Guide to Lessons at Aspen Snowmass
You can't go wrong with our Pros. We will guide you through the best terrain for your skill level and help you to advance your skiing ability while having fun.
First Off, Know Your Level
Ski school instructor at Aspen Snowmass
Skiing
Find A LessonGreen Zone Skier
Level 1: “I’ve never skied.”
Level 2: “I can slide, slightly change direction, and come to a stop.” – Green terrain
Level 3: “I can link basic/wedge turns together without stopping on the easiest green terrain. My turns are usually all the same size.” – Green terrain
Level 4: “I am linking turns together smoothly on all green terrain. I can make narrow and wide turns” – All green and easiest blue.
Blue Zone Skier
Level 5: “I am skiing mostly parallel in a couple different turn sizes and shapes on most blue terrain. I am beginning to use my poles and can hockey stop in both directions.” - All green terrain and most blue terrain.
Level 6: “I am skiing parallel and confidently on all groomed blue terrain. I am exploring un-groomed trails and the easiest bumps. I usually make the same turn sizes and shapes on un-groomed trails.” – All groomed blues, easy blue bumps, easy groomed blacks.
Level 7: “I am able to make parallel turns with a pole plant on all blue and black terrain. I am exploring un-groomed black terrain, including bumps. I can change my turn sizes and shapes for the different challenges.” – All blue terrain and most black terrain
Black Zone Skier
We recommend clinics
Level 8: “I am making different turns sizes and shapes, including rhythmic short turns and large carved turns, on all blue and black terrain (groomed or un-groomed). I feel comfortable exploring harder blacks and easier double black terrain.” – All black and easy double blacks terrain.
Level 9: “I can ski the entire mountain and am working on skiing faster, smoother, difficult lines, and learning different strategies in the hardest terrain and snow conditions.” – Entire mountain.
Snowboarding
Find a LessonGreen Zone Snowboarder
We recommend lessons
Level 2: “I have experienced sliding, traversing both directions, and stopping.” – Green terrain
Level 3: “I can control my speed while moving across the hill, and can stop with confidence. I am starting to turn in both directions.” – Green terrain
Level 4: “I can link skidded turns on green terrain.” – All green terrain
Blue Zone Snowboarder
We recommend clinics
Level 5: “I am confident on all green terrain and working on easy blue terrain.” – All green terrain and easiest blue terrain
Level 6: “I am riding most blue terrain, and exploring switch riding, easy bumps, and freestyle.” – All blue terrain
Level 7: “I am able to ride all blue terrain in varied conditions and working on easy black terrain, including bumps, trees, and terrain parks.” – All blue terrain and groomed black terrain.
Black Zone Snowboarder
We recommend clinics
Level 8: “I am confident performing dynamic turns on varied terrain and snow conditions, including trees, steeps and powder.” – All black terrain and easier double-black diamond terrain
Level 9: “I am confident riding the entire mountain. I am working on a variety of tactics and techniques that will take me to the next level.” – Entire mountain
Private or Group Lesson?
Book Your Lesson Today
Whether you're an absolute first-timer or a seasoned veteran, there are always new adventures to pursue at Aspen Snowmass — and our Ski Pros will help you unlock your potential to enjoy this sport even more. Ready to hit the slopes? Explore all of our Ski & Snowboard Lesson options and book your lesson today.
Four Mountains of Learning
Aspen Mountain
Aspen Mountain’s terrain has hosted World Cup Championships and can be quite challenging in certain sections. It’s long blue groomers are perfect for honing your turns with a lesson, while advanced skiers relish the chance to learn how to elevate their skills to expert level on the mountain’s steeps, glades and bumps. Note: without any green runs, beginner-level lessons are not available at Aspen Mountain.
Aspen Highlands
Aspen Highlands upper stretches offer big-mountain skiing and riding in an in-bounds environment, while its mid- and lower sections deliver long green and blue groomers, as well as some black bumps and steeps. This variety of terrain makes it a perfect place to take your skiing and riding to the next level with a lesson. Due to terrain options, beginner level lessons are not available at Aspen Highlands.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is ideally suited for a variety of lessons: easy groomers for beginners, steeper blues for advancing to intermediate level, exceptional terrain parks for shredders of all ages and abilities, and a handful of black-diamond runs, especially in the Tiehack section. At the base, you’ll find The Hideout — an integrated play-and-learning area for children ages 2 ½ to 6 years old.
Snowmass
Snowmass is a huge mountain with a huge variety of terrain. Because of this, the terrain is ideally suited for all lesson types. Here you will also find the Treehouse Kids Adventure Center located at the base, and dedicated beginner and child lesson areas at Assay Hill and Elk Camp Meadows (including a surface lift for easy loading). Skiers and riders looking to improve their terrain park skills will enjoy instruction at the Makaha and Lowdown Parks.
Additional Guidance on Lessons
Aspen Snowmass' Private Lessons
Aspen Snowmass' Private Lessons
Want to get the inside scoop on the best terrain and conditions? Take a private lesson. Not only will our Ski Pros help improve your technique, they'll show you a side of the mountain that only an insider would know.