I took this class awhile ago so things may have changed but a few takeways: -even though my friend and I paid alot of money for the class(about $3000) and flew from another state, they didn't allow us to pair up as they wanted us to pair up with someone we didn't know. so just in case they still do this, pretend you came alone. -there are snow banks which you can crash into and damage the rental cars and you will have to pay for excessive damage so this isn't some safe, go all out and find your limits, environment. if i recall correctly, a couple students had to pay extra even tho they were being careful. -the cars they're required to use because of their sponsorship don't exactly help with some lessons like oversteering bc the car is built to prevent this. they had us do some weird hack to try to override this. -at the end they paired me and my partner up with an instructor to compete with the other teams for quickest combined time around the course. i highly disliked this as it isn't worth the risk damaging the car just for the instructors to have their fun at your expense. i felt like i was being pushed just so they can play their game. -kinda felt like the class was more for the instructors fun, not the students. most, if not, all of the instructors were competition drivers so it does seem like they're using this opportunity to get more track time and hone their skills. not a bad thing as long as you're the priority as you're the one paying and they're getting paid. read more

PRO: You get to practice driving in the snow in a very safe environment. CON: You get to practice driving in the snow in a very safe environment. They put us in late model Lexus's equipped with Blizzak snow tires on a track that was about three lanes wide. We used the entire width of the track and made wide turns. I don't know of any public lanes that are that wide where we would be able to do that. I would've like to also practice driving in more realistic conditions...more narrow lanes and in cars with lower quality tires. Of course they were also trying to help their sponsors (Lexus and Bridgestone) sell cars and tires (they offer a discount on the cars, but not on the tires. Bummer, I'm totally sold on the Blizzaks. The Lexus's were nice, too, but just out of my price range.). The 2nd Gear course is all day, from 9 am - 4:30 pm. They have you meet at the office/classroom downstairs at the Sheraton Hotel at 8:30 am for check-in, an hour of classroom instruction starting at 9 am, then shuttle you to the track about 10-15 minutes away. Then you get paired up with another student and then you guys take turns behind the wheel doing guided exercises and laps around the track. Then there's a short lunch (sandwich, chips, brownie, and water provided) at the track (no meeting up with your family or friends) and some more classroom instructions before heading back into the car again for more exercises and laps. They say there's about 4 hours of behind the wheel driving, but since you're sharing the car with someone else, you really only get to be behind the wheel half the time, so about 2 hours total of actual driving time. The course itself was fine--the staff were professional and knowledgeable. I just question the overall value of the course for an individual learning to drive in the snow. At $480 per person, it was not cheap. If your company is paying for you to be there, then that won't be an issue. But if you just want to practice driving in the snow, this is an expensive way of doing it. Since the track is quite remote, about 3.5 hours from Denver, you'll need someone to drive you there, and there will also be the cost of gas as well as 1-2 nights of hotel stay. Would I do this course again? Only if money was no issue, or if they lowered their rates. Otherwise, I would buy their instructional DVD and take my lesser car with balding tires to a vacant parking lot, or a deserted road, and practice for free. The "certification" was useless for me, as my auto insurance co (USAA) would not give me a discount for taking it, unless I was 55 or older. I didn't do it for the certification, but the discount would have been nice. Overall, it was "A-OK" for me, not bad. read more

Larry holds a ton of racing licenses including an FIA entrants permit and he thoroughly enjoyed this school. Unlike Skip Barber or Bondurant, this place lets you make all the learning mistakes you make at 120 MPH, but at much lower and far more exaggerated speeds than tarmac. Larrys face hurt after the smiting at the end of the complete fifth gear (advanced) course. BTW, this is the only winter driving school in the states and it fills up fast. All the instructors were active race competitors. This might pose a problem for a few since the advanced instructors employ race vocabulary, but they are happy to explain if you don't get it. A quick observation here: you cant become proficient at anything with a day of instruction. Do not expect to become a winter driving expert by taking the one day safety class - you simply cant learn this stuff in a day. Larry spent a week here and he is going back this year to rewaken the muscle memory that has lain dormant for the summer. 4wd, front wheel drive and sports cars are all featured and, yes, you can learn to confidently drive a front wheel drive car in the snow. Highly recommended for a competitive track racer who wants to hone skills as well as novices who want to feel safer and more confidant in snow and ice. Make your reservations immediately; you will not regret it. read more

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Very disappointed. The guys where abrasive, not sure if it was just a bad day or what. Either way it made for an unpleasant experiences. Also, would have been nice to use my own vehicle; they want you in their cars while you listen to a sales pitch. I paid to learn how to drive better in winter weather, not buy a Toyota or Bridgstone tires. read more

I had a blast at the all day class and I learned a few things that will help me with winter driving. Our instructors were Gary and John and they were top notch, very patient and they showed a passion for the subject matter. They do talk about the Blizzak tires a bit but they weren't being pushy about it. read more

Snow / Ice-packed track in the heart of the Rockies! Life long training experiences in winter conditions. The benefits are life-long with Bridgestone Winter Driving School that include awareness,planning, trust & team-building. The Blizzaks are the best winter tire and quiet. read more

I am a huge fan. I signed up for the Second Gear course, which is a full day course (from about 830-4p with 30-45min break for lunch-included in fee) that includes both classroom and driving time. My instructors were Gary and Lea and they were both absolutely fantastic. They both have some sort of racing background and provide excellent feedback for helping students improve. You spend about an hour or so upon arrival with classroom time, which includes a short video. Finally, just when you're tired of listening, you board a bus and head to the track, which is about a 15 min drive away. You are paired up (they prefer that you split up if you come with a friend) and you and another driver take turns driving. Initially, I was disappointed that I wouldn't be exclusively driving the whole time, but I quickly learned that it gets exhausting. You probably switch drivers every 30 min or so but it's mentally draining as you're trying to improve your driving and incorporate the feedback/tips that they give you. The instructors are in their own cars with radios, perched somewhere where they can see you and provider feedback. At first, I thought it was silly that they aren't in the car but they are outside, looking at your tires, which gives them the best idea of what you are doing inside the car as the car just responds to the input that you give it. You learn skills like safely recovering from a skid, accident avoidance, braking (with and without abs), turns, etc. Coming from the east coast, prior to the course, I considered myself an above average driver, but when it comes to snow, it's a whole different story and I completely lack confidence. I liked the ability to polish my skills (what they teach you can be applied to any driving surface, not just snow/ice) for winter driving in a safe environment. They alternate between drills and just driving around the track, allowing some free "play" time. We were driving brand new Lexus ES and NX series cars with blizzak tires. As I will be purchasing a new car in the next few months, it was awesome to see how they deal in the snow. Additionally, being able to practice with the abs on/off was helpful. While I've never driven a car without abs, when you turn off the abs, you turn off the stability control, which makes a huge difference. You can definitely notice the difference in the car handling and I think that learning how to drive with it off builds your skills, making you an even better driver with the benefits of the system. Another reviewer mentioned that the track is wide and I share their sentiment of wishing that the track was narrower and more similar to a real road, at least later in the day when you've gotten the hang more. However, for safety reasons, I totally get why it is the way it is. There were several times were if the track wasn't so wide, I would have hit a snow bank and definitely damaged the car. If they made the track narrower, there would be significantly more car damage (no cars were damaged during my class) and the class cost would be increased. I think this is an excellent class that everyone could benefit from. Being the nerd that I am, I would have liked a written copy of their powerpoint or a take home summary sheet but that's honestly my only complaint. It is definitely pricey ($495), however, I think that it is worth it. Depending on your driving skill, you could learn a lot from taking the same class multiple times. They also have offerings that include a half day class, performance classes, and custom classes. You can also arrange to use your own car on their track, which permits you to see how your own vehicle would handle. All in all, I was definitely pleased and would do it again. read more

Anyone who expects to drive in snow at least once a year or who wants to learn how to drive the hell out of a car on snow, from a pro, then this is your chance. I would do it again tomorrow. read more

I took the safety course yesterday, and thought it was outstanding. The customer service was incredible the took the time to learn my name and lunch was great. I learned a lot about winter driving and feel more confident driving in icy conditions now. This is a must take course for any new driver and the best way to build confidence for experienced drivers. read more

Context: I and my two children, 19 and 17 year old son and daughter took this class at same time. We are from California, and I wanted to give my kids experience in how to drive on snow and ice. I grew up in the mid-west and felt comfortable driving in snow, but I took the class to refresh myself. We took Gear 2 class. Our instructors were Gary and Leah (spelling Lea vs Leah, sorry!) Bottom line: -Very important course. Should be mandated that all American drivers no matter what part of the US you live in take this course. Learned so much about how to control the car under slippery conditions. Even those that drive in snow routinely will learn so much because the teachings are totally counterintuitive. You cannot be a "natural" driver on ice and snow, so put your ego aside and listen to these instructors because everything you learn in the average drivers ed course gets tossed out the window. I felt so much more confident in my driving ability after a day in Gear 2 course, and I really felt good that both of my kids acquired extra skills on driving in such conditions. Pros: -They provide new cars for you. Other schools you bring your car or you use your own rental car which causes liability issues. They provide new cars. The cars are specially equipped with radios and ability to turn on and off anti-lock brake system, so you learn how to drive with both ABS and non-ABS cars. I was skeptical about radio instruction because I wanted the instructor in the seat next to me, but Bridgestone has been doing this for 34 years. The instructors are in their own trucks driving around the course and have various scouting areas so they can see the entire track and watch each student driving their car. Each car is numbered, so they can keep track of who is who. They can see if your wheels lock up or don't lock up. They can see if you are shifting weight to the rear tires or front tires. They can see if you shift weight to left side or right side of car etc. They then can give you pinpoint technical instructions in real time as you whip around the corner. -Instructors are fantastic! I saw previous review saying they were abrasive. Toss that review out. My driving partner, who I never met before, was a female. She was in her 40's. We heard the instructors give instant feedback to each driver overhead on the radio, and both gave us feedback. Sometimes they are straight forward. If you were every coached on a sport team or in a situation requiring critical actions and instant feedback, then you know you can't be this cuddly fuzzy warm person and give indirect feedback. You are whipping around a corner, and they will tell you what to do at that instant in real time to help you perform. Throttle, don't throttle, brake, turn etc, and if you do it sloppy they tell you that you did it sloppy, and if you take the feedback and improve with next try. Both my driving partner and i thought instructors were very appropriate and that millennials needed this kind of instruction. You have literally tenths of second to make corrections, so they tell you quickly what to do. When you feel the control and beautiful way of using the car weight, throttle, steering and braking to control the car in the "edge of grip" you are so thankful for Gary and Leah to be there watching over you. In addition, Leah said something overhead on the radio to all of us while driving. She said that she "felt responsible for all of us and wanted to make sure the knew what were doing" so that we could be safe and skilled drivers should we suddenly find ourselves confronted with an accident or crisis on slick ice/snow while we drive. Their hearts are in the right place. Have no fear of the instructors. They want you to have fun and learn! Finally they take you into their car at end of day and show off what precision driving really is by driving around the track and showing you the skills you just learned only at high speeds and superb control. It was like the grace and balance of ballet only in a car whipping around corners on now and ice. It was beautiful. - They pair you up with strangers in class. You don't ride with your family because they learned the emotional tension is too high. You learn better with new people in your driving class. That was awesome because you bond really quickly with your new driving partner and help each other out. I was asking mine what I was doing wrong and how to interpret what the instructors were telling me to do. Your partner also talks on the radio for you and speaks for you while you are at the wheel. -The lecture is 1 hour. It consists of video and a talk that is no fluff all pertinent content lecture. Its' the best kind of lecture. No academic bull. They give you what you need to know, and they take questions and explain things clearly. I asked some dumb questions, but they didn't make me feel dumb. They really understood what i was thinking, and corrected my thought. Cons: NONE! read more

Well I am now a certified "Ice Driver", and yes, I do feel more confident driving in winter conditions. All of that aside, I have never had more fun a car in my life. It's true. This one day course was super helpful, and applicable to all real-world driving conditions, but more than that it was a blast, I can't describe how much fun I had. Bridgestone prides itself on training the Secret Service, private security for celebs and world leaders, and it shows. These guys are very professional and knowledgeable, but overall they know how to have fun behind the wheel! Endorsed by Toyota, we drove a line-up of about 5 different models, for me, it was the AWD Matrix, and switched between a few others(4Runner, and a RWD Tundra). Safety and control were the first courses we went through...pretty standard accident avoidance stuff (on ice), after that we had a run at the course. Learning how to take corners and avoid over-steer, under-steer, and everything in between. After all of the "training" and "learning" it was time to put our skillz to work, so he let everyone loose for a free-for-all on the 1.5 mile course, all super slick ice. It was fun to say the least, we hit about 95 in the straight way, slamming on the brakes into the first corner, sliding completely sideways and accelerating into the next turn, it was a truly exhilarating experience!. Something everyone who enjoys driving should experience at least once in their life. If you are skiing in Steamboat or in the area for any reason make an appointment, you will learn a lot, and have a great time doing it! Worth every penny! read more

If your goal is high performance driving on ice the one day program is not for you ; it's a rather boring safety class for people who never drove in snow before. I was looking forward to sliding around in turns but instead you spend the day driving slowly and then braking in straight line.. etc,etc. read more

Since I am a recent transplant to Colorado from Southern California, my daughter and son-in-law treated me to the "First Gear" Class (half-day). If you're familiar with SoCal drivers you will know that most of us don't even know how to drive in the rain - much less the snow. The idea was that I'd be a much safer driver - with grandkids in the car. Other reviewers discuss the vehicles and tires. Yes, I agree - owning a Lexus would be lovely, but I would be more inclined to put my money to installing the Blizzak tires on my 2005 Honda. For no good reason, I was quite apprehensive when starting the course. The program begins with an excellent video that gives a LOT of information. Way more than I could absorb, but as the class went on, most of it became clear. Once in the vehicles, communication is via 2-way radio so having a second driver is helpful as the passenger can operate the radio and the driver can concentrate. I also learned about the feel of the vehicle when I was the passenger. My major obstacle was that I experienced pretty significant motion sickness - partly due to the conditions of the day and partly due to...I get car sick. If prone to motion sickness, it might be wise to take a mild medication, but before starting the class, you must sign an agreement that you haven't taken any medication that would impair your ability to drive. I guess I have no answer for that. The instructors were awesome! Professional, humorous, friendly, and gave clear, concise directions. And for those among us who couldn't quite master braking without benefit of an ABS (that would be me), gave extra instruction. Yes - I had to sit in the back seat while the instructor gave a demonstration. It was helpful so I swallowed my pride (which might be what made me carsick.) I would absolutely recommend the full-day of instruction. I plan to return for a one-on-one hour of instruction on the course. Despite feeling off - I really loved the experience and recommend it to anyone. read more