Heavenly beginner learn to ski

Question

I'm planning to teach a mate the ski basics up to snow plough. He's never been on skis before. Which is the best run at Heavenly to teach the basics without having to navigate ski lifts? Also where they are, and how to physically get to them. Needs to be fairly flat with a few gentle slopes on it.

Answer

If you are planning to teach a complete beginner at Heavenly, you’ll want to focus on areas specifically designated for learning, where slopes are gentle and mostly flat, and ski lifts are not required initially. Heavenly has a few excellent options for this.

Best Beginner Areas:

Boulder Lodge / California Base Learning Area: Located near the California Lodge base, this area has a large, flat practice zone perfect for teaching snow plough basics. The slope gently inclines, making it ideal for beginners to gain confidence before trying longer runs. You can access this area directly from the base without needing a ski lift.
Comet Express Learning Zone: A designated beginner area accessible via the Comet Express chair lift. While this does require a short lift ride, the zone itself is wide, gentle, and perfect for practicing stops, turns, and the snow plough. This is better if you want a few gentle slopes instead of entirely flat terrain.
Stagecoach or Easy Street Terrain: Slightly further up the mountain but still beginner-friendly, these runs are gentle green slopes. If your student is comfortable walking to a short beginner magic carpet lift, they can practice repeated runs without navigating complex lifts. These are slightly sloped but not intimidating.

Access Tips:

For completely avoiding lifts, stick to the California Base area at Boulder Lodge or the main learning area near the California Lodge. These are accessible directly from the parking lot or lodge area.
If your student progresses quickly and you want a gentle slope, the magic carpet lifts in the base areas provide easy repeated access without handling larger lifts.
Always check for ski school markers and signage—they highlight flat or slightly sloped areas suitable for beginners, and often these zones are patrolled to ensure safety.

Other Tips:

Use the flat areas to teach stopping, balance, and snow plough before moving to small slopes.
Keep the first session short—1–2 hours max for a complete beginner—to avoid fatigue and frustration.
Consider bringing ski poles later, once your student is comfortable with the snow plough on gentle slopes.

Starting in the base learning area ensures your friend can learn the fundamentals safely, gain confidence, and eventually progress to slightly inclined green runs without dealing with complicated lift systems.

Heavenly beginner learn to ski

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