70 percent of the runs at Lookout Pass are beginner or intermediate oriented, which means a huge portion of the mountain is quickly accessible to newbies. It’s always one of the first regional ski hills to open, so its season pass can get you more mileage. Plus, Lookout consistently has great snow—33 feet in an average year— thanks to its location at the crest of the Bitterroot Range on the Idaho/Montana state line. And it’s just a 90-minute car ride from Spokane.

The vibe at Lookout is also beginner-friendly. You’ll see fewer selfie sticks and gratuitous hucks. People cruising around the mountain genuinely seem to be there for the love of the snow. But you don’t have to be afraid to carpool with friends who want to charge harder runs than you. Playful terrain and quality snow make Lookout a great spot for people of all abilities. There are sweet tree skiing runs and powder stashes to be found, and the resort is undergoing an expansion to add fast chairlifts and more runs in the coming years.For kids, Lookout takes the Learn to Ski concept to a whole new level. Every Saturday morning from Jan. 4 through March 7, Lookout hosts a free ski school for kids. Kids without lift tickets or season passes can still attend, but they cannot continue skiing for the day without  purchasing a lift ticket or pass. Rentals are not included, but they are affordable, and you can also look for used gear at local ski swaps or Northwest Outdoors gear consignment store in Spokane. 

Learn To Ski Month Deals

Local resorts offer an economical way to explore a new way to get outside in the winter through their learn-to-ski-or-snowboard packages. Packages are a great option for families who want to learn how to ski or board together or for beginners who want to check out different resorts without spending a ton of money. But with many resorts offering deals on season passes once the learn to ski program is completed, it will be hard to stop at just a few lessons! Please note that most participating resorts expect guests to call ahead to schedule lessons and that most packages are only for brand-new, first-time skiers and riders of any age. 

49 Degrees North 

January Learn to Ski or Ride Month: In addition to $10 off their EZ Ski or Ride package, 49 is offering Mastering the Mountain clinics on the following days: Jan. 7 (co-ed) and Jan. 13 (women specific). The EZ Ski or Ride 1-2-3 program includes three days of fun, complete with lift tickets, ski or snowboard rentals, and lessons (available to ages 5+). 

Lesson begins at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. for ages 5-13. There are also lessons that begin at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. for ages 12+. Purchase and reservations must be made 24 hours in advance. This is a special introductory program focusing on teaching a strong foundation for those who have never skied or snowboarded or those who may need to rebuild their confidence on the slopes. The first and second visit include a Chair 3 (beginner chairlift) lift ticket, and the third visit includes an all-mountain lift ticket. Cost: $189. Contact 509-935-6649, extension 610, for more info.

Lookout Pass

January Learn to Ski or Ride Month Special: Pay only $99 for the EZ Ski or Ride 1-2-3 program that includes three all-day lift tickets. Day one and two start on the Success beginner chairlift, while day three includes an all-mountain lift ticket. The package also includes rental equipment usage and lessons to help you progress quickly. Classes are available every day they are open, and reservations are required. The graduation gift for completion of the Learn to Ski or Ride in 3 Days program is a special rate on a season pass, with daily rental equipment included. This program applies only to first-time beginners. This package is for ages 13 and up, and Lookout offers other deals for kids. Cost: $129. Contact 208-744-1301, extension 15, for more info. 

Mt. Spokane 

January Learn to Ski or Ride Month Special: Pay only $139 for the EZ Ski or Ride 1-2-3 program, which includes three lessons, three lift tickets, and three 3 rentals. Group lessons are available at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on any weekend or holiday. Learn the basics with a Beginner’s Luck lift ticket (Chair 5 only) on the first lesson and progress as far as you want to on the second two lessons with an all-mountain lift ticket. Upon completion of the EZ-Ski or Ride program, you will be eligible to purchase a season pass for the remainder of the season for just $129 as a graduation gift.  The cost is $159 or $139 during January’s Learn to Ski Month program. Contact 509-238-2220, extension 215, for more info.

Silver Mountain Resort

January Learn to Ski or Ride Month: For the month of January, pay just $62 (adult) or $47 (youth) for a lift ticket, lesson, and rental. Or sign up for the EZ Ski or Ride 1-2-3 program that includes three lift tickets on the Prospector lift, three rentals, and three lessons for ages 7+. Lessons are at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and are not available during the Christmas holiday period from Dec. 21, 2019 through Jan. 4, 2020. The program is open to first timers only, and first visits must occur between opening day and March 1. (The program cost is $139.) Contact 208-783-1111, extension 8220, for more info. 

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Married now for 35 years, their blended generational ski family includes four adult children and seven grandchildren, ages 12-21. All became skiers at a very young age and still ski—though the lone grandson now snowboards.

Once Mt. Spokane’s ski season opens, Seth and Gloria, now retired, are at the mountain every week, Wednesday through Sunday, until closing day.

The Fletchers first taught their kids how to ski, and also enrolled them in lessons. Same for their grandbabies. “Grammy and Poppy taught them how to ski,” says Seth, “and their parents helped out, too.”

For the Fletchers, winter break is a big deal. While only two grandchildren, and their parents, live in Spokane, the rest of the clan travels here for Christmas time.

“So we ski non-stop,” Gloria says. All stay overnight at their two Snowblaze condo units, located on the mountain close to the ski park. “We had to buy a second condo because we had too many grandkids.”

As the grandkids’ skills improved, it became tradition to conquer the checklist of skiing terrain together off all five chairlifts while skiing with Grammy and Poppy. They love those runs where they’re altogether, swooshing through fresh snow near their grandchildren, wide smiles on everyone’s faces. Meeting up at the bottom of each chairlift and riding up two by two to do it again and again, no matter the weather—from powder days to bluebird days and everything in between.

“Even it’s crappy, we still go up for a few runs. The only time we don’t go is if it’s raining,” says Gloria.

But mountain living includes more than flying down the mountain and seeking powder. “Our grandkids go sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing—we have all that equipment.

“So when the ski day was done, the day was never done,” Gloria says. “Some of older grandkids are now telemark and backcountry skiing.” Impressively, through the 40+ years of skiing, no one in the family has sustained any major injuries.

“The nice thing about skiing together is that it’s probably the only sport that you do together” year after year. “You only watch kids at soccer or baseball games. But skiing is the one sport that is a family sport, no matter how old or how little” say Seth and Gloria.

“Everyone in our family can ski any terrain, any mountain…once you learn (how to ski), you have it—not something you ever forget,” says Seth.

The Fletchers are also a ski patrol family, since Seth joined Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol the 1973-74 season. The perk of discounted lift tickets helped make skiing more affordable for their family. Additionally, the patrol’s annual ski swap is where they still find gear for everyone.

They’re also part of the local ski racing scene. Starting in the late 1970s, three of their children, when each was 7-8 years old, joined the team based at Mt. Spokane, and raced until age 14. Their son, Kevin, was even a ski racer for the University of Idaho.

The Fletcher’s two local grandkids also joined the ski team at Mt. Spokane, and their 12-year-old granddaughter—skiing with her grandparents since she was two—is still a member of the Mt. Spokane Ski Racing Team (MSSRT), formerly known as the Spokane Ski Racing Association. Gloria volunteers as a certified level 4 “timing and calc official,” and Seth used to officiate races.

As a devoted ski family, from the beginning the Fletchers skied with their children every weekend, from opening day to closing day, as well as occasional nights.

Though Seth “retired” from patrol six years ago, after 39 years of volunteer service, both still volunteer. In fact, because of the thousands of hours Gloria has given to supporting MSSP, a new service award was established three years ago to honor her example. Called the “Gloria Fletcher Distinguished Service Award,” it’s given annually to an outstanding non-patrol volunteer.

“This is going to be an exciting ski year, because of the new runs on Mt. Spokane’s backside. Our kids and grandkids can’t wait to come,” says Gloria. “It’s going to be so much fun. It gives us a new reason to be excited for skiing.”

[Sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies.]

Find more ski family stories in the OTO archives.

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1. Don’t push beginners too hard or take them on lifts or runs that might scare them or create a negative experience.
2. Rely on the expertise of professional instructors and don’t try to teach your child all by yourself.
3. Choose high-quality, cold-weather clothing. Not staying warm and dry is a deal-breaker. Small hand warmer packets can instantly help a child feel better.
4. Create goals and a plan of action as a family so kids know what to expect for the day; for example, aim to complete X amount of runs before lunch and hot cocoa, then X amount more afterwards.
5. Enjoy snacks and stay hydrated. Stash water bottles and food in a backpack. Bring a special treat, such as chocolate, for a chairlift ride surprise.
6. Let children choose the next run (within reason) or chairlift to ride. Make it a fun choose-your-own-adventure type of day.
7. Ski and ride with your kids’ friends and their parents. Kids motivate each other in ways their parents cannot.
8. Bring two-way handheld radios and stay in communication with each other even if you don’t have cell service.
9. Take plenty of breaks to warm up with hot snacks and drinks in the lodge or another fun, cozy spot like Cy’s Café at 49 Degrees North, which is in a yurt at the bottom of the Sunrise Basin.
10. Upgrade your family ski or snowboard outing into a ski and stay vacation at Silver Mountain’s Morning Star Lodge located in the heart of the resort’s Gondola Village in Kellogg. Your stay includes access to Idaho’s largest indoor water park.  //

[Sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies.]

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Staying Warm & Dry with the Right Clothing

A mix of layers that keep kids warm and dry while out on the slopes is essential. The chairlift ride is the coldest part of winter sports, so make sure your kids have the right winter gear.

• Base layer tops and bottoms made of polyester- or wool-blend fabrics and calf-length socks.
• Mid-layer fleece jacket or wool sweater on cold days.
• Waterproof or water resistant jacket and pants with cuffs that fit snug over boots as an outer layer.
• A warm hat and helmet with a soft lining and adjustable chin-strap.
• Ski goggles for shielding eyes from wind, snow, and injury.
• Weatherproof gloves or mittens with fleece liners and a cinch-closure to secure them around the wrist.
• On super cold days, a face gaiter is a good idea too.

Finding Quality Ski & Snowboard Equipment

Getting your child or yourself the right equipment for skiing or snowboarding means you will need to buy or lease skis or a board, bindings, boots, and poles. Whether you choose new or used gear, it’s best to purchase or lease quality, safe equipment from a local shop with knowledgeable staff who can make sure you get fitted with the right gear. Some shops like Spokane Alpine Haus will even buy back your child’s new ski or snowboard equipment after a couple seasons and apply that toward store credit for new gear.

Lease Programs: Kids can grow like weeds, so thankfully several local shops offer leased ski and snowboard equipment for kids so that you won’t need to buy new gear every year. Spokane Alpine Haus offers leased ski equipment and a buy-back program for kids, and Spokane’s Shred Sports Outlet and the Alpine Shop in Sandpoint also lease kids ski gear. And the Ski Shack in Hayden has both youth ski and snowboard equipment for lease.

Used Equipment: Buying quality used equipment is another alternative to new gear that can save money. Sports Creel in Spokane Valley sells used gear and will buy back your old equipment in some cases. Spokane’s outdoor gear consignment store, Northwest Outdoors, is also a great place to find used ski and snowboard equipment and winter sports apparel for adults and kids. There are also several ski swaps around the Inland Northwest where you can find the largest selection of youth and adult gear and apparel in one spot.

Renting: If your child or teenager is only planning on skiing or snowboarding a couple times this season, renting gear at the ski resort or from a local shop may be the least expensive and easiest way to go. //

[Sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies.]

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Ski & Snowboard Lessons

According to Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park’s Mountain Sports Director Garry Zimmerman, choosing a lesson program depends on what a family can afford, “but the most effective lesson to a complete novice would be a two-hour private one,” he says. This applies to parents and teenagers as well as young children. A private lesson is the best and quickest way for a beginner to begin skiing or snowboarding independently. Zimmerman says 2-hour group lessons are also effective, though students don’t receive as much personalized instruction or one-on-one attention.

For parents seeking to improve their skills, Zimmerman says “Private lessons are the best option for tune-ups and overall building of basic fundamentals, and [at Mt. Spokane] we can arrange a two-person private lesson or a family lesson where we can teach a parent how to school the young ones while getting some personal attention at the same time.”

Zimmerman recommends contacting a local ski school to discuss your family’s needs and goals. Most local ski schools offer a series of multi-week lessons for small children, even for children as young as 3-years-old. A common instructional program that many parents find useful is a group class for kids that includes six to eight lessons on consecutive weekends, with a choice of meeting on either Saturdays or Sundays. “Kids are assigned a coach who will stay with them for the duration of the series, which is a wonderful opportunity to build a great learning partnership with each person,” says Zimmerman. This program is also offered as an adults-only version.

Each ski mountain’s website has detailed information on the lesson programs available. Often it comes down to choosing which mountain your family wants to commit to based on proximity to home or where other friends and family have season passes.

Learn to Ski or Snowboard Programs

There are many different programs for kids and beginner parents to learn to ski or snowboard at local Inland Northwest resorts. Here are a few of the most popular programs, but be sure to check with your favorite mountain to see what other unique offerings they might have.

EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3: The four Spokane-area Ski the Northwest Rockies association affiliated resorts (49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, and Silver Mountain) have a very affordable 3-visit “learn to” ski or snowboard package called EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3. Each mountain’s specific package differs slightly in terms of specific details (e.g., times, amenities, age requirements), fees ($99-$149), and name (Lookout calls its program Learn to Ski or Ride in 3). But all of the programs include the essentials: 3 days of lessons, gear rentals, and chairlift tickets. To enroll, new skiers or snowboarders must be at least 7-years-old, except for at 49° North, which offers this package for skiers as young as 5. Each mountain also provides bonus perks for participants, such as reduced-price or free season passes for the 2018-19 season. Skinwrockies.com.

5th Graders Ski or Snowboard for Free: The Ski the Northwest Rockies association also offers a “5th Grade Ski or Ride Free Passport” at the four affiliated resorts (49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, and Silver Mountain) that allows 5th graders to ski or snowboard three days free at each participating ski area. Details at skinwrockies.com.

Lookout Pass Free Ski School: For 77 seasons, Lookout Pass has been offering an annual Free Ski School program, with ski instruction for children age 6-17 and snowboarding lessons for ages 7-17. Equipment and lift tickets are not provided. Details at Skilookout.com.

Build Skiing and Racing Skills: The Spokane Ski Racing Association is a non-profit ski team operating out of Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park with programs for kids (ages 5 and up) and adults who want to become expert, all-mountain skiers and learn to compete in the Olympic disciplines of alpine ski racing. Learn more about getting into ski racing and the association’s programs and camps at Gossra.org.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort: If you live in Sandpoint or Schweitzer is your home mountain, the mountain offers many different learn-to-ski programs for all ages, including a beginner package called “Ski 4 Free in 3” that includes three days of instruction, equipment rentals, and lift tickets for $165 per child. Visit Schweitzer.com for more info. //

[Sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies.]

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This year we will do our best to build on those skills and start working on turning and stopping. While teaching our son to ski has been one of the most memorable parenting experiences so far, at age 3 and a half, this season he will be old enough for a professional lesson from someone other than mom and dad.

If, like me, you are nowhere near a professional ski instructor, getting your child in lessons as early as possible will help them learn the basics faster and have more fun when you do ski together as a family. A professional instructor may also trigger less drama in your little one when they are challenged or get tired.

All four of the Ski the Northwest Rockies association affiliated resorts (49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, and Silver Mountain) have their own group and private lesson programs for different ages and abilities of skiers and snowboarders.

49 Degrees North Child/Youth Lesson Programs

Here is a sample of the types of youth lessons to choose from at 49 Degrees North. Visit your favorite local resort for details about similar group and private lesson offerings.

• EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3: This complete package for beginners that focuses on building a strong foundation of skiing or snowboarding includes three lift tickets, three group lessons, and three rentals (youth and adult options).
• 49er Youth Camp: Three full days of instruction, fun, and games with coaching for skiers and snowboarders at all levels (ages 5-6).
• Little Nugget Signature Private Lesson: Personalized coaching and a lot of attention for the young skier or snowboarder (ages 2-6, hourly rates).
• Mommy & Me/Daddy & Me Lesson: This program teaches kids to have a good time while they learn and teaches mom and dad the skills they will need to continue skiing or riding with their child after the lesson (ages 2 and up, hourly rates).
• Lil Cub Package: A great package for the little ones that don’t want to ski all day. This all-day package includes daycare, lessons, rental equipment, and lift ticket (ages 2-6).
• Scout Half or Full Day Lesson: Explore the mountain and build new ski or snowboard skills (all levels, ages 5-6).
• Explorer Multi-Week Lesson Program: Four days of personal lessons from the same coach in small classes grouped by ability will help build your child’s confidence and skills (ages 5-6). Participants receive a free season pass at the end of this program!
• More 49 Degrees North lesson info at Ski49n.com. //

[Sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, Silver Mountain, and 49 Degrees North.]

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My two children were each about 2½ years old when my husband and I first took them on the bunny hill. Which means they sucked on pacifiers and dozed on chairlifts. Most stressful for me was helping them off the chairlift. But training gear made it easier. Along with using an “Edgie Wedgie” (ski tip connector), they each wore a CoPilot LIFT Multi-Sport Halter (made by Snowcraft), which is a back harness for hoisting kids on and off chairlifts, picking them up after falls or boosting them forward on flat sections. My family also had success with the CoPilot Ski Trainer. Though there are other styles and brands of ski-training accessories, this version really teaches forward balance and prevents kids from relying on parents to hold them up when they slouch like sacks of potatoes. Unfortunately, there is nothing to ease the thigh pain from snowplowing behind your kid for hours. 

Expert Advice on Teaching Your Kids to Ski

Mt. Spokane Ski Instructor Katrin Pardue has “seen kids go from ‘Never-evers’ to shredding it down Two Face,” she says. Starting kids on skis at age 3-6 is best, even if it’s only minimal experience to “get them familiar with the mountain and how it operates,” Pardue says. “Be patient. Sometimes they need a full day to just understand how to stop. Everyone learns at a different pace…. For that first day I wouldn’t ski more than 3 hours.” Here are a few more tips from Pardue to help you help your kids learn to ski faster and have more fun in the process.

• Creative ways to teach ski posture: “Tell the kids that they have two cups of hot cocoa in their hands and they don’t want to spill it,” she says. “Along with that, they pretend to have a $100 bill in each boot, right in front of their shins. The only way to keep it safe is to push on the front of their boots. It works every time. Both of these will help keep your kids forward on their skis.”
• Chairlift loading and unloading: First, observe with your child how others are doing it; tell him/her “to look at their partner on the chair and grab the pole, and keep ski tips up during the whole ride.” For assisting off the chairlift, especially those littlest ones who can’t even touch the off-ramp, Pardue says to snugly wrap one arm around the child’s arms and upper body to slowly guide off. “For older kiddos, they need to keep their tips up, and once their feet are flat on the ramp, they need to stand up and shoot their arms forward like they are superheroes,” she says.
• Making it magical: Pardue uses whimsical scenarios to motivate young students: “I like to make the mountain a fairy tale. [I tell them] that a unicorn lives in the woods…squirrels run the chairlifts, by running on hamster wheels. Bunnies live underneath the snow on the bunny hill,” she says. “It makes it fun for me and the children eat it up.”
• Making it fun for all: “Parents, give yourself time to ski as well, even if that means slashing a turn through the fresh on the side of the bunny hill.” //

[Sponsored by Ski the NW Rockies, Mt. Spokane, Lookout Pass, 49 Degrees North, and Silver Mountain.]

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Located in the heart of the Gondola Village at Silver Mountain, the Mountain Café serves up coffee and pastries. While his dad gets to work, Vance has a small cubby in the cafe were he sleeps until his father is finished and it’s time to ride. (Matt mentions his son has just about grown out of his morning resting spot.) Waiting for the gondola to open, a cinnamon roll fills Vance’s stomach as his mind drifts to thoughts of riding untouched powder and ripping big smooth turns on his favorite run, Centennial. You can also catch Vance hiking and earning his turns, carrying his Flow board to the 6,205-foot summit of Wardner Peak.

When asked to describe what it’s like to ride powder, Vance replied, “It’s like riding and jumping on pillows, like a soft bed.” Most of Vance’s riding is hunting for fresh powder. When not in search of pow, he’s going off jumps, trying to make his method grab better. This upcoming season he’s hoping to land front flips. During the summer months, Vance spends time in his backyard skating the family mini pipe and mountain biking at Silver Mountain. This Silver Valley local will be one to watch in the years to come. // (T. Ghezzi)

[Feature photo: “Little Ripper, Vance Lazarus” courtesy of T. Ghezzi)

Editor’s Note: In the Oct/Nov print version of this story, a photo of another rider was accidentally included instead of this correct one of Vance Lazarus.

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