Get Washington Friends Skiing or Snowboarding With January Beginner Deals

Washington State ski resorts are diving headlong into deals for beginner skiers and snowboarders. Many resorts are discounting lesson, lift, and rental packages for first timers in January, and Seattle area Ski Marts are giving participants discounts, too.

January is the best month to bring friends to the slopes to learn to ski or ride. Five Cascade Mountain resorts have designed special learning packages, and Ski Mart tacks on one more bonus by pitching in an additional discount for a helmet or goggles.

At Crystal Mountain, the first-timer lesson package is discounted by $10 during January. The one-day program offered daily targets ages 11 through adult and includes five hours of instruction, rental gear, and a Discovery lift ticket for $89. Crystal is also knocking $10 off their Learn to Ski or Ride 1-2-3 package. For $175, beginners can get three days of lessons, lift tickets, and rentals.

Mission Ridge offers three different beginner packages. The First Tracks lesson, lift ticket, and rental package costs $69 for ages 13 through adult. The Three Pete or EZ 1-2-3 Ski or Snowboard package bundles up the same three items, but for three days. Available for all ages, the three-day beginner packages cost $169. The First Turns Pass Package combines three beginner lessons with season-long rentals and a season pass for $349.

At Stevens Pass, the Coca-Cola Easy Starter Package outfits skiers or snowboarders with a morning lesson, rentals, and a lift ticket for $89. Participants can tack on a second afternoon lesson for $25.

The Summit at Snoqualmie offers a single-day beginner package and a three-day beginner package. The First Turns program gets beginners on the slopes with a lesson, lift ticket, and rental gear for $79 while the EZ 2 Learn triples the learning with three days of lessons, lift tickets, and rental equipment for $119.

At White Pass, beginner skiers and snowboarders can learn the basics in EZ Ski 1-2-3 or EZ Ride 1-2-3. The package, which runs $115-125, combines three days of lessons, lift tickets, and rentals.

Beginners learning to ski or ride in January at Crystal, Mission Ridge, Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie Summit, or White Pass can get an additional perk. By bringing in beginner package receipts from the resorts, they can get 50 percent off a helmet or goggles at Ski Marts in Bellevue, Alderwood, or Tacoma. The Ski Mart discount is available through Feb. 15, 2013.

For more information on beginner discounts during January at Washington ski resorts, go here.