Please keep in mind that the Ski Bowl terrain is more challenging than other 'beginner' hills that students may be exposed to on Mt. Hood or elsewhere. We want every child to have an experience that builds confidence and encourages them to stick with skiing and snowboarding for life. We will always error on the side of caution when associating a child with a class level, and allow them to shift to a more advanced class if appropriate for their level.
Please be realistic about your child’s ability. If you have questions about your child’s ability, then please contact our registrar with a phone conversation. She will help you place your child in the right class. Most of our classes are all day because we believe no one learns to ski or snowboard in an hour and a half lesson, at least not well.
You will register your child for class online. Then expect a phone call from our registrar. There must be a conversation before your visit. You are responsible for getting your child to class on time. Please take into consideration heavy traffic and other obstacles.
Arrival time is 9:30-9:45 for the morning sessions and 12:30-12:45. Classes start later than your arrival time for many reasons. If you are showing up after this time period, you are considered late for class.
Late Student policy: we will decide if the student can be placed in the class they were attending with the minimal disruption.
Level 1 (4-13 years old)
Our level 1 class is designed for the beginner skier or for students who are still trying to master a stop. We offer both a full-day lesson and a half day to accommodate children of different ages and abilities. A full day is for student 6 and up that want to participate in a ski lesson without disturbing the class.
The student will learn:
-how to put on and take off their skis
-side step and duck walk on an incline
-gliding to a stop and a mid glide wedge stop
-introduction to turning
For the Half-Day Parent/Pal Classes:
The student and parent will receive a rope tow pass. Parents must accommodate the student at all times. Parent must be a good listener, be able to take direction, and follow protocol. This is not a beginner class for the parent to start skiing with the student. Parent does not have to have ski equipment on to participate.
Students usually progress into the next level in one or two lessons depending on the student’s ability to process information and physical strength and if the parent does not overly help the student. Parent are there to help but not to enable. In other words please allow your child to do the hard tasks of walking and gliding by themselves or it will lengthen their learning curve.
Level 2 (4-13 years old)
Our level 2 class builds on the skills from our level 1 class (or a beginning class at another ski resort) but needs to continue learning edge control and perfecting a stop at Ski Bowl.
We offer both a full-day lesson and a half day to accommodate children of different ages and abilities..
In the Parent-Pal course, the student and parent will both receive rope tow passes. All skills and tasks are the same as level 1. All tasks needed for parents are the same as level 1.
Students in the All Day class receive a lift ticket for the day.
Level 3 (5-13 years old)
Level 3 skiers must be able to stop by themselves mid hill, not a gliding stop, and have an understanding of a turn. This level practices at our private rope tow. As their confidence and skill level progresses, they gain more distance up the rope tow. This level is all about practicing mid hill stops, and creating big slalom turns. We set up poles for the students to practice turning around. This class is designed to gain confidence. No parent involvement is needed for this class. It is an all day class. Includes lift ticket. This is a 4 hour lesson.
Please keep in mind that the Ski Bowl terrain is more challenging than other 'beginner' hills that students may be exposed to on Mt. Hood. We spend extra time fine tuning skills at our rope tow to match our steep terrain. Our instructors are looking for a confident skier or snowboarder with their skills before taking the lift. This is so they have more terrain available to them.
Level 4
A Group (5-13 years old)
At level 4, students are introduced to the chair and begin to complete 'Easy' or 'Green' runs such as High Road, Low Road and Easy Street. Student must have a solid independent mid hill stop and turns to be in this class. Students will learn more edge control, balancing over their boots, and they will start to bring their skis together coming across the mountain. Includes unrestricted lift ticket. This is a 4 hour lesson.
If you are not sure if this is the right class for your child please contact our registrar. Ski bowl’s terrain is steeper than most resorts on Mt Hood. Student and parent will receive lift tickets for the class.
Level 4
B Group
(5-13 years old)
Student must be a confident green run skier. Student must know how to stop mid hill and make turns. Student must be able to ride the lift alone or with another student. Student will be introduced to blue runs in this class. Student will learn edge control, rotation of the body while making turns, and they will be learning to bring skis together while coming across the mountain. Includes an unrestricted lift ticket for the day. This is a 4 hour lesson.
If you are not sure if this is the right class for your child please contact our registrar. Ski bowl’s terrain is steeper than most resorts on Mt Hood. If you have not skied Ski Bowl before, then your beginner skier might not be ready for the chair at our resort.
Level 5
(5-13 years old)
Level 5, students can ski confidently on all green and blue runs. They must be in an almost parallel turn. No wide wedge skiers. Their balance is over their boots and they are starting to rotate their body with each turn. These skiers are working on perfecting form while experiencing the whole mountain. They will be introduced to black runs. Student must be able to ride the lift alone or with another student. Includes an unrestricted lift ticket. This is a 4 hour lesson.
Enthusiast Package
The Enthusiast package was designed for the family who wants to commit to winter, and a season of learning how to ski or snowboard. Since it takes several lessons to achieve confidence on the slopes, we keep track of the student’s progress, so the student can build onto their skill levels. The student is able to take as many lessons with us during our season. We are a weekend ski school only and start lessons the first weekend in January until the last weekend in March. This package is good for the beginner to the expert skier or snowboarder. The package will come with a season pass for the student and unlimited lessons. This package will be available until December 31, 2023. This package is nonrefundable. The package pays for itself in 4 lessons. Rentals are not included. Season passes can be picked up from Ski Bowl after January 5, 2024. Families will be responsible for picking up and having the pass at each visit.
Snowboarding
All snowboarding lessons are for students 7 and up. They are an all day lesson which includes the lift ticket for the day. The lesson is a group lesson. Rentals are not included. This allows the student to either build on skills they have or start the learning process.
Adult lessons
You are never to old to have a lessons! Skiing and snowboarding are skill based sports that require the right amount of training to make it look and feel effortless. Take a lesson to refine skills and use less energy on the slopes. Adult lessons are for the beginner to people working on improving skills. The lesson includes an unrestricted lift ticket for the day, and a 1 1/2 hour lesson. Rentals are not included. Beginner groups usually go out in the morning a half hour after the students go out. More advanced lessons go out in the afternoon after the students go out. Depending on demand and staffing, we might have the lessons all go out in the morning. Who takes lessons? Parents wanting to learn how to ski. Parents who might not have been on their ski or snowboard for a very long time. Parents looking to tune up skills to use less energy on the hill. Parents who want to keep up with their children in lessons.
Cross Country skiing
We are bringing back our Cross Country skiing lessons .
Join us on cross country skis to enjoy Nordic Skiing at ski bowl! Beginning at ages 5 and up, this lesson will involve a foundation exposure to the classic style of skiing and a tour from our yurt along Lake Road to the West Side of Ski Bowl and then back. This is approximately 2 mile round-trip, so children should be capable of a similar aerobically challenging walk. Students under 18 must have an adult sign up with them. Please use the ‘Yes’ drop down to add an adult charge of $50 to the base price of the lesson. Two adults can take a lesson together using this price option.
No Rentals are included
After learning the basics in our lessons, students and parents can take the remainder of the day to enjoy other area Forest Service trails - many of which launch from the East Side of our Yurt.
Mogul busters does offer class levels that can accommodate experienced skiers and snowboarders. These classes are formed out of our Level 4 and Level 5 skier and boarders. These advanced classes cannot be initially registered for. This ensures that we do not accelerate a child's experience past their ability. If you believe that your child could perform at an advanced level upon their first lesson, then please contact our registrar.
We expect our advanced skiers and riders to be fluent" in the mountain responsibility codes, be confident on all levels of terrain up to Black Diamonds and be in a parallel stance while skiing instead of relying on wedge turns and techniques.