Who says kids get to have all the fun? At Stratton, we believe guests of all ages deserve the opportunity to take part in programs to help improve their skiing or riding. Our Adult Seasonal Programs are just that. Offered to guests 18+, these seasonal programs foster growth, both athletically and socially, while providing individualized attention in a fun, relaxed environment. Let’s see what these seasonal programs have to offer.
Stratton offers two different seasonal programs for adults: the Adult All Mountain Performance program (AAMP), which is designed for skiers, and the Adult Mountain Riders program (AMR), which is designed for snowboarders. These programs begin the first weekend of December and meet every Saturday and Sunday through the last weekend in March. Both programs are also offered during the entire Christmas week and both Mondays of MLK weekend & President’s weekend.
Imagine skiing or riding every Saturday and Sunday for four months with professionally certified coaches and a group of your closest friends. That’s exactly what our Adult Seasonal Programs have in store for you.
Schedule
A Typical Day of AAMP or AMR goes as follows:
- 8:30am: Guests in seasonal programs typically meet by the Snow Sports School building in the base area
- 9:00am: Hit the slopes!
- 9:00-11:30am: Groups are on the mountain with their coaches working on new skills, socializing with other guests and having fun. Sunday sessions end at this time.
- 12:30-3pm: Saturdays only – Head back out for the afternoon session on Saturdays after lunch has ended. Ride the afternoon with your crew and enjoy the day to it’s full potential.
“In fact, we have many repeat guests in these programs that come year after year to ride with the same group of friends. Aside from how great our coaches are, the main comment our guests make about our seasonal programs is how much they love the community of skiers and riders they have become a part of through these programs. It’s not so much of a lesson as it is a riding session with a group of your peers”
-Tony Bailey, Seasonal Programs Manager
Don’t be fooled; although you are skiing/riding with professionally certified coaches who are trained to help you improve your skills, our Adult Seasonal Programs are far from your ordinary, regimented ski or snowboard lesson. Our coaches spend the entire season with each group, they have the unique opportunity to develop a relationship with their group and work on multiple skills over an extended period of time. Because of this, coaches are not forced to jam the same fundamental skills into every session. They have the freedom to work on whatever skills the guests in their group want to work on and go at their own pace.
From stopping and linking turns to navigating a glade or trying your first boardslide, our coaches are trained to teach anything and everything their group wants to work on. All coaches are certified through either the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) or the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI).
Seasonal Programs Manager, Tony Bailey, explains that the coaches of our seasonal programs focus on “coaching rather than teaching.” Often, especially with intermediate to advanced groups, the coach is not really teaching but rather riding alongside their group, showing them new things and giving tips for improvement. Tony went on to say, “The goal for both of those programs is to develop well-rounded skiers and riders.”
Many different types of skiers and riders enroll in our seasonal programs. From beginners to experts, backcountry to freestyle, and locals to out-of-staters, these programs provide fun for any age or skill level. Beginners join because they want to commit to the sport, they want to fully immerse themselves in skiing or snowboarding and jump right in. Their main motivation is to improve their skills and learn something new. Intermediate to advanced skiers and riders tend to join in part to round out and improve their skills but also for the social aspect of the programs. They’re looking to ride with friends, and meet new riding partners and après with these connections, season after season, on and off the mountain.
Other perks include taking advantage of the Ski School express lift lines and following experienced coaches who know the mountain well and always find the best snow every session. Parents of children in seasonal programs often want to get in on the mountain fun, and AAMP and AMR are the best ways to see what all the buzz is about.
These programs are great for anyone who is looking to meet/ride with new partners and explore Stratton with an experienced local. Whether you’re new to the area and looking to meet friends, an out-of-stater looking to better familiarize yourself with the resort or a seasoned local looking to make new lines and lead new buddies, our Adult Seasonal Programs offer something for everyone.
For more information about Stratton’s Adult Seasonal Programs, contact Tony Bailey at tbailey@stratton.com.