Lessons & Education
Skee School • backcountry 101 • Jr Ski Patrol
Skee school
- Lesson Length: 90 minutes
- We strongly ask that bookings for 2 or more students under 18 are not more than 2 years apart in age.
Skiing and Snowboarding are a great way to stay active during our long snowy months and help to beat those winter blues for children and adults alike!
Ski and Snowboard lessons are offered as a group (open to others joining) or as a private lesson and are taught by one of our certified instructors. Anyone under the age of 18 will require a guardian’s signature in order to attend their lesson. Ski/Snowboard equipment is NOT included; students may bring their own or rent equipment ahead of time. Helmets are required for Skee School lessons. If you do not have a helmet you can rent one during your lesson. Students accompanied by an instructor will have lift access during their lesson only and will require the additional purchase of a day pass if they are interested in using the lift after the lesson.
Level 2: Beginner, can make basic snowplow turns, start to control speed and direction on gentle slopes, comfortable on magic carpet lifts.
Level 3: Developing skier, can link basic turns on green runs, starting to use poles, gaining confidence on chairlifts.
Level 5: Intermediate-advanced, confident skiing parallel turns on most blue runs, can initiate turns with pole plant, exploring more varied terrain.
Level 6: Advanced skier, comfortable on all blue runs and some groomed black terrain, can make different turn shapes, starting to tackle bumps.
Level 8: Highly skilled expert, can ski all mountain terrain with speed and control, comfortable with challenging lines and features.
Level 9: Elite skier, able to ski any terrain with exceptional technical ability, can adapt to all snow conditions and perform advanced tricks.
Click on a lesson type below to view lessons.
$90 for first student
$45 for ea. additional student
Max Clients: 3
Receive private instruction from Skeetawk’s Skee School instructors to improve ski ability. Available for all abilities and ages.*No refunds or rebooking 24 hours prior to your reservation date.
$90 for first student
$45 for ea. additional student
Max Clients: 3
Receive private instruction from Skeetawk’s Skee School instructors to improve snowboarding ability. Available for all abilities and ages.*No refunds or rebooking 24 hours prior to your reservation date.
$200 per person for series of 3 lessons
This 3-lesson progressive learning program is open to skiers who are looking to increase their skills on the mountain. This course is designed to provide a rewarding learning environment while teaching the fundamentals of proper skiing. Each 1.5-hour lesson will build on skills learned during the previous lesson. Please check the guide below to determine your skill level so you can enroll in the appropriate class.
Ages 9-12
$200 per person for series of 3 lessons
This 3-lesson progressive learning program is open to snowboarders who are looking to increase their skills on the mountain. This course is designed to provide a rewarding learning environment while teaching the fundamentals of proper boarding. Each 1.5-hour lesson will build on skills learned during the previous lesson.
$45 for ea. additional student*
*please inquire in advance for group lessons
*No refunds or re-bookings within 24 hours of your lesson.
If you have specific questions, please email rentals@skeetawk.com or call 907-746-PASS (7277)
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Backcountry 101: AVALANCHE AWARENESS & Avalanche Rescue
As part of Skeetawk's mission to "…promote safe outdoor recreation and education", we have continued to expand our Backcountry 101 experience to bring you two American Avalanche Association–accredited courses: Avalanche Awareness (previously Backcountry 101) and the newly added Avalanche Rescue course. Click on the dropdown boxes below to read more about each course. Book BOTH courses and save $100!
• CLASS LENGTH: 1 full field day, 8:00am — 4:00pm approx.
• CLASS COST: $250
• DATES: Feb 9, Mar 9, Apr 6
*Combined course only
BOOK NOW •or• BOOK BOTH COURSES & SAVE $100
The Avalanche Awareness Course (formerly “Backcountry 101”) is geared towards aspiring backcountry travelers ages 16+ new to backcountry travel and don’t know how to start. This hands-on, on-mountain introductory course will take students up to mid-mountain via the cabin snowcat and introduce the use of backcountry rescue gear, recognising avalanche terrain, red flags of snow instability, and backcountry travel techniques. This course does not take the place of an Avalanche Level 1 course, but makes a good first stepping stone.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After successful completion of the course, the student can:
1. Describe the equipment necessary for winter backcountry travel
2. Find and interpret local mountain weather forecast and avalanche advisory information
3. Understand how to build a trip plan and how to break it into sections
4. Use a systematic way to check a beacons function
5. Identify green, yellow, and red light terrain
6. Perform and interpret traveling test and what data those test can provide
7. Recognize that most fatal avalanche accidents were triggered by people involved and that preparation and training prior to backcountry travel can save lives
This course is accredited through the American Avalanche Association
• CLASS LENGTH: 1 full field day, 8:00am – 4:00pm approx.
• CLASS COST: $300
• DATES: Feb 23, Mar 23, Apr 13
*Combined course only
BOOK NOW •or• BOOK BOTH COURSES & SAVE $100
The Avalanche Rescue Course is new this ’24-’25 season and is a great supplement to the Avalanche Awareness Course. The class is geared toward backcountry travelers ages 16+ who have a season of backcountry travel or who have already taken the Avalanche Awareness Course and would like to learn the ins and outs of avalanche rescue.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After successful completion of the course, the student can:
1. Learn to anticipate & recognize avalanche terrain
2. Group communication & travel safety protocols
3. Understand the priorities/process to take if involved in an avalanche
4. Demonstrate effective use of search and rescue techniques with 1 and 2 beacons burials
5. Demonstrate effective methods to use in beaconless burials
6. Describe likely anticipated medical issues of avalanche victims
7. Understand the need for further medical training/knowledge
8. Understand how to request EMS resources & what to expect with larger ICS responses
This course is accredited through the American Avalanche Association
• Ski or Snowboard gear (touring setup is greatly encouraged but not required)
• Snowshoes if you don’t have a touring setup
• Backpack
• Lunch/snacks and water
• Avalanche Beacon*
• Avalanche Probe*
• Packable Shovel*
*Avalanche Kits available for rent for $35/day
“[Avalanche Awareness] was the perfect course for me to understand how to use my gear and how to start touring in the backcountry, as well as begin to understand avalanche hazard without the intensity of a full on avalanche course. Highly recommend to anyone who just got a touring setup and is wondering what their next step is. Fallon even helped me figure out how to work my boots and fit my skins!”
“It was fun, recommended if you plan on doing outback backpacking in avalanche terrain.”
“Learning about how to classify areas as red, yellow, or green; snow tests; the beacon practice with real-time feedback. These make me feel a lot more comfortable recreating around snowy mountains and knowing what to start looking for.“
*Avalanche Kits available for rent for $35/day
**No refunds or rebooking 72 hours prior to your reservation date.
If you have specific questions, please email info@skeetawk.com or call 907-746-PASS (7277)
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Jr Ski Patrol
- Class Length: 4 — 5 hours
- Class Cost: $50 per student
Want to know if you or your child has what it takes to be a future ski patroller? Skeetawk hosts Jr. Patrol events where youth grouped by age (6-12 and 13-17) will have the opportunity to shadow professional ski patrollers on the mountain. Jr. Patrollers will learn mountain set up tasks and further their understanding of necessary patroller skills such as first aid, patient transport, and avalanche safety. Intermediate or higher Ski or Snowboard ability is required, and parents/guardians must sign a waiver for the youth to participate.
*No refunds or rebooking 72 hours prior to your sign up date.
If you have specific questions, please email info@skeetawk.com or call 907-746-PASS (7277)
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