Prepare For Your Lesson
What To Expect
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Prep For The Lesson
Best pricing is available online, in advance. To book a group lesson within 24 hours or a private lesson within 48 hours, please visit one of our Ski & Snowboard sales locations or call ahead. Our cancellation policy is available here. Make sure all members of your group have a pass or tickets and rent gear if needed. |
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Early Is On Time
Arrive 30 minutes before the lesson to allow time for check-in. If you or your child are picking up rental gear, arrive 60 minutes early. |
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Check-In For The Day
Check-in for the lesson at the location or base area you selected while booking. |
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Meet Our World-Class Instructors
All group lessons will be sorted by ability level and child lessons will be sorted by age. The instructor will determine a plan for the day based on individual needs or group goals. |
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CONQUER THE MOUNTAIN World-class instructors will help all participants have fun exploring more of the mountain by practicing new techniques at their own pace. All Full Day lessons will include a break for lunch, with food provided only for child lessons. Half Day and Bundled AM / PM lessons will not include lunch. |
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PICK UP YOUR ADVENTURER If you are dropping off a child, make sure to confirm location and pick-up time. The instructor will provide a summary of their lesson and your child's pass at pick-up. |
Gratuities: Instructor gratuity is at your discretion. Please note, a 15-20% gratuity based on the cost of the lesson will make your instructor feel very appreciated and valued.
What To Bring
- Face covering: Face coverings will be required for all Ski & Ride School participants.
- Helmet: The use of helmets is strongly recommended. Children age 14 and under must wear a winter sport protective helmet while participating in ski & ride school, subject to local regulations. In addition, children and teens under age 18 who participate in designated children's classes or programs must wear a helmet. Rental helmets are available at our children's ski school locations for your convenience.
- Warm clothes including water-resistant outerwear, warm calf-high socks, and gloves or mittens.
- Goggles or sunglasses
- Sunscreen is recommended, even on cloudy days.
Where To Go
- When you first arrive, you’ll need to visit the Ski and Ride School tent to collect your lesson packet. This lesson packet will contain lift tickets, parent contact tags, and rental forms for all lesson participants.
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The Ski and Ride School tent is located in front of the main lodge, to the left of the SnowCat.
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Please head directly to the Ski and Ride School tent, bypassing the main lodge ticket lines.
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You MUST visit the Ski and Ride School tent before heading to rentals.
- If you have a minor in a lesson, please review the Child Sickness Policy.
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- If you are renting equipment, you will need to pick it up before your lesson, please arrive at least an hour before the start of your lesson to ensure you don’t miss your start time.
- After visiting the Ski and Ride School tent you’ll be taken to a dedicated line through rental.
- After gearing up, please check-in on the snow surface at least 30 minutes before the start of your lesson. If you arrive late and cannot complete check-in prior to the check-in end time, we may not be able to accommodate you in a lesson for that day.
Pro Tip! Look for the blue flags indicating Ski and Ride School!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Group Lessons can be scheduled on our website. Please submit your request for lessons early as space is limited and they sell out fast. Online reservations must be submitted 48 hours before the lesson.
Epic Mountain Rewards Discounts will be applied automatically during checkout for any qualifying student.
Walkup requests for group lessons will be honored provided there is instructor availability. We suggest that all guests reserve lessons in advance, online lessons reservations will receive a discount off the window rate.
Multi-Week Lessons must be purchased on our website at least 48 hours prior to lesson start. These programs sell out fast, so reserve your spot ASAP.
Multi-Week Programs will not be available via walk-up/same-day signup.
Requests for a Private Lesson can be submitted on our website. Our teams will review each request for instructor availability and will follow-up with you to confirm the exact start time, and pricing.
Walkup requests for private lessons will be honored provided there is instructor availability. We suggest that all guests reserve lessons in advance, online lessons reservations will receive a discount off the window rate.
Epic Mountain Rewards Discounts will be applied automatically during checkout for any qualifying student.
Walkup requests for group lessons will be honored provided there is instructor availability. We suggest that all guests reserve lessons in advance, online lessons reservations will receive a discount off the window rate.
Multi-Week Lessons must be purchased on our website at least 48 hours prior to lesson start. These programs sell out fast, so reserve your spot ASAP.
Multi-Week Programs will not be available via walk-up/same-day signup.
Requests for a Private Lesson can be submitted on our website. Our teams will review each request for instructor availability and will follow-up with you to confirm the exact start time, and pricing.
Walkup requests for private lessons will be honored provided there is instructor availability. We suggest that all guests reserve lessons in advance, online lessons reservations will receive a discount off the window rate.
Group Lesson Participants are able to purchase discounted one-day Lift Tickets as an add-on during the lesson sign-up process. If you purchase this lift add-on in advance, we will happily include your lift ticket in your lesson packet so you can skip the ticket office line.
Multi-Week Participants are able to purchase discounted multi-day Lift Tickets as add-ons during the lesson sign-up process. These multi-day lift add-ons cover your lift access for every week of the program.
Private Lesson Participants will need to purchase a regular priced lift ticket. If you purchase in advance, we will happily include your lift ticket in your lesson packet so you can skip the ticket office line.
A valid Lift Ticket/Season pass is required for every lesson. These tickets include access to both chair lifts, and surface lifts. (Magic Carpets / Tow Rope)
Multi-Week Participants are able to purchase discounted multi-day Lift Tickets as add-ons during the lesson sign-up process. These multi-day lift add-ons cover your lift access for every week of the program.
Private Lesson Participants will need to purchase a regular priced lift ticket. If you purchase in advance, we will happily include your lift ticket in your lesson packet so you can skip the ticket office line.
A valid Lift Ticket/Season pass is required for every lesson. These tickets include access to both chair lifts, and surface lifts. (Magic Carpets / Tow Rope)
Group Lessons Participants are able to purchase discounted Rentals as add-ons during the lesson sign-up process.
Multi-Week Participants are able to purchase discounted multi-day Rentals as add-ons during the lesson sign-up process. These multi-day rental add-ons cover your rental access for every week of the program.
Private Lesson Participants will need to purchase a regular priced rental product. If you purchase in advance, we will happily include your rental voucher in your lesson packet so you can skip the ticket office line.
Helmet use is recommended for everyone, and REQUIRED for all lesson guests 14 and under.
Rental Equipment MUST be returned to the rental department each day before you leave for the night.
Multi-Week Participants are able to purchase discounted multi-day Rentals as add-ons during the lesson sign-up process. These multi-day rental add-ons cover your rental access for every week of the program.
Private Lesson Participants will need to purchase a regular priced rental product. If you purchase in advance, we will happily include your rental voucher in your lesson packet so you can skip the ticket office line.
Helmet use is recommended for everyone, and REQUIRED for all lesson guests 14 and under.
Rental Equipment MUST be returned to the rental department each day before you leave for the night.
Check out our First Timers Guide for information about what to wear. If you happen to forget anything, stop by the Retail Shop in the main lodge for the essentials!
All lessons offerings are two-hours long. Warming breaks are provided at the discretion of the instructor.
No, there are no make-up dates if your child cannot make their lesson. The lessons are date specific and nonrefundable. If Hidden Valley closes for any reason, we will contact you with options and next steps.
Parents are encouraged to leave their child with the instructor in order to have the full attention of the child during the lesson. If you would like to briefly watch the beginning of the lesson, please stay on the opposite side of the fence and watch from a distance. Foot traffic up onto the mountain surface will not be permitted. If you would like to take photos of your children and their instructor, we ask that you do that before/after the lesson.
When you are signing up for a lessons, we will ask what level skier/snowboarder you are. This helps us put you with the right instructor and class for your needs. If you aren’t sure which level your child is, or they are in between levels, please choose a lower level. Our trained instructors will move them up when they are ready.
Ski
Level 0 - First Timer: New to the sport, Never tried it before
Level 1 - Beginner: Spent a few hours on the learning hill, Can successfully put on and take off equipment, Can move around on flat terrain, Comfortable gliding and stopping on easiest learning terrain, Can sometimes make simple direction changes while sliding
Level 2 - Strong Beginner: Comfortable gliding and making turns on beginner terrain, Can make "wedge turns" easily and may even begin parallel turns
Level 3 - Intermediate: Successfully loads and unloads chairlift, Can ski parallel with occasional wedge, Can safely and confidently complete all green terrain and some blue terrain
Level 4 - Strong Intermediate: Can ski parallel consistently and confidently, Can begin to vary size and types of turns, Can safely and confidently complete all beginner and intermediate terrain
Level 5 and 6 - Advanced: Comfortable on variable snow conditions, Comfortable using poles to link turns, Can safely and confidently ski all blue terrain and some advanced terrain
Snowboard
Level 0 - First Timer: New to the sport, Never tried it before
Level 1 - Beginner: Spent a few hours on the learning hill, Can successfully put on and take off equipment, Can move around on flat terrain, Comfortable gliding and stopping on easiest learning terrain, Can sometimes make simple direction changes while sliding
Level 2 - Strong Beginner: Comfortable gliding and making turns on beginner terrain, Can link turn heel to toe easily
Level 3 - Intermediate: Successfully loads and unloads chairlift Board link heel to toe turns, Can safely and confidently complete all green terrain and some blue terrain
Level 4 - Strong Intermediate: Board link heel to toe turns, Can begin to vary size and types of turns, Can safely and confidently complete all beginner and intermediate terrain
Level 5 and 6 - Advanced: Comfortable on variable snow conditions, Can safely and confidently ski all blue terrain and some advanced terrain
Ski
Level 0 - First Timer: New to the sport, Never tried it before
Level 1 - Beginner: Spent a few hours on the learning hill, Can successfully put on and take off equipment, Can move around on flat terrain, Comfortable gliding and stopping on easiest learning terrain, Can sometimes make simple direction changes while sliding
Level 2 - Strong Beginner: Comfortable gliding and making turns on beginner terrain, Can make "wedge turns" easily and may even begin parallel turns
Level 3 - Intermediate: Successfully loads and unloads chairlift, Can ski parallel with occasional wedge, Can safely and confidently complete all green terrain and some blue terrain
Level 4 - Strong Intermediate: Can ski parallel consistently and confidently, Can begin to vary size and types of turns, Can safely and confidently complete all beginner and intermediate terrain
Level 5 and 6 - Advanced: Comfortable on variable snow conditions, Comfortable using poles to link turns, Can safely and confidently ski all blue terrain and some advanced terrain
Snowboard
Level 0 - First Timer: New to the sport, Never tried it before
Level 1 - Beginner: Spent a few hours on the learning hill, Can successfully put on and take off equipment, Can move around on flat terrain, Comfortable gliding and stopping on easiest learning terrain, Can sometimes make simple direction changes while sliding
Level 2 - Strong Beginner: Comfortable gliding and making turns on beginner terrain, Can link turn heel to toe easily
Level 3 - Intermediate: Successfully loads and unloads chairlift Board link heel to toe turns, Can safely and confidently complete all green terrain and some blue terrain
Level 4 - Strong Intermediate: Board link heel to toe turns, Can begin to vary size and types of turns, Can safely and confidently complete all beginner and intermediate terrain
Level 5 and 6 - Advanced: Comfortable on variable snow conditions, Can safely and confidently ski all blue terrain and some advanced terrain