Buttermilk Resort
Buttermilk is one of four ski resorts just north of Aspen Highlands in Aspen, Colorado. Buttermilk Ski Area is the easiest skiing mountain in the group and is considered a low altitude family-oriented area. It’s also the location of one of the best ski schools and children’s ski programs in the USA. The current Managing Director for the combined four Ski/Snowboard Schools of Aspen is Katie Fry. “Skiing since she was three, Katie grew up ski racing with the Aspen Valley Ski Club until she was 18, at which time she began sharing her love of the sport by teaching others how to do it. She continues to teach in Aspen Snowmass during the US winters.”
Buttermilk has also become famous as the home to the ESPN Winter X-games and will continue that tradition through 2012. The extreme popularity of the X-games no doubt played a part in Buttermilk being voted #1 by Transworld Snowboarding Magazine Reader’s Poll for best park and pipe and #3 in overall resorts. Buttermilk visitors will enjoy “wide-open and gently rolling trails that cater to beginners and families. Perfectly groomed slopes, gentle powder and glades, combined with a great ski/snowboard school and 22-foot superpipe in the legendary terrain park make Buttermilk a secret gem.”
Kids 5-12 who love the snow and want to learn skiing and snowboarding have the option of group lessons, private lessons and specialty programs for all abilities. The 13-17 year old group gets the pros to teach everything from beginner terrain to steeps and deeps to jibbing in the park and pipe. Again, private lessons and group lessons are available for kids to maximize their fun and learning curve. The grown-ups also have lessons from the pros who teach all levels, abilities and interests in reaching your snow potential. Something for everyone and all the best terrain to do it in is what you can expect at the ski school in Buttermilk/Aspen.
Another great feature of Buttermilk is “Challenge Aspen”, which was formed in December of 1995. This program has grown into a year-round one, offering to bring access for anyone with a disability to a variety of sports, recreational and cultural activities. The program includes all levels of recreational skiing and snowboarding instruction for individuals who have a physical or cognitive disability. Participants as young as 4 years old receive specialized private instruction through Challenge Aspen’s PSIA-certified adaptive instructors, and adaptive equipment is provided to accommodate all needs. Also available are private lessons, a buddy program to assist people with challenges to get the most fun out of their wintertime activities, as well as the Challenge Aspen competitive program which offers race coaching for all skiing ability levels.
