Smugglers' Notch Vermont®
America’s Family Resort℠The best value for Family Fun... anywhere!
"Great challenge, something for everyone."
Lessons & Programs
for Adults and Children Award-Winning Children's Programs, Lessons & ActivitiesAdult Lesson Programs Private Lesson Programs Vermonter Lessons & Programs Adaptive Programs Determine Your Ability Level
for Adults and Children Award-Winning Children's Programs, Lessons & ActivitiesAdult Lesson Programs Private Lesson Programs Vermonter Lessons & Programs Adaptive Programs Determine Your Ability Level
Smugglers' Snow Sport University Programs for Adults
Lessons for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and much more!
SSU programs are available December 9, 2011 - April 8, 2012
View our Winter Adult SSU Programs!
Far from the usual "skill drills," SSU specializes in learning by doing. Our ski and snowboard instructors — many of whom return year after year — are pros at turning learning into an engaging, fun adventure. They'll help you develop your expertise on our three mountains, from the gentle slopes of Morse, to the trees and steeps of Madonna, and the terrain parks of Sterling.
We also know the importance of equipment, and will make sure that your equipment is enhancing not hindering your skiing — beginning snowboarders will be set up with Burton Learn to Ride equipment. They'll enjoy the best possible introductory experience by combining this specially designed equipment with the teaching expertise of Smugglers' Snow Sport University professionals.
Why should kids have all the fun? Discover the confident skier or rider that lurks within you!
For more information click on one of the SSU Programs below. You'll also find useful tips from our expert instructors!
Adult Group Lessons
Whatever your goals, our highly qualified SSU instructors can help you build the skills and state of mind you need to start exploring more of the mountain, from group lessons and treks to all-day private lessons.
Are you a first-time skier or snowboarder — or looking for the coaching that will move you to the next level? Specifically designed to help each individual, novice to expert! Guaranteed to get results.
Daily, levels 1-9
10:00 am - 12:00 noon $75 per person, per 2 hour lesson.
Included with Club Smugglers' Summit Package your choice of 10:00 am group lesson or 1:00 pm MAX5 session. Buy 5 or more consecutive days and get the next day FREE! Pre-registration is required as space is limited for this program.
MAX5 2 hour Sessions maximize your experience!!
Regardless of your experience or skill level, MAX5 will maximize your performance while minimizing your frustration. This 2 hour program matches you up with no more than 5 others who share your goals. Under the guidance of our best instructors, learn how to use the skills you have to maximize your mountain experience. For the best results we recommend that you sign up for multiple days. Space is limited in this program, so pre-registration is strongly recommended.
Daily, levels 1-9
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, $75 per adult, per 2 hour session.
Included with Club Smugglers' Summit Package your choice of 10:00 am group lesson or 1:00 pm MAX5 session.
Buy 5 or more consecutive days and get the next day FREE! Pre-registration is required as space is limited for this program.
Expert’s tip: Sideslipping
Sideslipping is a key tactical tool for any skier who wants to be more versatile. The key to effective sideslipping is to maintain good fore/aft balance. Start off on a hill with some pitch to it, and just tip your legs down the hill, releasing the edges and sliding. Tip the legs uphill to set the edge, with a focus on staying balanced over the whole foot. After playing in both directions, do the same thing, but shift your weight from the tip of the ski to the tail and vice versa, and notice the effect the movement has on the skis. You should feel like you are fluttering down the hill like a falling leaf. Mastering sideslipping will let you get down any kind of terrain in almost any conditions.
-Oliver Blackman, PSIA level 1 certified instructor
Sideslipping is a key tactical tool for any skier who wants to be more versatile. The key to effective sideslipping is to maintain good fore/aft balance. Start off on a hill with some pitch to it, and just tip your legs down the hill, releasing the edges and sliding. Tip the legs uphill to set the edge, with a focus on staying balanced over the whole foot. After playing in both directions, do the same thing, but shift your weight from the tip of the ski to the tail and vice versa, and notice the effect the movement has on the skis. You should feel like you are fluttering down the hill like a falling leaf. Mastering sideslipping will let you get down any kind of terrain in almost any conditions.
-Oliver Blackman, PSIA level 1 certified instructor
1 1/2-hour group lesson. Try one of our group treks, and you'll discover one of the oldest -and easiest!- ways to enjoy the beauty of Winter! Equipment will be provided and each session begins with a brief overview of technique. But rest assured, if you can walk, you can snowshoe!
Sunday, Tuesday, & Thursday 10:00 am and Saturday 1:00 pm;
$45 per person, per session
Cross-Country Lessons
1 1/2-hour group lesson. Experience the serenity of cross-country skiing and discover our meandering 30-kilometer network of trails through the Vermont woods. From beginner to expert ... success guaranteed!
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday 10:00 am
$45 per person, per session
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Adult Private Lessons
Join one of our Private Coaches to focus on honing your skills privately!
1-Hour Alpine & Telemark Ski or Snowboard Private Lessons
Sometimes private coaching will give you that little boost you need to move to the next level in your skiing or riding and start exploring more of the mountain. It’s just you and your personal coach, setting your needs and goals, and coaching you to a higher level. You can even request your choice of instructors. Available in one hour or multi hour sessions for skiing, snowboarding, or telemark. Pre-registration is strongly recommended, particularly during holiday periods and at peak times, when space and instructors may be limited.
Daily,
Non-peak rate: $75 first person, $50 per additional person, per hour.
Peak rate: $95 first person, $60 per additional person, per hour.
Non-peak times: 8:30 am & 3:00 pm.
Peak times: 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 noon, 1:00 pm & 2:00 pm.
6-Hour Private Instruction or Guided Tour
This program is ideal for the individual or group that wants personal, private instruction and guiding for the whole day. With your personal coach, you can spend the entire day exploring and enhancing your skills, or your group can split up the day between family members of different ages and abilities.
Daily, 9:00 am or 10:00 am start time.
$349 per person, or make your own group of up to 5 people for $499.
Meet at the Private Lesson meeting place at the Gazebo by the Village Lift. Pre-registration is required as space is limited for this program.
1-Hour Mom & Me, Dad & Me Ski or Snowboard Semi-Private Lessons
A unique opportunity to learn some of the skills and games that will help you be a teacher for your child or vice versa. You should be at least an intermediate skier or rider, and your child should be a First Timer, age 3-5 years old.
Daily, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
$75 per lesson, per hour, includes two persons.
Cross-Country Private Lessons
Get personalized instruction in cross-country ski techniques from our skilled instructors.
Daily 11:45 am - 12:45 am, by appointment.
$60 first person, $30 per additional person, per hour.
1-Hour Mom & Me, Dad & Me Cross-Country Semi-Private Lessons
Daily, 11:45 am - 12:45 am, by appointment.
$60 per lesson, includes two persons.
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Watch a video of our Private Lessons.
Daily,
Non-peak rate: $75 first person, $50 per additional person, per hour.
Peak rate: $95 first person, $60 per additional person, per hour.
Non-peak times: 8:30 am & 3:00 pm.
Peak times: 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 noon, 1:00 pm & 2:00 pm.
6-Hour Private Instruction or Guided Tour
This program is ideal for the individual or group that wants personal, private instruction and guiding for the whole day. With your personal coach, you can spend the entire day exploring and enhancing your skills, or your group can split up the day between family members of different ages and abilities.
Daily, 9:00 am or 10:00 am start time.
$349 per person, or make your own group of up to 5 people for $499.
Meet at the Private Lesson meeting place at the Gazebo by the Village Lift. Pre-registration is required as space is limited for this program.
Expert’s tip: Side door through the bumps
I like to think of the bumps in a mogul field as a whole bunch of houses. Each house has 4 doors; a front door (uphill), a back door (downhill) and 2 side doors. The front door is always locked: you can't go in that way. You want to enter the bump through a side door and exit out either the back door or the other side door. As your skis move up onto the top of the bump it becomes easy to turn them, exit through the back door or the other side door and aim for the side door of the next bump. Remember this tactic and you can enjoy a smooth ride through the biggest meanest bumps on the mountain.
-Tom Glynn, PSIA Level 3 certified instructor
I like to think of the bumps in a mogul field as a whole bunch of houses. Each house has 4 doors; a front door (uphill), a back door (downhill) and 2 side doors. The front door is always locked: you can't go in that way. You want to enter the bump through a side door and exit out either the back door or the other side door. As your skis move up onto the top of the bump it becomes easy to turn them, exit through the back door or the other side door and aim for the side door of the next bump. Remember this tactic and you can enjoy a smooth ride through the biggest meanest bumps on the mountain.
-Tom Glynn, PSIA Level 3 certified instructor
1-Hour Mom & Me, Dad & Me Ski or Snowboard Semi-Private Lessons
A unique opportunity to learn some of the skills and games that will help you be a teacher for your child or vice versa. You should be at least an intermediate skier or rider, and your child should be a First Timer, age 3-5 years old.
Daily, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
$75 per lesson, per hour, includes two persons.
Cross-Country Private Lessons
Get personalized instruction in cross-country ski techniques from our skilled instructors.
Daily 11:45 am - 12:45 am, by appointment.
$60 first person, $30 per additional person, per hour.
1-Hour Mom & Me, Dad & Me Cross-Country Semi-Private Lessons
Daily, 11:45 am - 12:45 am, by appointment.
$60 per lesson, includes two persons.
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Special Programs
The Mountain Experience for Skiers; Night Schools for Boarding and Jibbing
The Mountain Experience for Skiers
Maximize your fun - minimize your frustration!
Guided by our most experienced instructors, you and no more than 5 people with similar goals and abilities (or create your own group!) will explore our diverse and challenging terrain with occasional tips to help you build confidence. If you are comfortable skiing on groomed, blue trails and want to expand your horizons, this 4-hour program is for you and is offered daily.
Daily, levels 4-9
10:00 am - 2:00 pm, $129 per adult, per day.
25% OFF with paid Club Smugglers' Summit Package. Add $25 per day for performance demos from 3 Mountain Equipment
Lunch is not included. Advanced sign-up is STRONGLY recommended, as class sizes are limited. Groups leave at 10:00 am from the Gazebo for Level 4 and from the Sterling Mountain SSU building for Levels 4-9.
Night Schools for Boarding and Jibbing
Are you ready for your first snowboard experience? Are you already a skier or rider and want to try your first freestyle moves? Then try one of our Night School programs. Night School for Boarding is a great way for families and everyone else to go snowboarding for the first time. Night School for Jibbing is our program designed to utilize mini, entry-level terrain park features to introduce level 4-6 skiers & riders to the world of freestyle. With one-hour group sessions and another 1 1/2 hours of practice time (with coaches on the hill to help you out), new riders and new jibbers can experience the excitement of snowboarding.
Tuesday & Wednesday, 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
$49 per person, per session, includes Burton Learn to Ride equipment rental. Must sign up prior to 3:30 pm at the Guest Service Desk. Space available basis. Get outfitted for your equipment between 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm at 3 Mountain Equipment Meet at Sir Henry's Learning & Fun Park after you've gotten your equipment.
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Maximize your fun - minimize your frustration!
Guided by our most experienced instructors, you and no more than 5 people with similar goals and abilities (or create your own group!) will explore our diverse and challenging terrain with occasional tips to help you build confidence. If you are comfortable skiing on groomed, blue trails and want to expand your horizons, this 4-hour program is for you and is offered daily.
Daily, levels 4-9
10:00 am - 2:00 pm, $129 per adult, per day.
25% OFF with paid Club Smugglers' Summit Package. Add $25 per day for performance demos from 3 Mountain Equipment
Lunch is not included. Advanced sign-up is STRONGLY recommended, as class sizes are limited. Groups leave at 10:00 am from the Gazebo for Level 4 and from the Sterling Mountain SSU building for Levels 4-9.
Expert’s tip: The right and left of it
Intermediate skiers often ask why they find it easy to turn one way but not the other. Once we rule out any physiological reasons, the answer is almost always in the previous turn or turns. Too much rotary in a previous turn causes the next turn to be difficult. Try focusing on a spot down the hill and keep that spot as your reference while making a series of medium radius turns. When your head and shoulders stay more aligned in the direction you are going; your turns will get better in both directions.
–Doug Cook, PSIA Level 3 certified instructor
Intermediate skiers often ask why they find it easy to turn one way but not the other. Once we rule out any physiological reasons, the answer is almost always in the previous turn or turns. Too much rotary in a previous turn causes the next turn to be difficult. Try focusing on a spot down the hill and keep that spot as your reference while making a series of medium radius turns. When your head and shoulders stay more aligned in the direction you are going; your turns will get better in both directions.
–Doug Cook, PSIA Level 3 certified instructor
Are you ready for your first snowboard experience? Are you already a skier or rider and want to try your first freestyle moves? Then try one of our Night School programs. Night School for Boarding is a great way for families and everyone else to go snowboarding for the first time. Night School for Jibbing is our program designed to utilize mini, entry-level terrain park features to introduce level 4-6 skiers & riders to the world of freestyle. With one-hour group sessions and another 1 1/2 hours of practice time (with coaches on the hill to help you out), new riders and new jibbers can experience the excitement of snowboarding.
Tuesday & Wednesday, 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
$49 per person, per session, includes Burton Learn to Ride equipment rental. Must sign up prior to 3:30 pm at the Guest Service Desk. Space available basis. Get outfitted for your equipment between 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm at 3 Mountain Equipment Meet at Sir Henry's Learning & Fun Park after you've gotten your equipment.
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