Best Slopes for Beginners near Westchester

[Naomin]

Hi Folks, I'm new on here. I would like to bring my novice 20 year old skiing for the first time. She attends school in Purchase so I'm looking for a hill I can bring her to within a 1 to 2 hour drive from there, with nice snow cover if that's possible. It would be just a two-day stay.

 

[Harvey]

Welcome.

Belleayre is a logical choice, just beyond your limit at 2 hours and 10 minutes from White Plains.

Holiday Mountain isn't open yet (new owners renovating the heck out of it, and they are a little late.) It's about 90 minutes from your novice.

Other choices that I know less about are Thunder Ridge, Mount Peter and West Point.

Maybe @Brownski will chime in on Thunder Ridge. Mount Peter has probably gotten more beginners on skis that any other mountain.

Ski Areas near NYC

Perfect for attracting new skiers.

nyskiblog.com

Do you ski? If you do, where do you like to ski? What is your skill level?

 

[Ripitz]

Check out Mohawk in CT. They have great beginner terrain and do an excellent job with snowmaking. It is an hour and a half drive from Purchase.

 

[Zykamps]

I second Belleayre. Lower mountain is novice all the way. Minimal advanced people racing for the lifts. Upper mountain has good low intermediate terrain on the flanks. Also the snow has been great this year.

 

[Naomin]

Welcome.

Belleayre is a logical choice, just beyond your limit at 2 hours and 10 minutes from White Plains.

Holiday Mountain isn't open yet (new owners renovating the heck out of it, and they are a little late.) It's about 90 minutes from your novice.

Other choices that I know less about are Thunder Ridge, Mount Peter and West Point.

Maybe @Brownski will chime in on Thunder Ridge. Mount Peter has probably gotten more beginners on skis that any other mountain.

Ski Areas near NYC

Perfect for attracting new skiers.

nyskiblog.com

Do you ski? If you do, where do you like to ski? What is your skill level?

Thanks Harvey. I ski'd a long time ago in high school, took myself to the slopes with practically no training and loved it. I haven't done it since and at 68 will stick to the bunny slopes if that. My daughter wants to have some snow given the awful climate reality (we're in Brooklyn), and she wants to try snow boarding.

 

[MarzNC]

Thanks Harvey. I ski'd a long time ago in high school, took myself to the slopes with practically no training and loved it. I haven't done it since and at 68 will stick to the bunny slopes if that. My daughter wants to have some snow given the awful climate reality (we're in Brooklyn), and she wants to try snow boarding.

Welcome! I'm about your age, but started skiing more regularly when I got my daughter on skis almost 20 years ago when she was 4 and could start ski school in northern VA. I'm a New Yorker who ended up in North Carolina in high school. My father was a professor at Brooklyn College. My mother found a place for retirement . . . a few years before he retired.

In any case, wherever you go it's well worth doing a beginner package that includes a lesson. The equipment is not the same as before 1990s. Much easier to make turns but the technique is slightly different. As for learning snowboarding, there will be more falls the first time but it's easier to get off the bunny slope for someone who enjoys sliding on snow. Skiing is easier to pick up on the first day . . . with a lesson.

By the way, if you are a woman, then may be worth checking out TheSkiDiva.com .

 

[Brownski]

Unless she’s a skate boarder or surfer, I would encourage going with skiing over snowboarding- just my opinion. I second Mohawk, given where you’re coming from. Then there’s Catamount, just a little further north.

 

[Harvey]

I agree on the lesson. Two different privates, if you can swing it. Start with the lesson first thing on the first day.

Re snowboarding, kids of course gravitate toward it. My two cents, is that on your very first day, snowboarding is harder. It's harder to learn to stop, which is the first thing you need to learn. Skiing is easier for a never ever. If I am wrong snowboarders, please say so.

IMO the bottom half of Belle could be great for both of you.

I ski'd a long time ago in high school, took myself to the slopes with practically no training and loved it.

Give in to the force Luke. You will love it, again!

 

[Sean Mc]

Thunder Ridge is a nice place for beginners but proportionally very expensive.

 

[MarzNC]

Hi Folks, I'm new on here. I would like to bring my novice 20 year old skiing for the first time. She attends school in Purchase so I'm looking for a hill I can bring her to within a 1 to 2 hour drive from there, with nice snow cover if that's possible. It would be just a two-day stay.

Since you are planning to stay overnight and Catamount was mentioned, Ski Butternut could be worth considering. I was very impressed at how much dedicated beginner terrain Butternut has. Even has a separate beginner chairlift in addition to the four magic carpets.

Great Barrington is a cute little town with several good restaurants downtown.