I found that in Boone, North Carolina. Turns out the home of Appalachian State University isn’t just a place of higher learning, but also an ideal place for eager, inexperienced skiers to learn the slopes in a cheaper, lower-pressure, and less intimidating location than the big-name Western resorts.
I visited Appalachian Ski Mountain resort this winter to finally learn. Plan it right and you can spend about $100 a day to ski. The resort, as well as Beech Mountain Resort, are both near Boone and are less crowded than those in the Rocky Mountains, according to the National Ski Areas Association. You can take individual or group ski lessons that are family-friendly for both adults and kids 6 and older — which put me at ease since my 9-year-old son and I were both on skis for the first time.
Photo: Sheeka Sanahori
Going skiing for the first time felt like a crash course in understanding the gear involved. I asked several friends who are experienced skiers for help before we made the trip. Adventure travel writer Ariel Frager gave me the intel on what gear I’ll need to rent (everything technical from boots to helmet) versus bring on my own (baselayers and either goggles for cold days or sunglasses on blue bird days).
We packed baselayers from FORLOH and Hollow Socks made from alpaca fiber, which stay drier longer than cotton. At Appalachian Ski Mountain, I also rented a snow bib for a waterproof layer that proved helpful all the times I bit the snow.
The morning we took our ski lesson, Boone had unseasonably warm, spring-like weather. By the end of the lesson, we had shed our top-layer ski jackets and gloves to practice downhill runs. I saw more experienced skiers in T-shirts, clearly prepared for Boone’s temperature swings at the end of the ski season here — which is shorter than out West and typically runs from about late November to March.
Taking a ski lesson (or two, or three) is essential for someone just getting started. Our instructor taught us safety basics, how to slow down and stop, and the importance of practicing proper form from the start to build muscle memory.
Photo: Explore Boone
There are other less-technical adventures, like tubing on Beech Mountain, for winter enthusiasts to join if they’re not interested in skiing or snowboarding. But if you’re learning in Boone, the upside is that the off-mountain experience is strong and affordable, too.
When the weather permits driving off the mountain and into town, Boone’s dining scene is worth the windy stretch of road. There are nearly 100 locally-owned restaurants within a 10-mile radius of the ski resort. The area is full of worth-the-detour stops, says Over Yonder chef Andy Long, who has lived in Boone for two decades.
“There are top-notch restaurants and really talented cooks out there,” Long says. “I think the whole area is a little slept on.”
Over Yonder is on the first floor of the Rhodes Motor Lodge, a classic 1950s roadside motel that’s been newly renovated with modern, industrial flair. The menu is classic Southern Appalachian with a Louisiana influence — an ode to Long’s home state. Appalachian trout is a staple on the menu, and Long lets the fish speak for itself with a cornmeal coating and quick fry. The dressing makes the fish sing: smoked onion pureed in a tartar sauce base that adds a depth of flavor.
For breakfast, you’re in good hands at restaurants named after a person. Case in point: Troy’s 105 Diner, which serves hearty breakfast platters in a classic 1950s diner setting, and Betty’s Biscuits, a downtown spot serving massive fluffy biscuits however you like them. Photos of the staff’s grandmas adorn the walls and feel like they fill the dining room with love.
Make a reservation at The Beacon for pasta and pizza; both the pasta and pizza dough are made in-house. Chef Reese Gamble stopped by our table after we spotted the menu option to buy the kitchen a beer. After enjoying his pasta with mussels and fresh tomatoes, it was a no-brainer to add this to our tab.
Photo: Sheeka Sanahori
Learning to ski with my son made me realize this wasn’t just an opportunity to bond over trying something new. We were building a foundation for a new activity that we can do together for years to come. Skiing is a great family-friendly activity, especially for children who love movement activities and are eager to learn new skills.
That’s why I was surprised to hear Robert Baker, our ski instructor, say that more than 80 percent of new skiers people don’t keep up with the sport.
“It’s kind of like skydiving: people check the box,” Baker says. “Our goal here is to introduce people to skiing and get them to come back, whether it’s here, Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Colorado — wherever it is.”
After learning the basics, I’m determined to not become a part of that one-and-done statistic. All it took was one day on the slopes for me to initiate a new goal: to make skiing a lifelong hobby to enjoy with my family. 