Last year, when it came to my kids and skiing, the student surpassed the teacher on the slopes. It definitely scared me a little when my boys finally both hit a point where they zoomed past me and now ski a lot better than I will ever be able to.
It was the year we really invested time into getting them both lessons and learning to ski the right way. Getting beyond my level of skiing probably isn’t any great feat, but still. My level is that I can pretty much get down anything on the east coast but I don’t particularly WANT to ski down the black diamonds. My husband’s an expert skier and still enjoys the moguls and thrills of the tougher runs so thankfully he will be able to hang with our boys a lot longer than I will.
This year, we plan on skiing a lot this season and we do all of our skiing in Pennsylvania.
4th & 5th Graders Ski for FREE!
As we live here in PA, that’s all we’ve done with our kids thus far simply out of convenience. We really took advantage last year of the local ski resorts & deals to be had skiing here. Nate was in 4th grade so signed up for the 4th & 5th Grade Kids Ski for Free in PA program and will be doing so again this season with his being in 5th this year.
You basically fill out a form online (or find a pamphlet at your local ski store) – send in a photo, proof of age (report card worked for us) and some additional info and you’ll get a little booklet in the mail that looks a lot like a passport that is chock full of coupons for FREE skiing for those kids at most of the resorts in PA. We used coupons for Jack Frost, Bear Creek and Montage last year – saving up a TON of money on lift tickets!
Here’s Nate with his Snowpass booklet last year:
Note: You do NOT have to be a PA resident to get the PA Snowpass! I really think the Snowpass is the best kept secret for any skiing family in the mid-Atlantic area – it’s not only for Pennsylvanians but for anyone nearby. New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland folks – take note of this awesome deal! It’s so worth it – lift tickets for a family of 4 can really add up so for us, having one ski free all last year saved hundreds of dollars.
PA’s a big state too – there are ski resorts ALL over so you don’t have to hit the same place every time. You can check out this handy PA Ski Resort Map to see which one is the closest to you. Like I said – we’ve skied many on the eastern side of the state but central PA and western PA has some amazing resorts to ski as well.
Great deal for Beginners
First Timer? PA offers a First Time Ski & Snowboard package – there’s great prices to be found here that include lift ticket and lesson prices in one bargain price.
Ski Mid-Week
If you can get out of work or your regularly scheduled life on a weekday, the prices are nice and the runs are less crowded. You can find coupons that you can print out for killer discounts on the PA deals page.
Happy skiing!
Disclaimer: This has been a sponsored post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
That’s such a cool program!
we need to get out on the slopes with the kids — we’ve never been and they ask us over and over again. looks like fun!
That is just FANTASTIC….especially since it applies to us out-of-staters….I have been DYING to get my kids skiing – what a perfect opportunity and you just aren’t that far away 🙂
Love that, such a great incentive to get kids out there!
So amazing!! What an awesome program!!! xo
wow! THanks! I needed a reason to be excited about winter!! xoxo
Such a great program. Skiing is the best family sport!