Industry News
The ski school at Brundage Mountain Resort, ID, has been nominated for the 2023 USA Today 10 Best People’s Choice Award. Brundage Mountain’s Ski + Ride School is one of 20 North American ski schools selected by a panel of ski and travel industry experts and the public will have a four weeks to vote for their Top 10. Nominees were announced on Monday, October 23, 2023, and voting for the competition is now open. Members of the public can submit one vote per day now through Monday, November 20, 2023, at 10:00 am.
The USA Today panel praised the Brundage Tiny Tracks program for offering an innovative approach to tailor the private coaching experience to the individual needs of the youngest learners, “The Ski and Ride School at Brundage Mountain Resort welcomes skiers and snowboarders ages 3 to 6 to enroll in their Tiny Tracks lessons, and they even allow parents who can already ski to join the lesson at no cost,” noted the panel.
This is the independently owned ski resort’s fourth nomination in the People’s Choice contest. Brundage Mountain won Top 10 honors in the category of North America’s Best Ski Resorts for the last three years in a row, earning the top spot for a US resort in 2020.
“Our past results in this contest prove that Brundage Mountain’s focus on providing a consistent, family-friendly experience is resonating with today’s skiers and riders,” says Brundage Mountain General Manager, Ken Rider.
“The fact that our learning programs have been called out specifically is very exciting. Giving first time skiers and riders an exceptional experience is the key to getting the next generation excited about the sport, and our instructors and trainers have worked incredibly hard to build skills and programs that are both fun and effective.”
Brundage Mountain’s Kids Club program has taught generations of young riders to love winter sports, and the resort’s 4 x 4 Learn to Ski + Ride program has been celebrated for offering a series of affordable private lessons to jumpstart key skills and build confidence for learners ages 7 & up. That program rewards those who complete it with an unlimited season pass for the remainder of the season. “Our learning programs offer a lot of value,” says Rider. “But it’s the passion and dedication of our instructors and trainers that really make a difference. Our Ski + Ride School works hard on training and safety and most of all, offering a top-notch experience to each and every guest.”
Several Brundage Ski + Ride staff members have been recognized by the Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) organization for excellence in recent years, including Snowsports Director, Colleen Morishita, who was named Instructor of the Year. “That sets a high standard for the entire program,” says Rider.
Brundage Mountain’s Ski + Ride School also benefits from exceptional learning terrain, which is serviced by the Easy Rider conveyor lift, the Easy Street Triple Chair and the Bear Chair Triple in an area known as Beartopia. Beartopia encompasses 16 different runs, three small terrain parks and an array of playful experiences that keep kids (and adult learners) engaged and challenged while they build their confidence. The naturally divided terrain allows instructors to help first-timers master fundamental skills on gentle slopes before progressing to a slightly more challenging area.
Brundage Mountain Resort continues to invest in new and upgraded facilities and terrain. The Easy Street learning area has been recontoured for the upcoming 2023-24 winter season in order to maximize terrain sensations and give beginners even more options on their learning journey. The new Mountain Adventure Center, set to open in Winter 2024-25, will feature modern, dedicated space for a new Mountain Sports School, designed specifically to meet the needs of Brundage Mountain’s year-round coaching and learning programs.
