Friday, January 11, 2019, was the snow sports industry’s first National Learn to Ski or Snowboard Day at resorts throughout the US. Many resorts offered special deals for newcomers to take beginner lessons from professional instructors as a way to celebrate the sports. It was part of the industry’s annual Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month.
Organizers estimate that participating resorts provided approximately 6,200 beginner lessons on that day. Results are based on information reported by resorts that signed up on the www.learntoskiandsnowboard.org web site as well as others that participated but did not sign up on the web site.
“We wanted to create a special day that would shine a spotlight on taking beginner lessons from professional instructors and to set an industry record for the most beginner lessons provided in a single day at U.S. locations,” explained Mary Jo Tarallo, director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard (Month)/Bring a Friend initiative. “We tried for a Guinness World Record in 2016 but their requirements are strict and not really suited for compliance by multiple locations in four different time zones. So, we decided to do our own thing.” The Guinness try generated about 6,000 lessons but no official record.
This year, Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain reported the most lessons specifically related to the special promotion with 302. Chestnut Mountain (Ill) reported 275, Wachusett Mountain (MA) tallied about 250, Ski Butternut (MA) reported 237, Mt Hood Meadows (OR) reported 235 and Mountain Creek (NJ) had 224,
Ski Utah organized a group of 322 school children that took lessons at five different Utah resorts – Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Deer Valley and Park City.
“Resorts reported a wide range of participation and that was fine,” said Raelene Davis, VP of marketing for Ski Utah and the organizer for the state’s youth approach. “The idea here is to mobilize industry partners around a common theme and to provide a fun day when newcomers to our sports can learn something new”.
The overall total includes all beginner lessons taught on January 11.
