I learned to snowboard as an adult and, in doing so, eschewed the common practice of trying to do so at the beginning of the winter season.
Learning to ride can hurt, especially when you bonk your head — helmeted or not — against the hard snow in the cold and gray of winter. So someone pointed out: Why not learn to ride when the snow is softer? Let’s go when the temperatures are on the rise. And how about giving it a shot when the days are longer.
So that’s what I did, waiting until the post-February vacation weeks when there were greater chances of softer snow, like corn, to ease the aches.
It worked, I think.
Whether you are a first-timer or someone looking to raise your skill level beyond intermediate, there are a number of opportunities to do so. Of course, group and private lessons are always offered, but some special events in the coming weeks may be the ticket to learning new alpine and Nordic skills as winter eventually gives way to spring. There are also many events focused just on women.
Loon Mountain, in Lincoln, N.H., has a couple of opportunities for women to up their games on snow. The Feb. 27-28 Women’s Performance Camp is a two-day session run by women for women who are at least intermediate skiers looking to improve their skills. Sponsored by Volkl, the weekend features 12 hours of coaching, video analysis and chances to demo the latest equipment.
A similar philosophy is contained in the March 14-15 Beyond the Boundaries snowboard camp for women. Staffed by professional snowboarders, participants will learn new tricks in a private, custom-honed terrain park while also gaining access to Loon’s progression of terrain parks. A morning yoga session is included.
Both estrogen and testosterone are welcomed during the March 7-8 First Class Beginner’s Weekend at Loon. Whether skiing or snowboarding, newcomers get an intensive two days culminating in a free pair of skis, boots and bindings for skiers and snowboard, or boots and bindings for boarders.
Waterville Valley is hosting a women’s Nordic clinic on March 7. The event is being billed as a day of ski instruction and so much more, from beginners to advanced skiers looking to brush up on their techniques. The day includes a yoga warm-up, instruction, lunch and a wine and wax clinic. A high-performance rental package is needed.
Learning to cross country ski or picking up pointers doesn’t have to be far from home. Just a reminder that every Saturday from Dartmouth’s Oak Hill Touring Center, there’s a classical group ski lesson from 9:30-11 a.m. and a skate group lesson served up from 1:30-3 p.m. On Sundays, the skate clinic is in the morning and the classic is in the afternoon.
Stratton’s Women’s Camp, on March 18-20, is a midweek chance to get away and enhance your skiing or riding skills. The event looks to build confidence for all levels of snow lovers with personalized coaching, fitness, fun and socializing. The camp is guided by Stratton’s top woman instructors.
What better way to beat the bumps than at the Beast? Killington’s got a two-day mogul weekend on March 7-8 for skiers ages 18 and up. The weekend features five hours of daily coaching by specialized mogul instructors, whether you’re a newbie or looking to get a faster line.
But wait — there’s more. If you wait until March 21-22, you can join a mogul camp with Olympian Donna Weinbrecht. The affable World Cup racer will help participants prepare for the popular Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge, which takes place on April 4.
New at Okemo is a private group family lesson. Up to six can learn to fine-tune skills with an instructor, explore the mountains and get insider info on best terrain to tackle. Okemo recommends a group of similar ability. Instruction will take place on terrain matching with the least-skilled participant in the group.
Black diamond skiers and free-heelers can step up during the three-lesson Advanced Series at Sugarbush. On Saturdays from Feb. 29-March 14, the all-star cast of instructors shows the group how to get the most from expert terrain, proving it’s never too late in the season to learn.
So learn something new on the snowy trails.
Marty Basch can be reached at marty.basch@gmail.com.