We were given two Jiminy Peak ski lessons to make this story possible for our Learn to Ski series. We appreciate Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort’s and 1Berkshire’s support of Jersey Family Fun and our efforts to share information about the best ski resorts for kids with our readers. As always all opinions are our own.
Jiminy Peak – Skiing, Snowboarding and FUN!
When we booked a trip to Jiminy Peak for mid-December, we didn’t know what to expect. My kids have skied for a few winters but my husband is a seasoned skier. Would the Jiminy Peak mountain be challenging enough for him? Would the Jiminy Peak ski lessons keep the kids interested? Would there be enough snow early in the season? As the nonskier in the family, would the lodge offer some relaxation for me?
Jiminy Peak Ski Stats:
- 45 trails
- 9 lifts
- 167 acres
- Snowmaking all season as needed!
Our two-night stay was at the Country Inn, one of the Jiminy Peak hotels (see our review here). The all-suite hotel fit our family of four, but larger families may prefer the vacation homes also on the Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort property. What impressed me the most upon our arrival was how compact the mountain was. Not small in a bad way, but in an accessible way. Our past experiences were with mountains that required buses to get from lodging to skiing and I was excited to see Jiminy Peak is ski in/ski out Massachusetts ski resort.
What excited my kids on arrival was night skiing! We arrived just around dusk on a Friday and went straight to rentals after getting our Jiminy Peak lift tickets. The kids were outfitted quickly and accurately, and the attendants were able to answer our questions. Helmet rental is included with your rentals at Jiminy Peak – not every mountain does this so we appreciated not having an extra cost for something so essential.
They loved night skiing at Jiminy Peak! Even for their first time on skis for the 2017-2018 season, the mountain was manageable and fun. They stuck to novice and got at least 3 great runs in before it was just too cold (14 degrees). I thought they might be hesitant to ski in somewhat of the dark, but the runs were lit up more than enough. More was to come for the weekend so there were no worries in taking a break and resting up.
The next day was Jiminy Peak ski lesson day! My 12-year-old daughter was continuing her ski lessons but my 7-year-old son was ready to get on the snowboard for the first time. Our ski lessons were set up through our media contact, but reservations can be made with ease online through the Jiminy Peak website. All levels of ski lessons are available on the Jiminy Peak mountain!
Jiminy Peak Ski Lessons
- Kids Rule. Geared towards ages 3 – 14 of all levels, Kids Rule is a full day camp that provides lunch, hot cocoa and ski instruction at the Jiminy Peak Ski Resort. Adults can ski all day then have their kids join them for night skiing!
- Get Skiing and Snowboarding. Lessons for all ages! There are three levels of both ski and snowboarding lessons. Jiminy Peak ski lessons range from 80 minutes to 2 hours. Daily Jiminy Peak lift tickets are included in the price, so when the lesson is done you can ride the Jiminy Peak Ski Resort lifts as much as you wish.
- Private Lessons. Some people learn better one on one! Jiminy Peak offers private ski lessons for ages 6 and up. Jiminy Peak also offers private snowboarding lessons. Lesson times are from 9 AM until 3 PM and incur an hourly charge.
Our Experience with Jiminy Peak Ski Lessons
Since we were embarking on a ski and a snowboard lesson and different levels, our lessons were at different times. We checked in at the Doc Maynard Building at 10 AM and it wasn’t too busy for a Saturday morning. There were plenty of instructors available and lucky for us, both our kids ended up with private lessons! We already had gear, though rentals are included with the lessons. My son headed out with his Jiminy Peak ski resort instructor for a 2-hour lesson on the snowboard, and when he was done he could not wait to show us what he learned. The private attention was great for him as he was frustrated easily at the start and Mike was very patient with him.
Watch him as he gets up and moving for the first time on the snowboard!
https://www.facebook.com/JerseyFamilyFun/videos/10155239635830745/
My daughter was at the GET III level which meant she was ready to reach the summit! 2380 elevation sounds high to me, but along with her instructor Mike she was ready. He took her out to the beginner slopes first and refreshed her on some skills, but quickly moved her to the lift. Dad got to observe from afar as she skied down from the top. Her lesson lasted 80 minutes.
For the Jiminy Peak ski lesson, my daughter and instructor rode the Berkshire Express lift and skied down the Left Bank trail. The snowboard beginner stayed at the Jiminy Cricket (with lift) and Chipmunk (magic carpet) beginner slopes. The instructors are careful to not push the kids to more than they can handle, while keeping them engaged. Lessons at Jiminy Peak were a perfect way to kick off our ski season.
Sunday there was more mountain time, and the kids rode Left Bank and added on West Way. The snowboarding lesson was a success, but my son was more comfortable on skis. Rentals included one swap so there was no penalty for the switch to skis for Sunday. There were plenty of Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort ski trails open to keep them active and interested and yes, I had a great time hanging at the lodge!
For more photos from our visit to Jiminy Peak see our Facebook Album.
Click over to read our review of The Country Inn, one of the Jiminy Peak hotels before you plan your vacation to this Massachusetts ski resort. (coming soon).
Before you head out on your family vacation to Jiminy Peak make sure your car is ready with our Must Check Car Checklist for Road Trips.
