What We Do

You are an instructor with Vail Resorts – quite possibly the greatest job on the planet. The mountain is your office and our eager guests are your clients. You are on the snow more days in a year than even the most passionate snow sports enthusiasts could ever hope for. You and your fellow instructors are part of an elite group that inspires the awe and respect of every instruction program in the country. This admiration does not come by merely wearing our uniform or riding on the best equipment– it comes from taking responsibility for professionalism and adhering to the highest standards of ski and snowboard instruction. It’s about doing your best to bring out the best in your clients, your coworkers and yourself.

We strive to give each of our guests their “experience of a lifetime”. We encourage our coaches to get to know each individual guest, find out what they really want to do and then get them there as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible.

We teach on the largest mountain on the west coast with 4,800 acres of terrain, much of it in the form of some of the best tree skiing and riding in the world. We have steep chutes and gullies in the canyons, terrain parks, as well as miles of “cruisey” blue terrain with great grooming and great views.

We have some of the most qualified staff on the west coast if not in the entire country with over 15 examiners for PSIA/AASI currently on staff.

We teach kids and adults of all abilities both skiing and snowboarding. The majority of our guests are beginners and novice (1st, 2nd, and 3rd timers) skiers and snowboarders, though we do teach more advanced guests as well.

Our children’s group lessons teach kids ages 3 and up skiing, and 5 and up snowboarding. The younger kids are separated into groups based on age and ability. These classes generally last all day. Adults are taught in a group setting for two and half hours. We also offer private lessons for all age groups and abilities.

We operate out of 3 primary locations.

  • The Gondola, located in the Heavenly Village, is an area that serves the “downtown” of South Lake Tahoe, right next to Stateline and the casinos. The Ski and Ride School teaches at the top of the Gondola.
  • California Main Lodge is where the majority of our guests from the Central Valley and the Bay Area visit, since it is easy to access via car.
  • Boulder is our location on the Nevada side. It is generally open only on holidays and weekends.