Skiing can be a daunting prospect for beginners. Aside from the idea of flying down a mountain with sticks or boards strapped to ones feet, one also need to be prepared to maneuver lift lines, rental shops, and more. As a Colorado native, I learned to ski 31 years ago, and have worked at ski resorts in my adulthood as well. Here are my picks for the top five ski resorts for beginners.
1. Wolf Creek Ski Area caters to beginners with a full 20% of its slopes dedicated to beginner runs. I was a ski lift operator and attendant at Wolf Creek Ski Area in Colorado for four years, and the Nova beginner lift was my area of expertise. The Nova run is short and wide, with a gentle slope. It’s steep enough to not get stuck at a halt, but not so steep that one gets out of control, and it’s wide enough to allow plenty of room for maneuvering. The lift operators are experienced and patient with beginners and are happy to slow the lift as needed. (However, adult beginners may benefit from staying on the normal speed when unloading, as the momentum is beneficial.) In addition, Wolf Creek Ski Area offers their Magic Carpet (basically a conveyer belt) for its youngest beginners. Wolf Creek’s small size is great for beginners who are also intimidated by big crowds and the unfamiliar skiing culture.
2. Copper Mountain has set aside a full 21% of its area for beginner runs, one of the largest beginner areas of all. The geography of Copper Mountain naturally separates the different level s of skiers, which means that beginners don’t have to worry about getting plowed down by experts on their way to a double black run. Instead, beginners will be around other beginners (and their helpers) which leads to a fun sense of camaraderie and community among strangers. This benefit makes the crowds well worth it and places Copper Mountain firmly in the top five ski resort for beginners.
3. Almost 15% of Breckenridge Ski Area is comprised of beginner slopes, and they have 8 magic carpets for the kids. Picturesque and quaint, Breckenridge is a popular tourist town, but its close proximity to Denver means that the weekend crowds can be overwhelming. (I can vouch for this from personal experience.) However, the sheer variety of beginner slopes and lifts earns Breckenridge a spot in the top five ski areas for beginners.
4. While Snowmass dedicates only 0.6% of its area to beginner slopes, the trails are lovely to learn on and the instruction is great. Their “Beginner’s Magic” program helps new skiers build a great foundation for a lifetime of skiing. Their teaching method promotes confidence, peak performance, and mountain awareness. My childhood lessons at Snowmass will stay with me forever.
5. Angel Fire resort rounds out my list of the top five ski resorts for beginners. The only one not in Colorado, New Mexico’s Angel Fire is located near historic Taos, NM. Their ski/snowboard school philosophy focuses on FUN! While they acknowledge the challenges inherent in learning to ski and snowboard, the instructors emphasize that if you’re not having fun anyway, they aren’t doing their jobs! This positive attitude and their enthusiasm for beginners put Angel Fire on the list of the top five ski resorts for beginners.
