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Are YOU ready for opening weekend!?
Welcome to The Weekend Update, the source for all important news and information preceding each Learn to Ski & Ride program weekend. Please read carefully, so that you're fully prepared for what's ahead. There's a lot to cover for opening weekend, so without further ado, let's kick off the 2026 season with a welcome from our CEO, Chris "Toph" Brown.
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A New Year's Greeting from Our CEO
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Dear 2026 Members,
As we head into the first weekend of our Learn to Ski & Ride programs, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make our first-ever Anti Blackout Holiday Week a tremendous success. While the weather challenged us on a few days, overall the skiing, riding, training, and most importantly— the smiles —were truly inspiring.
I’m thrilled about the snowfall from the recent storm cycles, solidifying our programs throughout the coming months. A huge shoutout goes to our Mountain Operations team and the snowmaking system for enabling us to open the carpets for training so early this season. The ability to make snow in the meadow is a game-changer, and we’re only going to get better from here.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the great things in store this winter. Some highlights you can look forward to include:
- Convenient grab-and-go food options in The Bumble Cafe
- Expanded ski patrol training
- A new orientation video to get everyone up to speed
- And much more to come!
I can’t wait to see all your smiling faces on the mountain and share another successful season together.
Warm regards,
Toph
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Our new Orientation video answers frequently asked questions and provides helpful tips for navigating our programs. This is a must watch for everyone before stepping onto the snow this winter — even returning members, as we've made changes and additions.
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Volunteer registration is now open. Please log in to your Bloomerang account and select your desired volunteer positions prior to the weekend. For best experience, download the app.
Volunteering is a mandatory aspect of our Learn to Ski & Ride programs. Recording your volunteer hours allows us to better organize our programs, keep our costs in check, and place trackable value behind your hard work —essential for our financial grants.
If you have not created a Bloomerang account, please create an account now.
EVERYONE over 18 must have an account and sign up for at least 2 hours of volunteering, including instructors. You must sign up each week.
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Lesson Logistics and Schedule
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Requirements and Reminders
- All students must have their Sky Tavern pass on them.
- Helmets, goggles or sunglasses, and gloves are required.
- Long sleeve shirts to protect skin from sun and snow rash.
- Check your equipment (tighten screws, wax, check bindings, etc.)
- Label everything (skis, poles, goggles, gloves, etc.)!
Sky Kids and Grommets
- Check out this FAQ sheet for all of the details!
- Check-In at the lodge windows between 8:45 - 9:15 AM
- For skiers, please set your child’s skis in their birth month rack. Beginners do not need poles.
- Lesson duration: 9:30 - 11:30 AM
- Parents/Guardians must pick up and drop off
- Pack a snack in your kiddo’s pocket or drop off donations at the All Programs Room across from the bathroom (gummies and goldfish packets please!)
Junior Ski/Junior Snowboard
- Junior Ski Check-In: Far side of the Aspens near the America Lift, 8:30 - 9 AM
- Junior Snowboard Check-In: Slope side of the Aspens between Sky Ridge and America, 8:30 - 9 AM
- Lesson duration: 9 - 11:30 AM
- Parents/Guardians should make a plan to meet after the lesson
Adult Lessons
This schedule may change based on instructor availability for weekend 2.
- Sign Up on the corkboard in the upstairs back room
- AM Lessons, 10 - 11:30 AM
- Sign up by 9:30 AM and meet outside by 9:45 AM bottom of the deck stairs.
- Beginners only (Yellow and Green Card)
- PM Lessons, 1 - 3 PM
- Sign up by 10 AM and meet outside by 12:45 PM bottom of the deck stairs
- Blue/Black integrated into instructor clinics
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Our new Leveling cards were created to track athletes progress, promote skill development, mountain safety, and accountability. At the completion of each lesson, instructors will mark the skills that the students practiced as “learning” or “mastered.”
“Learning” indicates the skill was introduced but the student struggles to perform the skill autonomously. “Mastered” indicates the student can complete the skill with little or no coaching and has demonstrated the skill more than 3x.
Alpine Leveling Cards
Snowboard Leveling Cards
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All Instructors
Reminders and Preparations
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Thank you to all of the instructors who supported the Welcome Weekend! We connected with over 450 members in the welcome lesson and leveling cards.
Program Assignments
- Please RSVP via Bloomerang!
- Sky Kids and Grommet Parents should check in to these programs to instruct.
- All other instructors will receive an email by 5 PM Friday and will be notified of their program assignment.
Morning Meetings
Please report to your assigned program for your morning meeting. Parents with kids in other programs, please join your assigned program as soon as you can.
- Jr Ski & Ski Adults @ 8:15 AM (Backside of Aspens)
- Jr SB & SB Adults @ 8:15 AM (Uphill of Aspens)
- Sky Kids/Grommets @ 8:30 AM in the All LTSR Programs Room
Certified Instructor Jackets
- Must have completed your SafeSport training and Background Check
- Daily pick-up times: 7:30 - 8 AM and 3 - 3:30 PM ONLY
- Only check out with Lythia or Kristen.
Instructor Clinics
Daily depending on trainer availability.
- Sign-up on the corkboard in the upstairs back room by 12 PM
- Certification training and a variety of hot topics.
- Clinic Times: 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM, 1 - 3 PM
PM Adult Lessons
Turning students into future instructors and helping adults ski and ride as a family! More mileage for those leveling up their certification!
- Sign-up on the corkboard in the upstairs back room by 12 PM if you are available to help with adult lessons.
- Lesson Times: 1 - 3 PM
Instructor Meeting (Virtual): Prep for Weekend 1
Optional! Will be loaded into Google Classroom.
Thursday, January 15 · 7:00 – 7:30pm
Google Meet joining info: Video call link, https://meet.google.com/jmh-bkvw-pqf
Join Google Classroom for the most up to date information!
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Help us help you! Please arrive on time. Enter the parking lot through the second entrance and park closely! Please take a moment to watch our informative parking etiquette video.
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- We are always GO unless we say NO!
- Bring your own water bottle. We do not have free cups available, but we have water bottles and Yeti mugs for sale.
- Always wear your badge
- Prepare and label your equipment before arrival
- YOUR CAR IS YOUR LODGE. No equipment inside the lodge.
- No rental gear available
- No dogs or pets on site.
- Know Your Responsibility Code and always wear a helmet
- Restrooms are located downstairs
- There is NO public wi-fi
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Sky Tavern events can always be found on the calendar.
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Outdoor Recreation for All
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