January Is Learn To Ski Month And Discover Michigan Skiing
January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard month, which has become very popular with the growth of participants in downhill skiing over the last couple of years in the Heartland. Throughout the Midwest ski areas are offering discounted lesson programs. Michigan offers one of the best programs for cost and simplicity, and it’s available at many ski areas throughout the Wolverine State.
Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) and McDonald’s Restaurant team up to offer an affordable lesson package for both first-time adults and children. It covers downhill skiing for those seven years old and up and snowboarding for 10 or older. Cross country skiing lessons are for seven and up. If you live in northern Indiana, Ohio or Wisconsin it would be easy to take advantage of the program at a ski area along the border. The Discover Michigan Ski program includes a beginner lesson, ski or snowboard rental, and a beginner area lift pass or cross country trail pass at 18 of the state’s top ski areas in both peninsulas. The program is available throughout the month of January. The cost for the program is $45 for a beginner session, which can cover a downhill, a snowboard or cross-country lesson, one session per customer.
Signing up is easy. The Discover Michigan Ski vouchers are available at participating MSIA retail ski stores and online. The voucher lists participating ski areas. You must pre-register with the area. It's available at 18 ski areas and three cross-country areas. Some downhill areas are also offering cross-country lessons.
“It’s been very popular program in past years,” Mickey McWilliams, longtime MSIA executive director, told SnoCountry. “It offers an affordable way to give snow sports a try, and many keep up with it after that initial lesson. We’ve been offering this program in January for several years, and in that time a few thousand people, both young and old, have come out to give winter sports a try.”
