Events include Learn to Ski & Snowboard Free Week, January 12-18, 2013

NORTH WOODSTOCK, NH, NOVEMBER 2012 – During the month of January, Ski NH and its 33 member resorts will participate in a national program to introduce guests to the sports of skiing and snowboarding. Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month is a program taking place across the United States that features special offers making it easy and affordable for people to learn to ski, snowboard, cross country ski or snowshoe, and for current skiers & snowboarders to enhance their skills by taking lessons from professional instructors.

Among the special offers being featured in New Hampshire is Learn to Ski & Snowboard Free Week from January 12-18. 2013. During this week, at least 12 NH ski areas will be offering a limited number of free learn to ski or snowboard packages. These packages include a free beginner lesson, free equipment rentals, and a free beginner lift ticket or trail pass to those who register in advance. Participants must visit www.SkiNH.com to register and download a Learn to Ski or Ride Free Coupon; they then contact one of the participating areas to make a reservation for a specific day that week. Registration opens in mid-December. Participating alpine areas include Loon Mountain, Bretton Woods, Cannon Mountain, Waterville Valley, Gunstock Mountain Resort, Pats Peak, Ragged Mountain, and Granite Gorge; participating cross country areas include Jackson XC, Great Glen Trails, and Bretton Woods XC. As the event approaches more areas are expected to participate, so guests should continue to visit SkiNH.com for updates.

Every day of the ski season, New Hampshire’s ski areas already offer specially-designed learn to ski and snowboard programs to introduce new people to the sport. In addition to these learn to ski and snowboard packages, there will be many other special programs offered during January that normally are not available. Among these offerings, guests will find free & discounted lift tickets for those who bring a friend to try the sport, special pricing on learn to ski or snowboard packages, and follow-up rewards for first timers who choose to hit the downhill slopes or cross country trails again. Guests can visit the January Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month section on SkiNH.com for full details & offers.

Nationally the program is being promoted by a consortium of ski industry organizations & media outlets, as well as three well-known national ambassadors: ski icon Glen Plake, New Hampshire’s own Olympic & World Cup champion Bode Miller, and World Cup champion Darren Rahlves.

“Skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing & snowshoeing offer a fun & healthy way to get outside and enjoy winter with family and friends,” said Alice Pearce, president of Ski NH. “As the national slogan says, ‘Humans Were Never Meant to Hibernate.'”

To learn more about Ski NH’s January Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month events and New Hampshire’s 33 downhill and cross country resorts, visit www.SkiNH.com.

Ski NH is the statewide association representing 33 alpine and cross country resorts and more than 200 lodging and guest service properties in New Hampshire. For more information on ski areas, lodging packages, and updated winter events at Ski NH resorts, call Ski NH at (800) 88-SKI-NH (800-887-5464) or visit the Ski NH website at www.SkiNH.com. For statewide media relations assistance, visit the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism’s media room at http://visitnh.gov/media/ or contact Mr. Tai Freligh at 603-271-2343, option #2.