Thanks to Blue Angel Ski & Snowboard Program for sponsoring 510Families today! We’re so excited to share their story about this cool way to turn children into snow sports lovers.
I wish I was a kid who could learn from the Blue Angel Ski School. Now in its 30th season, the Blue Angel Youth Ski & Snowboard Program provides kids, ages 8 through 16, from all over the East Bay, Marin, Peninsula, and San Francisco, an opportunity to ski or snowboard the local mountains with their friends and other snow sports enthusiasts.
Kids get picked up by bus on Saturday morning and returned in the evening.
Blue Angel is ideal for families who want to give children high-quality snow sports coaching but don’t have the time or skills to do it themselves.
Hosted by Sierra-at-Tahoe, the program caters to all ability levels, from first-timers to experts, and provides a safe environment in which youth can learn to excel at snow sports. And, did I mention transportation to and from Tahoe is provided?
How Blue Angel Ski & Snowboard School works:
Parents drop children off with their snow gear in Piedmont very early on a Saturday morning; Blue Angels does the rest. Program participants are placed in groups of 6-9, based on age and ability, and then assigned to a coach for the duration of the program. The consistency of having the same coach each Saturday and learning groups of equal age and ability is an ideal formula for rapid advancement. Blue Angel participants advance an average of three levels each season.
Fees and timing for the 2023 Blue Angel Snow Season:
- The 2023 Blue Angel program dates are 5 Saturdays from Jan. 21 to Feb. 25 (excluding 2/18).
- The program costs $1800 for approximately 30 hours of coaching, lift tickets, bus transportation, lunch/snacks, and adult supervision on and off the slopes.
- Families provide snow gear, water bottles, and extra snacks.
- Bay Area caregivers can drop off at Richmond Costco, Piedmont High School, Lafayette BART, Danville, and Redwood City Sports Basement on Saturday morning during the 5 am hour and pick up during the 8 pm hour (see the schedule).
More Blue Angel Snow logistics:
- You provide children’s snow gear. Long-term seasonal rentals (like at Sports Basement) can be a great option if you don’t own your own equipment.
- Lunch and snacks at the resort are provided. Kids will need to pack plenty of healthy snacks and water for the bus rides to and from the mountain.
- For more information visit the Blue Angel website at www.BlueAngelSnow.com.
More perks for your budding skier:
The on-snow experience is not the only feature that draws young snowboarders and skiers to this unique program. Kids also enjoy socializing with other young snowboarders and skiers during lunch and at the day’s end. The private group area designated for “Blue Angels Only” features a kid/teen-friendly area with music, pro-rider appearances, and sponsor giveaways. Plus, participants enjoy munching on food and drinks from Subway and Domino’s with loads of delicious snacks throughout the day.
Find out more about Blue Angel Ski & Snowboard Program
There are information sessions at three Bay Area Sports Basement locations in January. Stop by to learn more:
📅 Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 4:45 and 5:30 pm at 202 Walnut St., Redwood City
📅 Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 3:45 and 4:30 pm at 2727 Milvia St., Berkeley
📅 Thursday, Jan. 19 at 4:45 and 5:30 pm at 1041 Market Pl., San Ramon
Blue Angel Snow Parents Say
Blue Angel Snow is truly the best winter camp for kids! It is especially great for Californian children to learn ski or snowboard. The kids have an incredible time on the slopes for five Saturdays. Not only do they learn from very skilled professional instructors, but they also meet kids from all over. It is a really a neat way to learn and enjoy winter sports. Heidi and her team are very caring and encouraging. They make every kid feel special and it’s really impressive to see how fast the kids learn in a really short time. Our kids love the program, and they ask to go back every year!
~ Grace, parent of 2 participants
This is a great program for kids to go up with friends, or go alone and meet new friends while having fun on the slopes. Griff and Heidi Emery have been doing this for so many years now they have it down to a science. The program is well organized, with attention to the details for the logistics of transporting several hundred kids from all around the bay area up to Lake Tahoe, feeding them, placing them in a small group instruction class, and getting everyone safely back home again at the end of the day with a dinner stop along the way. I highly recommend this program to any parent looking for a safe and reasonably priced alternative to driving up and back to Lake Tahoe for a similar type of ski trip.
~ Todd F., parent
My son and I have participated in the program for the last 4 years and LOVED it! The kids get a full day of ski lessons, lunch, and a ride to and from the ski hill. Whether your child is already an experienced skier or snowboarder and loves the mountain or is just starting out, this is a great program. What’s great is that it’s not just a 2-hour lesson. I also felt that my son was in good hands and well looked after all day. When the kids are on the bus, there are 3-4 chaperones that make sure that they are happy and safe. G & PG movies are shown each way, so the bus ride flies by. The chaperones make sure that kids get to and from the bus safely, eat some lunch and dinner, are comfortable on the bus, etc. They also help the younger ones get their gear on and hang out in the lodge if kids aren’t feeling well or aren’t up for skiing. My son looks forward to this program each year. He’s made some great friends and become a fantastic skier. I can’t recommend this program highly enough.
~ Alan B., parent
Blue Angel Snow was created to get kids on the slopes
Blue Angels was started in 1992 by ski industry veteran Heidi Thompsen Emery and her husband Griff to give children and teenagers an opportunity to experience the sports of snowboarding and skiing. Combined, Griff and Heidi Emery have more than 50 years of experience in the youth ski and snowboard industry. In addition to being avid snow-riders themselves, both have passed along their passion to their children, Cobi and Kaili.
Thanks again to Blue Angel Snow for getting us excited about learning to ski and snowboard this season.
[All images provided by Blue Angel Snow and used with permission; all rights reserved]
