St. Louis Ski Program Offers Chills and Thrills

On a cold January evening at Hidden Valley Resort in Wildwood, Missouri, a cheerful female ski instructor guides a group of four girls, all no older than 12, through their very first ski lesson. The eager pupils begin with the basics: attaching their boots to their skis, learning how to move across the snow on one ski, and mastering the art of sliding and stopping on both skis. The instructor teaches them to form a “big pizza slice” with their skis to slow down or come to a stop, while also showing them how to pick up speed by gliding with their skis parallel and their bodies in an athletic stance, arms extended for balance.

Over the next two hours, the girls transform from complete beginners to competent skiers. They take their first ride on the Magic Carpet Lift to the top of the beginner hill, then descend with new skills and enthusiasm. As they ski down, you hear the joyful shouts of “I did it!” echoing through the air.

Brooklyn, an 8-year-old, almost collides with picnic tables but expertly makes a big pizza slice and halts just in time. Afterward, as she slips off her boots, she exclaims, “I was surprised how easy it was!”

These four girls are part of a larger group of about 30 kids participating in the Epic for Everyone program, now in its fourth year. Funded by Vail Resorts, the owner of Hidden Valley, the five-week program offers ski lessons, ski gear, transportation, and dinner to children from St. Louis recreation centers and after-school programs.

(Reiss Wegman)

“Watching the kids develop new skills is the most rewarding part,” says Chris Geden of River City Outdoors, a partner in the program. “Skiing isn’t easy, and there’s often some fear involved. But these kids are willing to step out of their comfort zones, embrace the challenge, and ultimately feel confident and empowered.”

This newfound confidence is evident in the Hidden Valley rentals building after the first ski lesson. The kids share their excitement with comments like, “It was great,” “So much fun,” and “I loved how fast you could go.”

Donnie Delmain, a Hidden Valley ski instructor, is equally impressed, particularly given the challenging conditions — freezing temperatures, darkness, and icy slopes.

“For beginners, these kids did amazing,” says Delmain. “If you can ski out here in these conditions, you can ski anywhere in the world.”

To see more photos of the program, keep scrolling.