Ski School Going Strong at Red River Ski Area

RED RIVER — Coming to Red River to try skiing for the first time?

Maybe some lessons are in order.

The Red River Ski Area offers a tremendous way to break into the sport for those first time skiers. Spend a day with first class instructors for a measly seven dollars.

Lots of folks have been taking advantage of the deal, according to Wally Dobbs, director of the ski school.

“Thanksgiving and the first part of December we’re a little down,” Dobbs said. “Ever since the 17th we’ve been up a little, and sometimes substantially.”

Red River caters specifically to beginning skiers, with a large learning area at the bottom of the mountain to handle ski school participants.

“Red River is a little different. Some of the big ski areas, their clientele is looking for big snow,” Dobbs said.

“Drew Judicki said that he wanted to build our ski area around the ski school. People come here to learn to ski.”

Twenty percent of the guests at the ski area in the last week have been enrolled in the school, according to Dobbs.

“They’re happy because what we’ve got open is good enough,” Dobbs said.

Still, Dobbs is hopeful that more snow and colder temperatures are on the way so the ski area can open more runs.

“The temperatures have been tough, we need cold right now,” Dobbs said.

The biggest class at the resort is consistently the “Never Ever” program, which is for participants who have not yet skied or snowboarded.

“Whether their a kid or an adult, that is probably 80 percent of our business,” Dobbs said.

The lessons are divided up between the morning and afternoon, with an hour-and-a-half classes before and after lunch.

After getting basic instruction in the “Never Ever” group, patrons can move up to more advance lessons.

“We have an intermediate group, which is real affordable,” Dobbs said. “You get a 30 percent discount on the equipment and lift tickets, so it nearly makes the lessons free.”

Advanced skiers are not forgotten at the resort, with a class for them every day at 1:45 p.m. at the Tip Restaurant on top of the mountain.

“The classes are for the advanced skiers wanting to learn how to cruise the blues, carving and all the way into moguls and the steeps,” Dobbs said.

Many of those taking the group classes move on to take private lessons from the instructors at the ski school.

“People really like and enjoy their instructors, so a lot of the time they’ll continue with private instruction,” Dobbs said. “That way they can go on with the same thought pattern that they’ve been used to.

“That’s a big part of our business, too.”

Instructors divide their time equally between group and private lessons.

“They spend three hours a day with groups and three hours a day giving private lessons,” Dobbs said. “Most days the instructors can do a private lesson almost any time the guest wants one.”

For more information on times of classes and rates visit www.redriverskiarea.com or call the ski school at 575-377-2223, ext. 218.