What to Know

Lesson start time: 10:00 a.m.

Lesson pick-up time: 3:45 p.m.

Check-in times:

• Gondola: no later than 9:00 a.m.
• California: no later than 9:30 a.m.
• Boulder: no later than 9:30 a.m.

The above times are the latest you can check-in. We highly recommend arriving at least an hour before the lesson start time, especially during peak season periods and weekends.
If you booked a lesson at the Gondola, always check-in to that specific location to pick up your packet, regardless of weather or Gondola lift status.

Please be sure you know your security code to pick your child up. This will be given to you when you check-in that morning.

Be sure your child is dressed appropriately in the following required attire:

• Waterproof pants
• Waterproof coat
• Waterproof gloves
• Goggles or sunglasses
• One pair of thin, long socks
• Sunscreen (recommended)
• Please no hats or beanies; your child will be wearing a helmet

If you wish to bring your own lunch, please bring it in a small paper bag labeled with your child’s name on it.

If your child has been issued an Epic Day Card from any of our Vail Resorts in the past, please remember to bring it with you, as your child’s lift ticket will be loaded onto that card. If you forget to bring this with you, you will have to stand in line to have it reprinted.

Tips for Parents:

• Helmets are included with all children’s lessons
• Clothing is not part of the equipment rentals.
• Heavenly does not rent clothing, but there are many stores in town that do offer clothing rentals.
• If you purchased a package that includes equipment rentals, our technicians will get your child fitted in our gear.
• Children will be placed in groups according to age and ability level (your child will be evaluated on the snow to determine which group is most appropriate).
• When you check-in, we will escort your child into the Ski and Ride School, and you are free to go.  We’ll take it from there!
• A parent or legal guardian will need to accompany any minors at check-in to sign release forms. Please bring your confirmation letter with you when you check-in.

Office Hours and Locations:

• Weekends, holidays, *peak season: 8:00 a.m.
• Weekdays: 8:30 a.m.

*Peak Season Dates:

• Nov 28 – Sun Dec 1
• Dec 20 -  Sun Jan 5
• Jan 17 – Mon Jan 20
• Feb 14 – Sun Feb 23

California Child Ski and Ride School: Adjacent to the ticket lobby in the California Main Lodge: 3860 Saddle Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. Look for the adult check-in desk to pick up your reservation packet.

Gondola Child Ski and Ride School: Adjacent to the Gondola base station in the Heavenly Village, between Patagonia and Heavenly Sports: 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150; approximately two blocks west of the casinos. Please pick up your reservation packet from the adult check-in desk outside.

Boulder Child Ski and Ride School: Top of Kingsbury Grade: 140 South Benjamin Road, Stateline, NV 89449. The adult center is located in the building adjacent to the ski lift.

Free parking is available at the California Main Lodge and Boulder Lodge. Paid parking is available for the Gondola location near the Heavenly Village (please keep in mind that parking tends to fill up quickly on weekends and peak season periods)

Gratuity: Gratuities for coaches are not a requirement but an appropriate and appreciated gesture. A 15-20% gratuity based of the cost of the lesson will make your coach feel very appreciated and valued.

Vail Resorts Activity Illness Guidelines: The health and safety of our guests is first priority and we take this very seriously. Strong health and safety practices are the heart of our child programs. A key to preventing illness in a group activity setting is to form trusting relationships between parents and instructors around sharing important health information about your child’s condition when they are admitted. If your child has fever, sore throat, diarrhea, or is nauseous or vomiting, they will not be accepted for activities. If your child has recently been ill, they must be symptom-free, without the benefit of medications, for 24 hours at US properties and 48 hours at Whistler Blackcomb. Each child will be observed for common signs of illness at arrival and throughout the day. A child who is ill upon arrival to the facility will not be admitted. Parents or guardians will be notified to pick up their child immediately, if the child becomes ill during their stay. A physician’s note stating a child is no longer contagious will be required when a child has healing lesions or other symptoms suggestive of communicable disease.

Important Required Paperwork

New Credit Card Authorization and Release of Liability forms are required each season.  We highly recommend returning these documents prior to your lesson start-date.

Options for returning these forms:

• Print, sign and scan into your computer: e-mail to HvSkiSchool@vailresorts.com
• Print, sign and fax to 530-542-6992, Attn: Private Lesson Reservations
• Print, Sign and mail to P.O. Box 2180, Stateline, NV 89449, Attn: Ski School Private Lessons
• Print, sign and return to one of our Ski and Ride School Sales Offices

Full-day (6 hour private): 9:30 a.m.

• Full-day lessons: coaches are required to take a 30 minute work-free lunch break

Half-day morning (3 hour am private): 9:30 a.m.

Half-day afternoon ( 3 hour pm private): 1:00 p.m.

Check-in at the Ski and Ride School sales office at least 1 hour prior to your lesson start time to fill out paperwork and allow time to get your lift tickets and rental equipment.

Please bring your confirmation letter with you when you check-in. A parent or legal guardian will need to accompany any minors at check-in to fill out release forms. New Liability Release Forms and Credit Card Authorization Forms are required each season.

Gondola Lessons:

• We encourage you to check-in the night before, between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. during holiday and peak periods, to pick up your paperwork and get your rental equipment for the next day
• Full-day lessons and morning half-day lessons meet at the base of the Gondola
• Afternoon half-day lessons meet at the top of the Gondola (look for the big “Private Lessons” flag)
• The Gondola is about a 20 – 30 minute ride to the top, so please plan accordingly. Tip: you get to cut the line if you are in Ski and Ride School!
• Check-in at our Private Lessons Check-In desk outside of the Ski and Ride School sales office before heading up the Gondola
• Always check-in to this specific location, regardless of weather or Gondola lift status. The Ski and Ride School sales staff will direct you where to go

California Lessons:

• Check-in at our Private Lessons Check-In desk outside of the Ski and Ride School sales office
• Lessons meet in the Ski and Ride School Learning Area at the base of Gunbarrel Chair

Boulder Lessons:

• Check-in at the Ski and Ride School sales office
• Lessons meet in the Boulder Learning Area behind the Ski and Ride School sales office

Private lessons are sold a la carte; lift tickets and rentals must be purchased separately:

• Purchase lift tickets online
• Reserve your equipment online
• Lift tickets are required for all lessons; regardless of ability level

Waterproof pants, coat, gloves, and sunglasses, or goggles, are strongly encouraged.

A parent or legal guardian will need to accompany any minors at check-in to sign release forms. Please bring your confirmation letter with you when you check-in.

Office Hours and Locations:

• Weekends, holidays, *peak season: 8:00 a.m.
• Weekdays: 8:30 a.m.

*Peak Season Dates:

• Nov 28 – Sun Dec 1
• Dec 20 -  Sun Jan 5
• Jan 17 – Mon Jan 20
• Feb 14 – Sun Feb 23

California Private Ski and Ride School: Adjacent to the ticket lobby in the California Main Lodge: 3860 Saddle Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. Look for the adult check-in desk to pick up your reservation packet.

Gondola Private Ski and Ride School: Adjacent to the Gondola base station in the Heavenly Village, between Patagonia and Heavenly Sports: 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150; approximately two blocks west of the casinos. Please pick up your reservation packet from the adult check-in desk outside.

Boulder Private Ski and Ride School: Top of Kingsbury Grade: 140 South Benjamin Road, Stateline, NV 89449. The adult center is located in the building adjacent to the ski lift.

Free parking is available at the California Main Lodge and Boulder Lodge. Paid parking is available for the Gondola location near the Heavenly Village (please keep in mind that parking tends to fill up quickly on weekends and peak season periods)

Gratuity: Gratuities for coaches are not a requirement but an appropriate and appreciated gesture. A 15-20% gratuity based of the cost of the lesson will make your coach feel very appreciated and valued.