Bolton Valley’s season-long weekend instructional program for families who choose to ski or ride every Saturday and/or Sunday. The program’s primary focus is on building a strong fundamental base to help participants enjoy a lifetime of skiing and riding. The Ridge Runner program aims to give each young athlete freedom to explore the many aspects of skiing and riding, such as parks, racing, woods, and any other terrain. Most importantly, however, we want to foster a life-long love of skiing and riding as a sport, a source of family fun, and a source of individual challenge and reward.
Throughout the 2021-22 season, we will aim to keep the same coach with the same group of kids consistently. Periodically, the groups may bring in different coaches with varying areas of expertise to work on new skills. Parents will receive regular communication throughout the year from our program manager, Adam Schini.
Now Accepting Bookings For
2021-22 Programs
Age determined by age on Jan 1, 2022
| Program | Requirement | Ages | Starting Price** | Days in Session | ||
| Mini’s | Level 3+ | 4-6 | $500** | 10 | Join the Wait List! | |
| Ridge Runners & Riders | Independent Lift Rider Level 3+ | 7-12 | $570** | 10 | Riders Both Days Still Avail – Buy Now (Saturday & Sunday – Runners Sold Out) | |
| Freeride Development & Competition Teams | Independent Lift Rider Level 9+ | 10-18 | $620** | 10 | Buy Now (Saturday Freeski Dev Team-Sold Out) | |
| Thursday Throwdown Freeride Team | Independent Lift Rider Level 9+ | 10- 18 | $256** | 8 | Buy Now | |
| Learn to Ski/Ride | Beginners & Never Evers Only | 4+ | $145 to $155 | 3 | Coming Soon | |
| Backcountry Ninja | Expert Level | 12-14 | $1,000 | 4 | Buy Now |
See Below For More Information on Each
Mini’s
Ages 4-6Mini’s
Skiers Only | Ages 4-6 (as of Jan 1 2022)
This group is for 4, 5 or 6year old skiers who have learned how to stop, turn both ways, and ride the chairlift but want to progress to that next level and gain some confidence.
**Please note that All Season Long Programs DO NOT come with a lift ticket, rental equipment or lunch. Lift tickets and season passes can be purchased separately HERE
- Saturday or Sunday
- Hours: 9:30 am – 12 pm. Like last year, Season Long Programs will not include lunch. Please plan accordingly and pack snacks.
- Our policy is to have all Mini’s ride the chair with an adult (ski instructor, patrol, or volunteers from the lift line). The only way to guarantee your child will be riding the chair with an instructor is to book a private lesson.
- Must be level 3 skiers or above
- Saturday Dates: Jan 1, 8, 22 & 29 | Feb 5, 12 & 26 | Mar 5, 12, & 19 (3/26 Makeup Date due to weather related cancellations)
- Sunday Dates: Jan 2, 9, 23 & 30 | Feb 6, 13 & 27 | Mar 6, 13, & 20 (3/27 Makeup Date due to weather related cancellations)
Sorry, Sold Out
Ridge Runners & Riders
Ages 7-12Ridge Runners (for Skiers)
Ages 7-12 (as of Jan 1 2022)
Skiers (Snowboarders Please See Next Group Down: “Ridge Riders”)
**Please note that All Season Long Programs DO NOT come with a lift ticket, rental equipment or lunch. Lift tickets and season passes can be purchased separately HERE
- Choose what day – SOLD OUT Join the Wait List
- Time: 9am – 1pm
- Like last year, Season Long Programs will not include lunch. Please plan accordingly and pack snacks.
- Must be level 3 skiers or above
- LIFT-READY: Lift-ready means your child can stop independently and link turns both directions. For Ridge Runner/Riders, it is likely that kids will have to ride a chairlift without an adult, and/or with another student. All students must be able to pull the chairlift bar down on their own already.
- Saturday Dates: Jan 1, 8, 22 & 29 | Feb 5, 12 & 26 | Mar 5, 12, & 19 (3/26 Makeup Date due to weather related cancellations)
- Sunday Dates: Jan 2, 9, 23 & 30 | Feb 6, 13 & 27 | Mar 6, 13, & 20 (3/27 Makeup Date
- due to weather related cancellations)
Sorry, Sold Out
Ridge Riders (For Snowboarders)
Ages 7-12 (as of Jan 1 2022)
Snowboarders (Skiers Please See Next Group UP: “Ridge Runners”)
**Please note that All Season Long Programs DO NOT come with a lift ticket, rental equipment or lunch. Lift tickets and season passes can be purchased separately HERE
- Choose which day – Saturday or Sunday
- Time: 9am – 1pm
- Like last year, Season Long Programs will not include lunch. Please plan accordingly and pack snacks.
- Must be level 3 skiers or above
- LIFT-READY: Lift-ready means your child can stop independently and link turns both directions. For Ridge Runner/Riders, it is likely that kids will have to ride a chairlift without an adult, and/or with another student. All students must be able to pull the chairlift bar down on their own already.
- Saturday Dates: Jan 1, 8, 22 & 29 | Feb 5, 12 & 26 | Mar 5, 12, & 19 | (3/26 Makeup Date due to weather related cancellations)
- Sunday Dates: Jan 2, 9, 23 & 30 | Feb 6, 13 & 27 | Mar 6, 13, & 20 | (3/27 Makeup Date due to weather related cancellations)
BV FREERIDE TEAMS
Ages 10-18The BV Freeride Team will be back for the 2021-22 season, offering big mountain and terrain park adventure for skiers and snowboarders; but with a twist! This year there will be a development team as well as a competition team!
WHAT IS FREERIDE?
The terms “freeride” and “big mountain” are synonymous and essentially refer to any skiing or snowboarding that takes place in natural terrain and snow conditions, and embodies a style of riding that utilizes the mountain’s many rocks, trees, bumps, and pitches in a creative way. It typically does not include groomed surfaces or man-made features, and it utilizes and combines skills and techniques from all other disciplines of skiing and snowboarding.
WHAT THE TEAM IS ALL ABOUT
We’ll be focusing on big-mountain style skiing and riding, risk assessment, and generally raising kids’ comfort levels on every terrain and in every condition the mountains can throw at them. They’ll spend a lot of time on the mountain – on the steeps and in the trees – as well as some time in the park and in the air, and exploring the backcountry.
Development vs. Competition – Which Is The Right For Me?
The Dev Team will meet on Saturdays and focus on slopestyle and freeride aspects, developing from beginner flatland and park skills to a more well rounded all mountain skier and rider, but without the aspect of competition points systems and how to impress the judges that the competitive Sunday team will incorporate.
The Competitive Team will meet on Sundays will have a lesson plan focused on practicing for competitions and being the feeder program as Bolton ramps up to have USASA & IFSA teams in the future seasons. This season the hope is to have other mountains at BV for slopestyle and freeride contests a few Sundays later this year, and potentially at other mountains as well. Participant’s lift tickets and transportation will not be provided for Bolton athletes or parents for any away competitions.
Freeride Ski
Ages 10-18
**Please note that All Season Long Programs DO NOT come with a lift ticket, rental equipment or lunch. Lift tickets and season passes can be purchased separately HERE
- Pick What Team (See Descriptions of the Differences Between the Two Above)
- Saturday – Development
- Sunday – Competition
- The Athletes MUST be able to ski safely and in control, making parallel turns from the summit of all Bolton Valley chairs, and in black diamond terrain (groomed and un-groomed). Skill assessments are mandatory at the start of the season.
- Saturday Dates: Jan 1, 8, 22 & 29 | Feb 5, 12 & 26 | Mar 5, 12, & 19 | (3/26 Makeup Date due to weather related cancellations)
- Sunday Dates: Jan 2, 9, 23 & 30 | Feb 6, 13 & 27 | Mar 6, 13, & 20 | (3/27 Makeup Date due to weather related cancellations)
- Hours: 9 am – 1 pm
- Like last year, Season Long Programs will not include lunch. Please plan accordingly and pack snacks.
- Meeting Place: Above Vista Loading area
Freeride Snowboard
Ages 10-18
**Please note that All Season Long Programs DO NOT come with a lift ticket, rental equipment or lunch. Lift tickets and season passes can be purchased separately HERE
- Pick What Team (See Descriptions of the Differences Between the Two Above)
- Saturday – Development
- Sunday – Competition
- The Athletes MUST be able to ski safely and in control, making parallel turns from the summit of all Bolton Valley chairs, and in black diamond terrain (groomed and un-groomed). Skill assessments are mandatory at the start of the season.
- Saturday Dates: Jan 1, 8, 22 & 29 | Feb 5, 12 & 26 | Mar 5, 12, & 19 | (3/26 Makeup Date due to weather related cancellations)
- Sunday Dates: Jan 2, 9, 23 & 30 | Feb 6, 13 & 27 | Mar 6, 13, & 20 | (3/27 Makeup Date due to weather related cancellations)
- Hours: 9 am – 1 pm
- Like last year, Season Long Programs will not include lunch. Please plan accordingly and pack snacks.
- Meeting Place: Above Vista Loading area
Thursday PM Throwdown Freeride Team
For Skiers & Snowboarder
Ages 10-18
**Please note that All Season Long Programs DO NOT come with a lift ticket, rental equipment or meals. Lift tickets and season passes can be purchased separately HERE
Bolton’s Freeride Thursday Throwdown Team is a chance to hone your tricks and have additional training for members of the weekend freeride teams or an opportunity for anyone who may want a weeknight freestyle lesson. Our Coaches will create a fun, high-energy experience in the lite up areas of Bolton.
- 6:30 – 8:30pm
- Like last year, Season Long Programs will not include meals. Please plan accordingly and pack snacks.
- Thursdays From January 6 to March 10
- Does Not Meet on February 24th (February Break Week For Most Area Schools)
- March 17 Make-up Date (as needed)
- The Athletes MUST be able to ski safely and in control, making parallel turns from the summit of all Bolton Valley chairs, and in black diamond terrain (groomed and un-groomed). Skill assessments are mandatory at the start of the season.
- Meeting Place: Above Vista Loading area
Dates for 21-22 Season Coming Soon!
3 Week Learn to Ski & Ride Sessions for those that are brand new to the sport!
Mountain Explorers
This program is specifically for first time skiers & riders who are looking to get an introduction to the sport! The goal is to master the basics, gain control on snow, and optimistically be able to ride the lift by the end of the third session. This is a 3 week program!
Ages 4-12
- Saturday or Sunday
- Sessions:
- 21-22 Dates Coming Soon
- Meeting Place: Seasonal Programs Area
- Beginners ONLY
- More details to come fore prices
Adult Learn To Ski/Ride
This program is specifically for first time skiers & riders who are looking to get an introduction to the sport! The goal is to master the basics, gain control on snow, and optimistically be able to ride the lift by the end of the third session. This is a 3 week program!
Ages 13+
- Saturday or Sunday
- Sessions:
- Stay Tuned For 21-22 Dates!
- Meeting Place: Seasonal Programs Area
Backcountry Ninjas
Ages 12-14Bolton Valley Backcountry Ninjas
Ages: 12-14
Saturday 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19
This year, we’ve got a new lineup of legendary coaches with a combined 40 years of experience developing totally unique backcountry educational programs for kids, combining hands-on learning with great skiing and riding wrapped up in a healthy and fun 4-week program.
Kids will start developing their ninja-like abilities in the following:
- Skinning Techniques
- Outdoor Emergency Care
- Safety Training
- Snowpack Evaluation
- Avalanche Gear Training
- Alpine Tree Skiing Instruction
- Pre-ski Warmup Stretches
And they’ll have a blast doing it, because their coaches are OEC certified grand master backcountry Ninjas whose love for the sport and the outdoors is totally infectious. And there’s no better place to learn, because of Bolton’s unequaled Backcountry access and its proximity to awesome lift-served terrain. Need touring gear? No problem – check out our kids’ season-long backcountry gear lease options! Trust us, your kids will thank you.
$1000/participant includes a youth season pass and 4 consecutive Saturdays from 1/29 – 2/19/2022. Each day starts at 10 and ends at 3.
For information and bookings of our single session Private and Group Lessons, Go HERE
–All lesson and season long programs will meet outside on snow.
–All bookings will be done online or by phone.
-Children must be in the age range as of Jan 1 2022
-Physical distancing will be practiced in all lessons – which means there will be minimal physical assistance from instructors.
Our goal is to create a life-long love of skiing & riding. We offer a selection of different season-long programs for every skill level! Find one that works for you below! Limited availability. All prices subject to change.