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Cross Country Ski & Snowshoe Trail Pass Rates, Equipment Rentals, and Lessons
Garnet Hill Lodge’s full-service ski center offers cross country ski and snowshoe rentals, plus a great selection of new equipment for purchase. Our ski school is PSIA certified, and we offer lessons for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers. Our Ski Shop staff is more than happy to help you get set up with everything you need for an exceptional day out on our trails. If you have questions, give the Outdoor Center a call at (518) 251-2150.
Purchase A 2022-23 Winter Season Pass Purchase A Day Pass Or Equipment Rentals
Coyote Club Children’s Program & Ski School Rates
New for the 2023-24 winter season is our Coyote Club Children’s Program! The program is dedicated to providing a supervised and fun space for children ages 6-10-years old to practice Nordic skiing skills while interacting with peers. Each day, we will have a skiing & play session outside, then head inside to enjoy snacks and hot chocolate, and ending outside for another ski session.
It will be held on Saturday’s from 10 am to noon on January 13, 20, 27, and February 3, 10, and 17 – with a make-up day on February 24.
Cost:
$60 per child per day, includes rentals, trail passes, and a snack & hot chocolate
$300 for a child for all six weeks
Lodge guests will receive a 20% discount, and if a child has their own equipment, you will receive a 40% discount. Additional discounts available for multiple children, and local family scholarships are available. Please call (518) 251-2150 for more info or email [email protected].
*Registration is required by noon the preceding Friday & the program is limited to 12 children per day.
Ski School Rates & Info
Private Lesson – $50 / per person
Semi-Private Lesson – $40 / per person
Skate Lesson – $45 / per person
Backcountry Lesson – $45 /per person
Lessons are by appointment only. Call Outdoor Center on 518 251 2150.
The Garnet Hill Ski School
Member: Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA)
Cross country ski lessons are a great step toward improving your technique and increasing your enjoyment of the sport. At Garnet Hill Nordic Center we teach all ages and abilities including beginner lessons, telemark and ski skating lessons. We recommend a beginner group lesson for all first time cross country skiers. The ski school also provides intermediate and advanced lessons including ski skating, telemark and backcountry techniques, and racing techniques.
We have a ski school staff that is dedicated to helping you start off on the right foot, improve your skiing, and help you to have more fun on skis. We offer a full range of lessons, from beginner through advanced, including all types of nordic skiing. Your satisfaction is guaranteed!
It’s been proven by athletes that the best way to master a new sport is by learning it right the first time. If you develop good habits from the start, it will save you a lot of “unlearning” later, and will allow you to progress more rapidly to higher levels.
Beginner lessons are offered as group, semi-private, or private lessons. Intermediate lessons and specialty lessons, such as skate skiing and telemark lessons, are available as semi-private or private lessons.
Private and semi-private lessons can be tailored to your needs, and can include lots of focus in one area (i.e. downhill), or can be a “trail” lesson, where we ski the trails, using the terrain to practice different skills.
Beginner Lessons
Beginner lessons are for those who have never skied at all, for those who have downhill skied but never cross-country skied, or for those who have skied some, but know they could use instruction on the basics and develop good habits.
Intermediate Lessons
The intermediate lesson is a more individualized lesson. We will work on refining the skills covered in the beginner lesson, correcting bad habits, and addressing individual needs. The goal is to increase efficiency and improve dynamic balance.
Advanced Lessons
In the advanced lesson, we get down to the nitty gritty of energy efficiency and improved balance and dynamics. This lesson is for the serious skier who wants to refine his/her techniques and strive for a new level of speed, comfort, and efficiency. The instructor makes a detailed and critical analysis of the skier and gives necessary feedback. Specific skills are addressed as needed, and include all aspects of diagonal stride, double pole, and downhill technique.
Skate Skiing
If you want to learn or are frustrated with your attempts at it, a lesson is highly recommended! There is a lot involved in this technique that looks so easy when you see the experts fly by you. We introduce many different drills to help you improve each aspect of the technique.
The Telemark Lesson
This lesson introduces the basic telemark turn, and can be done with most regular nordic equipment, although waxable skis are highly recommended. We spend most of the lesson without poles, going through a gradual progression and a series of exercises that results in a complete telemark turn. Proper body position is stressed. If time permits, we try to link turns. Equipment, terrain, and snow conditions are discussed. Individual issues are addressed.
Snowshoe Tours
Everyone from beginners on up are welcome to join us on our guided snowshoe tours during the weekends. These tours, as well as snowshoe rentals, are free for guests but available to all. See more information.