NJ Family Skiing and Snowboarding Spots plus Bonus Safety Tips!

It hasn't snowed yet, but ski resorts in New Jersey and vicinity are up and running! With a reservation for ski school in hand, NJ kids can begin to develop a lifelong love of skiing and snowboarding and possibly even cold weather. Here is an exciting selection of quality ski schools in the New Jersey area and some safety tips for skiing and snowboarding from respected professionals so you can load up the SUV and head out to the slopes with confidence!

The Hidden Valley Club (Vernon)
The Hidden Valley Club caters to families who love to ski and those who are willing to learn. Beginners are welcome at Hidden Valley, as it boasts the best beginner terrain in the area. The mountain features 15 trails, three chair lifts and one tow lift. Look to travel about 40 minutes from northern New Jersey. Hidden Valley’s Snowsport School teaches children (and adults) of any level to ski and snowboard; lessons focus on safety, fun, and learning. Hidden Valley offers a Mountain Adventure program for children 4-and-up (skiers) and children 5 and up (boarders). Mountain Adventurers can participate in daily full day lessons starting at $125 including lunch and lift tickets, so moms and dads can ski or board while their little ones learn; half day programs are also available. (973) 764-4200

Mountain Creek Ski Resort (Vernon)
Bigger and bolder than Hidden Valley, Mountain Creek offers 43 trails, 7 lifts and a huge network of terrain parks. The resort is popular with teens and tweens, but there is plenty for young skiers as well. The Twist terrain park on Vernon peak offers small, beginner-friendly features. Two “magic carpets” transport young learners up a beginner slope

The Kids Kamp, a 9am-3pm drop-off program, includes a lift ticket (valid for the entire day,) lesson and lunch for skiers age 4-6 yrs., and snowboarders age 5-6 yrs. For ages 7-12, there are learn-to-ski or ride programs, from private to group. Prices begin at $69.99 for ½ day, $119.99 for full day lessons which include lunch and lift tickets.

A note about Mountain Creek: if you’re bringing small children or beginner skiers, try to avoid night and weekend skiing, as the resort becomes very crowded. On the flip side, the lifts are incredibly efficient, and if you’re ready for a break from the slopes, Mountain Creek offers a great retail shopping area. Two food courts, four bars with sandwiches and 7 restaurants at the sister resort Crystal Springs offer plenty of dining options. A word to the wise: it’s worth the extra money to pay for preferred parking; if you’re carrying your own equipment, it is a long walk to the slopes. (973) 827-2000

Campgaw Mountain (Mahwah)
Located in Bergen County, Campgaw Mountain is the ski area closest to northern New Jersey. Campgaw resembles Hidden Valley in its appeal to the beginner skier interested in no-frills learning and short lift lines. Campgaw offers five beginner/intermediate trails, a terrain park, two double chair lifts and two “magic carpet” lifts. Campgaw offers a “Children’s Academy” for skiers 4-6 years old (“Cruisers”). Children’s Academy runs for 3 weeks, with lessons that are 1 ½ hour long and are geared to ability level. Group and private lessons are also offered, beginning at $67. (973) 327-7800

Blue Mountain (Palmerton, PA)
Yes, Blue Mountain has a Pennsylvania address, but it's worth your drive: Blue has the highest vertical drop in PA, and is convenient to anyone traveling route 80. Blue’s teaching program is progressive. Their “Explorers” program serves skiers from ages 4-12 and boarders from 5-12.Costs start at $105 per day for lessons, lift, and lunch; half-day is available as well. The “Pioneer” program offers a 4 or 8 week block of lessons where kids can have consistency as far as having the same teacher and mates for the whole term. Tina Buckley, Director of the Blue Mountain Learning Center, recommends Blue Mountain’s approach to teaching new skiers/boarders.  Blue offers “station teaching”, which enables students to utilize a variety of teaching stations each of which focuses on different skills. The one-price, all-day pass allows students to use the available lessons as needed. (610) 826-7700

SAFEY TIPS FOR SKIING from Bob Zega
Chair,  Public Relations NJ Ski & Snowboard Council

Age:  Kids have to be able to walk well and have a sense of balance so anything below age 2 is unreasonable.  Even on their level they should be able to listen and follow instruction to some degree.  I've spoken to a lot of parents on the slopes on this subject and find very few who start kids skiing at age two.  When my own children were young, I started my daughter at age three and have seen a number of 3-5 year olds in ski-school.  Age 3-5 should be the earliest starting point for a child to ski because a) they can walk, b) usually don't mind being away from Mom and Dad and by this time have an idea of knowing right from wrong.
 
2) Safety Tips:
    -Children must be taught to follow the Skiers Safety Code while on the slopes
    -Children must use properly fitted equipment suited to their ability level
     -NO POLES until they have been skiing for 3-4 years and are proficient enough to handle them. 
    -Children must be taught to understand and obey trails signs: Beginner (green) and Expert (black) trails.
    -The danger of skiing on too advanced a slope before they are ready must be fully understood.
    -If you plan to self-teach a young; the child should be tethered to the parent for the first season or two.
    -Safety vests with a handle on the back are now available for children making it easier for parents or instructors or anyone riding a lift with young kids to 'grab' them if needed.
 
3)  Clothing:  Make sure the child is properly dressed for a day in cold weather.  This includes, long underwear, GOOD gloves/socks and clothing suitable for mountain conditions vs. going to school.  Turtle neck shirts are mandatory or a child will get cold (scarves don't do a good job).  Kids fall and eventually gloves and socks (snow gets in their boots) get wet so a parent should bring extra gloves, socks and pants in case a child needs a change by lunchtime to stay warm. GOGGLES:  If spending a day on the snow, ski goggles are a MUST.
 
4.  Ski Instruction:  Ski Instructors are Certified professionals knowledgeable of the latest ski instruction techniques and have to take annual training to retain their certification.  A parent may know how to ski but a professional ski instructor is trained to teach children on THEIR level.  It may cost more, but children will have a better time in a class of their own ski peers then trying to keep up with Mom and Dad on the slopes.  Mom and Dad will have a better time and children are likely to progress faster when taught by a professional.
 

SAFETY TIPS FOR SNOWBOARDERS from Kayla Dowd
Snowboard instructor at Vermont’s Okemo Mountain

The best age for a child to learn snowboarding would be around seven or eight, says Dowd. “Snowboarding requires significant muscle memory that can be difficult for children under seven or eight to master.” According to Dowd, it is important that “when your child is learning to snowboard, they come prepared with a helmet, googles, face mask, and appropriate under garments  such as thermals.” Additionally, if your child is renting boots and a board, Dowd says “you want to make sure all the equipment works, and is the right size prior to the lesson.”

As for safety, make sure your children wear helmets. This is very important, “especially when kids are learning to snowboard, they are more prone to head injuries,” explains Dowd.  Another important safety tip is mountain awareness. This is teaching your kids safe and appropriate places to stop on a trail that does not put them or other skiers in danger. Says Dowd, “this also includes teaching them how to merge onto trails, appropriate speeds for different trails, and maintaining a safe distance from other riders.” Don’t hesitate to go over a trail map with your child before hitting the slopes--they have them available throughout the mountain resort of your choosing.