Ski and Snowboard News, Deals, and Events

Hidden Valley, located 30 miles southwest of St. Louis off I-44, is offering a very affordable learn-to-ski program Tuesday, Feb. 3. If you live near the Gateway City and have thought about giving snow sports a try, this is the time to do it. The Learn To Ski Day includes a lift ticket, rental equipment, and a beginner lesson. The cost depends on how venturesome you want to be. It's $15 if you want to stay in just the beginner area and use surface lifts, or you can pay $25 and have access to the whole ski area.

Hidden Valley is hosting a fashion show to benefit breast cancer programs at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7 and, if you wear pink, you receive $5 off your lift ticket that day.

Feb. 10 and 11 are Public Recognition Days at the ski area. Police and firefighters just flash your badge at the ticket office on those days and you receive $5 off your lift ticket or $10 off a lift and rental package.

Hidden Valley has been serving St. Louis residents since 1984, and it offers a nice choice for this region of the lower Midwest. With a decent 310-foot vertical drop - big for this region - it offers 13 trails and two terrain parks that are serviced by a quad chairlift, two triples, and three surface tows, including a carpet lift for the beginner area.