Fun Snowballs At Lookout Ski School Head Start Classes Get Early Spills Out Of The Way, Build Confidence

Sarah Derbyshire slipped down the beginner hill at Lookout Pass Ski Area until a volunteer instructor stuck out a foot to stop her backward descent.

It was the 9-year-old Kellogg girl’s second time on skis and her confidence began to dip with the slide.

“You don’t say ‘I can’t,”’ Susan Truitt, the instructor, calmly told Sarah. “You say ‘I don’t know how yet, but I’m going to learn.”’

Both student and teacher were part of the Lookout Pass Free Ski School that began Saturday morning with the “Head Start” classes. More than a dozen skiers signed up for the two-hour lesson.

Head Start classes, which continue Saturday, give first-timers a chance to practice before joining more seasoned beginners this month. The ski area’s regular 10-week free ski school, in its 55th season, begins Dec. 26.

“When they start learning stuff their faces just light up,” Truitt said. “That’s why I keep coming back.”

Truitt, who learned to ski in the program 32 years ago, has been teaching the sport for six years on the hill 12 miles east of Wallace.

“It’s changed over the years,” Truitt said. “The only thing that hasn’t changed is the people.”

Regulars laud the mountain’s family atmosphere. George and Gleniece Hughes began skiing at Lookout Pass and now bring their kids to the free ski school.

“The price is right and it’s good for the kids,” said George Hughes. “It’s a great family ski hill.”

After less than two hours of instruction Saturday, the Post Falls couple’s two sons and daughter had little trouble riding the rope tow up the beginner slope and racing back down.

“It’s fun,” said Hollie Hughes, 10. “I like going fast.”

Hal, 9, and Jake, 7, dressed in matching green outfits, seemed to share their sister’s need for speed. Neither made many turns on the way down the hill to make another run.

“They really have no fear,” said Truitt, one of a half-dozen volunteers. “Without that fear factor you can get them to do just about anything.”

For Travis Anderson, a veteran skier at age 10, that meant learning to snowboard. The Hayden Lake boy made his first run on a snowboard Saturday.

“I thought it would be fun,” said Travis, who had skied for four years. “I wanted to try something different.”

It did not take long before he found his balance.

“Oh, here he comes,” beamed Travis’ mother, Donna, one of several parents watching or helping their children. “Look at this. Woo!”

The ski school’s modest goals make it easy for new skiers to succeed.

“If in two hours they can come down and stop themselves, it’s a success,” said Dean Cooper, Lookout Pass president and general manager.

Lookout Pass officials expect dozens of beginning skiers to sign up for the free lessons over the next several weeks and are still seeking volunteers.

“You don’t necessarily need to be a crack skier or the best snowboarder,” Cooper said. “You just have to like kids.”

Cut in the Spokane edition.