Skiing, telemark skiing and snowboarding (from here on simply called skiing) require skills which are very unique in sports. In skiing one is sliding down the side of a mountain on a device and at the same time one is controlling the pattern of descent by movements of the body. The mission of any winter sports resort is to provide a terrain gradients for all skill levels. Most critical and often in shortage at resorts is the availability of the full array of beginner/novice terrain gradients. To allow for effective learning by beginners and novices a ski resort must have two essential ingredients. First, it must have slopes of such varying gradients that skiers can gradually improve their skills on terrain which is always within their comfort range. Second, because the sport's skill requirements are so unique it requires professional ski instruction to optimize learning.

The Mt. Shasta Ski Park satisfies both of these requirement exquisitely. It operates a PSIA member Ski School of high standing which provides daily instruction for all ages and skill levels in alpine and telemark skiing and snowboarding. In addition, the Mt. Shasta Ski Park is blessed with the superbly layed out Marmot Ridge beginner/novice terrain complex which rivals any such learning terrain throughout the country. The ridge encompasses 6 shallow, wide open, tree-lined, wind- protected trails which make an ideal learning environment (see image). These trails cover about 150 acres and the longest run is almost 4,000 feet. The fabulous Marmot Ridge learning terrain is accessed by it's own 3,500 foot long triple chairlift. The Mt. Shasta Ski Park Learning Center is so sure that the combination of it's enthusiastic instructors with it's optimum learning terrain guarantees the quick learning of snowsports at the resort. The Learning Center's "Guaranteed to Learn" Intro Package program is the exemplification of this belief (please note age restrictions). The program guarantees that "you will join our instructor on the Marmot lift by the end of the day and ski/board top to bottom on our beginner trails. If you are not able to ride the chairlift we will issue you a voucher to come back to finish your Intro Package at another time."

If you are learning at Mt. Shasta with it's shallow gradient runs on the Marmot Ridge you have a chance to experience the thrills of this exciting sport even on the first day! The unique experience of sliding down a snowy mountain trail surrounded by the magnificent scenery of Mt. Shasta Country must bring a big smile to anyone's face. Now you can feel what skiing is all about! The Mt. Shasta Ski Park congratulates you and is privileged to have helped you conquer skiing - a sport for a lifetime!