February 2016

Is this the year you learn to ski?

For adults who didn’t grow up skiing, life in Rochester can be more than a little intimidating. It’s easy to feel like you’re missing out when your friends and neighbors are spending so many nights and weekends on the mountain. And the peer pressure! Whether you marry into a skiing family or work with a mountain crowd, you’re sure to feel the heat if you don’t get out in the cold.

You can do this!

If you stand anywhere in Upstate New York, you can throw a snowball and hit someone who will admit that learning to ski — especially after age 21 — is hard. Adult ski lessons are full of grown-ups feeling totally jealous of the brigades of 2-year-olds flying down the mountain in their mini Patagonia jackets. But if you can look past your fear and the awkwardness of strapping on skis for the first time, you’ll find out that it’s just a skill that comes with practice. There’s a whole population of people who didn’t know how to ski and are super happy that they learned. To help you make the transition, one local mountain has devised a genius way for adults to learn to ski and get outfitted with gear without breaking the bank.

It takes a pro.

Having your spouse/kid/in-laws teach you to ski is a terrible idea. You’re not likely to ever feel comfortable or confident if you take that route, but you are likely to suddenly have a whole lot to fight about. At Bristol Mountain, you can learn to ski — until you actually feel steady on skis, from real professionals — affordably. Once you’re in the program, you get your own skis and bindings (to keep!), and all you have to buy is your boots. This is a real thing, and it’s called the VIP Gold Learn to Ski program. Now, the program is only for genuine newbies ages 13 and up, and skis are limited to the first 400 participants, but those who qualify get an amazing deal. The whole shebang only costs $299.

The VIP Gold Learn to Ski program includes…

•    Four 8-hour lift tickets
•    Four 8-hour ski & boot rentals
•    One 5-Hour lesson
•    Three 90-minute lessons
•    A $15 Gift Card for lunch
•    Free limited-edition Elan skis
•    20% OFF at Bristol Ski & Sport
•    A huge discount on a rest-of-the-season pass upon completion

Welcome to the club!

Whether you’re new to Upstate New York or have been resisting the pressure to learn to ski your whole life, the VIP Gold Learn to Ski Program is an incredible way to gain the skills you need to hit the slopes. It’s an unbeatable deal where you’ll work with great instructors and access to a wide variety of terrain. When you’ve completed your lessons , you’ll be able to join your friends at apres ski with the triumphant feeling of having conquered your fears. What’s not to love? Make this your year!