Denver Family Photographer | First ski trip

Denver Family Photographer

First ski trip

I was thrilled to find out that Colorado Ski Country USA provides 5th and 6th graders the opportunity for free ski passes and a free lesson with equipment rental each year.  This was the push we needed to hit the slopes! We applied for my 5th grader’s passport and booked his free lesson at Loveland Ski School.  Being an Arizona girl, I do not have much experience with winter sports, so I thought I would share my experience for anyone else new to skiing in Colorado.
Along with my 5th grader’s free lesson, we decided to book his 2nd grade brother a lesson. My husband and I decided to forgo our own ski experience this time to focus on getting the boys on the slopes.  We didn’t want to invest much in the middle of February on winter gear. The boys each own a winter coat and my youngest has snow pants. I was lucky enough to find another pair of Columbia snow pants at a children’s resale shop the day before our adventure.  We were not sure what the rental gear included, so we did buy them each a pair of ski goggles. We also purchased heavy weight thermal pants for a base layer. In addition they wore a pair of athletic pants, long sleeved athletic shirts and sweatshirts. Hats, waterproof gloves, and warm socks came along too!
We arrived to Loveland Ski Area at 8:15am for their 10:00am lesson.  You can park at the Loveland Basin and take a quick shuttle down or park in the smaller Loveland Valley parking lot. Definitely arrive early if you are going on a weekend or holiday. We checked in for their lesson and were directed to the rental area.  After being fitted for boots, we received helmets (and could have rented goggles), and skis. No poles are needed for beginners!  We then had a snack in the cafeteria (you could easily pack your own food as well). Before long it was time for the boys to start their lesson.
We dropped them off to their lesson and they were separated by age. They started with some basic instructions before getting a chance to ride the Magic Carpet…a little escalator that quickly took them up to the beginner’s slope. My 5th grader then advanced to riding the chair lift (and I imagine on a less busy day, my 2nd grader would have too). The lesson included lunch and a snack. My husband and I could have easily had our own ski day. We decided to rent snow shoes, which were inexpensive and we actually had a great time! By 3:30pm, I thought the boys would be tired and cranky, but they were excited and begging to go again soon! I can’t wait!
Leave me your favorite ski tip in the comments!
 
Denver Family Photographer

Julie Livermore Photography specializes in newborn, family, child, maternity, birthday, baby and first year photography in Denver, Colorado and surrounding areas including but not limited to Boulder and Broomfield.

WELCOME

Hello, I am Julie. Wife, mom of two boys, photographer, adventurer and coffee lover. I live in Colorado and never run out of places to hike, explore, and play with my family. Some of our most recent adventures include white water rafting, tent camping, and exploring Rocky Mountain National Park.