweater are acceptable just about everywhere. I like the slip on suede shoes that come up close to the ankle and have a lug sole for apres ski.

I'm not sure what the lessons you mentioned are offereing. For a new skier, I would recommend half day lessons every morning, so the new skills could be practiced in the afternnon. I think all day lessons would be exhausting and intense.

If everyone has not skied, you might want to look at a private or semi private (uually 6 or less) lesson for your family. We go as a family (Tahoe once) each year and I always put my kids (under 12) in the all day ski school program. I'm a pretty decent skier but have found the ski schools are much better than learning from a parent (IMHO). While the kid/kids normally complain on the way, they are usually upset when we try and pick them up a bit early. Enjoy!

Definitely go for a private lesson if you're a first-timer...it's not as easy as it looks. I did not like the instructors at Heavenly (they were all fairly young and impatient when I tried them). I had better luck at Northstar...real pros, with a lot of real teaching skill (both technical and psychological).

I took the opposite approach--started with a group lesson to get my feet wet and get a feel for the sport then went private thereafter--private lessons are not cheap and at the time I wasn't sure I would like skiing or if it was something I would continue to pursue. Turns out I did.

Don't forget the sunscreen!