If you're anxious about skiing, go see Jack at Virtual Snow! After a scary first time last year at Big Bear, this was the perfect way to learn in a low-stress environment. Their simulator is a total game-changer--it allows you to build muscle memory and work on your form in a controlled, indoor setting without the ice, wind, or crowds of the mountain. Being from Texas, I didn't grow up skiing, so learning as an adult is tough. These Virtual Snow lessons didn't just teach me the mechanics of skiing; they have helped me with trying to conquer my fear of heights and rebuilding my confidence. Jack has also been incredibly patient while I recovered from a toe injury, and the lessons were the best distraction from a stressful few months. If you're a beginner or nervous about the snow, start here! read more

Wonderful experience! My daughter loved it and learned quite a bit about snowboarding. It was a one hour session - unfortunately I'm blanking on the instructors name, but he was great! Very patient, very informative, and very helpful. We only had time to do one session as we were headed to Mammoth two days later. But my daughter learned a decent amount in just that one session, and she did great for someone snowboarding for the first time! We plan on going for more sessions before the next winter season, and we'll definitely be coming back here! read more

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Honestly had such an incredible time! I usually snowboard and it's my first time trying out skis. I wanted to do so in a safe environment so that when I actually went skiing, I'd be able to take full advantage of the snow. Virtual snow provided me the perfect opportunity to get skills experience in exactly that way! Rob the owner was very kind and accommodating when I first walked in. I had my lesson with Allen who was l very professional and gave me great tips on my first lesson. Highly recommend if you are looking to get some skiing or snowboarding lessons before hitting the actual slopes! read more

Virtual Snow - Ski Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Highly recommend!!! For reference, I've only ever skied once when my fiancé taught me last year in big bear and while I was able to go down the green run, I went down pizza'ing the whole time. I did a ski lesson a few days before my trip to Mammoth and Gokhan was a great instructor! I was a little skeptical if this lesson would translate to the snow and I can confidently say it did! I did the green run at mammoth maybe 5-7 times and on the first run could immediately implement the things I learned during my lesson. For anyone looking to learn how to ski, I highly recommend virtual snow! You get a full 1 hour of a lesson and your instructor can point out small things that instructors most likely can't when you're on the snow. read more

I've tried ski lessons throughout my life but never graduated from learning how to stop. I took a few lessons at Virtual Snow before a trip to Mammoth. It made me more comfortable and confident so I was able to make greater progress on the mountain with an instructor. read more

I'm very impressed with the staff at Virtual Snow. I honestly can't say enough good things about this place. I had taken 1 ski lesson at Mammoth before this, and the instructor, I think Michael is his name, is wayyy better than the instructor I had at Mammoth. Michael was knowledgeable, patient, and really took the time to show me how to ski. He gave constant feedback, corrected my stance and movements without overwhelming me, and was super encouraging the whole time. And it wasn't just me. My preschool aged son came too. I think his instructor's name is Jax. And Jax was AMAZING with him. My son was having a tough time, very nervous, unsure, and a bit clingy. But Jax handled it all calmly and was very reassuring. He was extremely gentle, attentive , and had a great way of connecting with him. The facility is clean and well equipped. I saw the staff wiping down the bars and spraying the boots after it's been used. But it's the people who make this place outstanding. read more

I took a class as an adult new to skiing and thought it was great. The instructor was patient and very informative. I would highly recommend. I would come about 5 minutes early and wear athletic pants like sweat pants and long socks. read more

Gokhan the snowboard instructor was great! Highly recommend Virtual Snow for anyone interested in trying to pick up a new sport of skiing or snowboarding. They have lots of equipment to use. My daughter brought her own boots. She had fun and learned so new tips and approach to our upcoming snowboarding season Thank you Gokhan! read more

Virtual Snow - Ski Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

First timer at Virtual Snow. I've heard about it about a year or so now. Ive been wanting to try it for some time. Finally was able to do it since I'm headed to mammoth this week. My trainer was helpful and noticed the little things that I'm not able to see myself. There was some videos I had to watch throughout going thru basics. Had to do some variations of toes then heels. Trying to make it as smooth as possible. It was quick and would definitely do it again. It was definitely worth what I paid for! read more

We took our 6 year old to learn snowboarding here. After about 10 lessons, he was much more comfortable when we actually went snowboarding. The instructors are all very patient and really do a great job with kids. We can definitely see the improvement from last year to this year. We were particularly impressed with Ella and Allen. read more

I first went to the woodland hills location where they have virtual snow carpets, and then decided to makw the trek out here to SM to try them out because it accommodated my needs better. They have three carpets and i havw three kids, so it works out conveniently. Woodland has two carpets and the instructors are definitely not as engaged as the instructors at this SM location. I felt like the WH just kinda watched, and didn't really provide feedback. It was honestly a hit disappointing. Had one lesson there, and decided to use my other 5 lessons here in SM. This SM virtual snow location is far more superior. They are so engaged with each of my kids during the lessons, and just talk nonstop and give feedback. It's hard cause it's like feedback talking nonstop for the hour's lessons. All the instructors are sooo knowledgeable and skilled and are so very nice and patient. My kids first learned to ski on virtual snow three yrs ago, and just get touch up lessons for their weak areas. Thw translation of how they are on the virtual snow carpets to actual snow at the mountains is so great! Theyre 4,7,9 yr olds, and virtual snow definitely does the trick in teaching them! If there's any hesitation one would have about the carpet to actual snow translation, im telling u u wont be disappointed! After a few runs down the slope and fine tuning and getting accustomed to the snow texture, my kids were going down the hills just like how they did at virtual snow! Yes, of course, carpet and snow are not the "same" thing, but it's the skill and balancing on ur skis and snowboards that's important. You take that learned skill from virtual snow, and apply it to the snow, and it does the job JUST FINE :-). U wont regret it Definitely worth the lessons! It's a splurge, but private lessons my kids have had at big bear are like $500 for 3 hours for one kid..this place u can go any day of the week and it's not a 3+hour drive! Get lessons here! ALL of the instructors are so great and kind, and you wont regret it at all! read more

Virtual Snow - Ski Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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First time customer for this company. Saw it online and wanted to learn snowboarding. Check in was easy. They set you up right away on the machine. The instruction was sub par. Was not expecting to watch 45 minutes of video teaching. I was expecting the actual instructor to teach. The iPad you watch the training videos is super small. Screen setup could be better. Overall for the price paid plus the driving to the location. I would probably choose actual training on the snow. Would not buy a package for thousands of dollars just to watch 60 videos with little to no hands on instruction. read more

I have been snowboarding over 20 years but wanted to level up and get prepared before a recent trip to Aspen. I have had 3 instructors on 5 or 6 different days: J.D., Ella, and one free lesson by Eden when she was in her training. I watched a video or two, which seemed a little boring at first, but these really did help after the lesson reinforcement that followed!! What is really great is that each intructor teaches the skills the same way and helps to reach goals the same way. They can be interchangeable. I also noticed all the instructors have great hands-on with kids too. This is a great way to learn or gain skills. Highly, HIGHLY, recommend Virtual Snow, before you go! read more

This review is long overdue, but here we go. As a 30 something year old who had only been to the snow a handful of times and had a boarding accident in her teens, I had a lot of fear around snow sports and the snow in general. My husband, who's an avid skier and grew up in the snow, wanted to go on a group grip to Colorado over the winter, and do some skiing. We live in San Diego and don't have easy access to snow all the time, so we decided to go drive up to LA to take a ski lesson a Virtual Snow. My instructor, Gokhan, was very warm, welcoming and knowledgable. He was encouraging and a great teacher. And I felt by the end of the hour, that I'd like at least know something when we hit the slopes a few weeks later. They recommend doing at least a few lessons before skiing. Because we were on a tight schedule and had to go back to SD, I only had time for one lesson, but just that lesson alone prepared me for the runs. What I learned at Virtual Snow was immediately applicable on the slopes. The hour in LA gave me what felt like a full day of ski school and gave me the confidence to cruise down the mountain in style. Don't get me wrong, I am no professional, but as someone with a lot of fear, I was able to push past that and do something I hadn't done in over 20 years. Thank you Virtual Snow, the owner Rob, and Gokhan for teaching this old dog some new tricks and for the fun! read more

All my friends snowboard and I'm the one who didn't get the memo. I'm 38 and learning for the first time. Today I had the intro and will definitely coming back. Allen is patient and doesn't make you feel like an idiot. The equipment is sturdy and their methods make sense. Expect sweat and learning new skills to gain confidence on the slopes! read more

My friend, who is a snowboarder, told me she got better by coming to Virtual Show. After 3 years of school / career / COVID, I finally took lessons nearby at the snow this year. After only 5 days of snow days this year I was itching to go back to mountains for some snow. So instead of waiting around I decided to take up my friends advice and come to Virtual Snow. My first intro ski lesson was amazing! The goals are to improve muscle memory to perform better in real life snow. As I got into the skis and did the drills, I instantly remembered everything I learned from the mountain training. From stances to edging, to turning, to stopping, I soaked up the lessons and honed the drills. The instructors J.D. and Ely are amazing and very good coaches. They will guide you and instruct you to ensure you have proper form the whole time. Imagine yourself on a treadmill for skis going downhill, just continuous skiing, avoiding the need to stop for a ski-lift to return back to the top. That is what this training is. The legs (quads and calves) will be worked and you will feel like you spent the whole day at the skiing. (I do workout 4+ days a week) and even then I felt like I was good for the rest of the day. (At my current level, maybe I'll revise this review later as I get better at skiing). After my lesson / workout I purchased a 12 summer sessions pack on the spot. It's too bad I do not live in the area. I will drive up the 405 to come to this place for training (I never go up the 405 for anything). read more

This place is awesome. I had limited expectations to be honest. The price was kind of high at first glance and I debated for a couple days But I'm so glad I took a shot at it! It totally helped me prepare for my upcoming ski trip to mammoth I had scheduled. They were actually booked on line but I called anyway and told the really nice receptionist the situation. That I was leaving that Sunday for a week of skiing. Issue being that it was literally the day before! Lol She was super nice and told me she had 1 slot open @5pm that day. I was stoked! When I got there it was set up more functional than I had expected. They had a ton of workers there assisting the 3 virtual machines they had. staff was great and I learned a lot in just one session! will definitely be back to tweak my skill set. read more

Our whole family came every saturday for 6 weeks. We definitely benefited from the lessons. The trainers are all very upbeat and feel like a coach and cheerleader all rolled in one. I'm not gonna lie... I still fell a bit when I hit the slopes for the first time. But I knew why I fell, what I needed to pay attention to... and as soon as I got used to the speed of going down the slopes the muscle memory from virtual snow kicked in. My husband learned faster than me. He looks good on the board. My kids are 5 and 8... they learned a lot slower than me, but they have a solid foundation AND they think it's fun. read more

Virtual Snow - Ski Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I entered this as an experienced skier and newer snowboarder and I've been very happy so far. I bought a summer season 12 pack, and 2 intro lessons, and am dividing this into half ski and half snowboard. I just wrapped up my skiing lessons intro and 6 weeks and despite having a lot of life experience in the snow on the mountain I found the experience to be engaging and very useful. I suspect the same with snowboarding, where I'm actually newer and will need more fundamental training. I would recommend this to anyone. I'm having a great experience with the instructors as well. read more

I came here after trying a group lesson at Big Bear and totally flopping the season before. After six lessons at VS, I had learned technique and built strength in a really supportive and positive environment. It's really useful to learn the technique and what it's supposed to feel like in a controlled environment as opposed to falling all day on the mountain. The staff here are really committed to helping you grow and genuinely excited to teach! There is some calibration to mountain conditions and skiing on snow is very different than the carpet. But after a day at Bear on the bunny hill, I went to Mammoth and felt like I had already learned the good habits at Virtual Snow to be comfortable (and have fun!) playing with speed and technique on long greens. Would highly recommend this to adults just starting out!! read more

I'm a lifelong skier/snowboarder and I took my girlfriend here as a complete newbie. We paid $190 for the 1 hour session. I was VERY impressed with Virtual Snow. The trainer, JD, really knows his stuff. He explains everything in a clear, methodical fashion. JD was professional and hard working. He was ready for our appointment immediately and wasn't pushy at all about upselling future appointments. I actually thought he was the owner with how hard working he is, definitely did not give off the "I'm an hourly employee here and don't care" vibe. To the owners, make sure you keep this guy around. Overall, as someone who has skied/snowboarded my entire life, I think this place is an amazing value. Factoring in the cost of lift tickets, gas, lodging, and lessons, Virtual Ski is an amazing value for a beginner. Typically, your first day on the slopes is just spent falling 95% of the time and isn't very much fun. It was amazing what virtual snow is able to do in a single 1 hour session. For anyone who doesn't have experience, I HIGHLY suggest booking this first, you'll have more fun overall with lower costs. Having taken real ski lessons before, I actually think Virtual Snow is superior to a private ski lesson on the slope. The treadmills really help you methodically learn the sport with 1 on 1 instruction. Of course, the treadmills aren't a perfect 100% representation of the mountain, but it gets you 90% of the way there with 20% of the effort. I plan to bring my girlfriend back for at least another 1 hour session before our trip up to the slopes. read more

I learned to ski in Virtual Snow Los Angeles. Before that I went to ski number of times, trying to learn on the slopes. Failing pretty miserably (and painfully). Bob and Mark taught me the good way to do things (and also the bad way to do things - so I can correct myself). After coming here for 5 days I was able to go ski on the following weekend. I was surprised by my own skills. I went to mid-level slope and spent skiing whole day without falling once. I am grateful I finally managed to learn the sport I wanted for such a long time. This works. I look forward to this winter! :) read more

I took a class with them a very a year ago and haven't snowboarded in a long while . After I took their clas my carving drastically improved. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to learn to ski or snowboard. The instructor was very professional and yes you do see and feel the huge improvement after a class I highly recommend it read more

About me. I have no prior ski experience, and have tried snowboarding once, about 4 years ago. (Without any lessons. I fell a lot, and scooted on my butt for most of that day. It was miserable.) Since then, I've ice skated casually (without instruction). I've also done other activities like martial arts and rock climbing. At first, not knowing what to expect, I was a little skeptical about indoor training and video instruction. But it turned out to be a great experience, and after a few sessions, I only have good things to say. In my first session: I went through the curriculum as a total beginner. There is a video with drills to get you moving along with some of the basic motions. I got to work with Ryan and Bob (the owner) in my lessons. They were awesome in answering my questions and providing guidance. Advantages of learning indoors: Convenience: If you only have a couple hours in a day, and can't make it out to the mountains, this is a great way to learn / improve / experience the slope. Safety: learn without having to fall over and over in snow. Consistent practice environment: taking variables like terrain out of the equation, it's easier to focus on fine tuning the sensitivity to how your own body is positioned/moving. Time efficiency/concentration: No waiting between sessions for the lift to take you up. You could be "on the slope" for the whole lesson. This can also make it a real workout. Private Instruction: No trying to learn in a large class, the lesson can be tailored to your ability and goals. Expectations for the best experience: Expect to feel like you're thrown in the water a little, especially if you've never put on skis or been on a snowboard before. It'll be a new experience! There will be supervision and guidance along with video that help to visualize what is being taught. Listen to the material and try to follow along. Ask questions! If you're not sure about what something means, or if you have something specific you want to learn. This is where you'll really get the most out of the lesson. Use the safety bar! That's what it's there for. Put effort into it! Ultimately, like anything else, you'll get what you put in. But with the help of the coaches in this environment, you'll be able to direct your efforts towards what will get you the fastest growth. **UPDATE**: after going to Tahoe and skiing in snow for the first time, I can say that the lessons at Virtual Snow were well worth it, and made the experience on the slopes very enjoyable. My training at Virtual Snow provided me with a foundation from which to think about skiing: early on, I fell plenty, as I got used to being on actual snow, but I quickly got used to it. The indoor lessons gave me the direction/confidence to make corrections: I just had to apply it in this new environment. NOTE: If you've never been on snow before, it is still recommended to take a lesson at the ski resort. You can ask about things like "how to fall" or "how to get on/off the lift." As someone doing a downhill sport for the first time, actually going downhill was a scary experience at first. But I told myself to take it slow, try out the easy routes first, then progress from there. With the conditioning from the indoor lessons, skiing on the slopes for a day (with a lunch break at the cafe) was no problem, since there's rest time while waiting for the lift to bring you up. By the end of that day, I was able to go down my first blue (intermediate) route. The knowledge, skill (muscle memory), and conditioning gained was what gave me the control to have an awesome time on the slopes. I highly recommend Virtual Snow for anyone looking to learn and/or improve their experience on the slopes. read more

I never leave reviews on Yelp but this place is very special. After walking down the mountain when I fell down in April I knew for my next ski trip I would need some help. The group here is SO kind, so chill and so great at teaching you how you what you need to know. I have so far taken two lessons and have a third this week. It's a great work out and a lot of laughs here! I will definitely be coming back for more lessons. read more

Amazing place to learn skiing or snowboarding. My six year old daughter was able to go down beginner slopes without falling after six sessions at Virtual Snow. This year we have done couple more sessions (plus ski school at Tahoe for two days) and my little one was able to go down on 1 black diamond. When I tell my friends about Virtual Snow they don't believe that such place exists :). Katie is an outstanding instructor, she is an expert in engaging kids and making it a fun experience. Every employee that we met was very nice and helpfull. I will be coming back and referring all my friends. P.S. You don't need to have skis/snowboard/boots to take sessions there. They provide everything. read more

They are Amazing!!!! After working with Bob, i went up to big bear to ski for the first time. After about 30 minutes, I was skiing, stoping, turning and felt so comfortable and confident! My friends were amazed at how quickly I was able to ski. Overall, virtual snow were friendly, welcoming, courteous, followed all of the covid protocols, and made the experience super fun. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to learn but doesn't wanna spend hours learning on the slope, falling and spending so much money on private lessons. Save yourself the time, energy and money and call virtual snow! read more

Amazing !!! My daughters are enrolled here and are so excited about learning how to ski. Staff is wonderful. Very knowledgeable and professional. They have improved so much. I will be taking lessons here myself soon. read more

This is a must if you're taking your kids skiing. They are so friendly and knowledgeable. This is my third season bringing the kids in for a tune up before we hit the slopes. It makes for such a smoother trip when they are more prepared. read more

Virtual Snow - Knocking out 3 at the same time. - Ski Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

EXCELLENT - HIGHLY RECOMMEND! From the moment I spoke to Austin on the phone I felt I was in the hand of experts. I can't express how nice and encouraging and enthusiatic everyone is. Issa, Gokan, Brent, and Austin have helped me so much. All week I look forward to my lessons. And upon Austin's advice I went to Mountain High to practice. I went back into class today and worked on what I learned. If you want to learn to snowboard I highly recommend booking sessions here. Absolutely fantastic and exceeded my expectations in every way! read more

I just hired a board and boots for my son and the experience was great. They were helpful and made the hiring process very simple. When I tried to take the board back on Sunday, I forgot that they were appointment only and no one was around, totally my mistake. When I called to find a time, the Manager Rafael apologized and said he would pick the board up from my house on the way to work the next day. This isn't a service they offer, he didn't need to do it as it was clearly my mistake. This kind of care is so rare and I really appreciate it when it happens. I can't recommend them enough. Thank you for making things so so easy. read more

This review is long overdue, by about twenty years. Twenty years ago, my son was five years old and I was forty. He had never skied and I had not been on skis in over ten years. We purchased ten lessons each at Virtual Snow. The learning curve on the machine is much shorter than on the snow as you are not dealing with the elements and the lifts. In addition, the instructor is up close and guiding you through the process, which cannot happen on the mountain. On the mountain he can demonstrate a technique then watch your perform that technique and give you corrections. At Virtual snow, your instructor is present watching every nuance of your development and constantly enhancing your technique. Twenty years later, I am a very good skier, I can ski the black diamond runs and I have had many, many fun days on the mountain, and trips with friends that lasted nearly a week. MY son however is another story. When I was in my twenties and would ski with friends, I always admired the good skiers and snow boarders in their teens. They seemed to be a special group, with a very close bond. And they were having fun while doing something athletic and challenging. Today my son lives in Reno, he skis around 60 days a year in Tahoe or Mammoth. He was a ski instructor at Sugar Bowl for the past three years. Skiing has enhanced his life in ways that I cannot imagine. He has great friends and instead of spending time with his face buried in the phone, like so many young people, he is spends most of his free time outdoors. He is Kayaker and Mountain biker as well, but skiing came first. And Virtual Snow gave him the skills so that he was confident his first time on the mountain and could have enjoyable runs. He wasn't out of control like most of the other kids. It was only a matter of days before he was on the intermediate hills, and this was at the age of 6. The most important thing about teaching your kid to ski is that they stick it out, there is a long learning curve. Virtual snow cuts it down more than half. I would say they jumpstarted his lifestyle and moreover, they gave us some very memorable times together, very memorable. He has long since surpassed me, but that's okay. read more

Simply: Bob was able to teach my 2 1/2 year old to ski. We had a ski vacation planned in Jackson Hole and our options were Ski School or Day Care. Signed her up for lessons with Virtual Snow and she was able to ski the small green runs all week long. Last weekend took her to Deer Valley and she skied the long greens and some small blues. Most importantly: She had so much fun on the carpet machine and slopes...absolutely loving it. Thank you Bob for making a great experience for my daughter! Bob is amazing. read more

Virtual Snow - Bob teaching Adara "Pizza" and having a blast! - Ski Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I hate the idea of missing a run. I work out with the trainer at Virtual Snow and then arrive at the mountain in shape and with all the muscles ready to ski. And ski the right way. Carving nice turns. First got into Virtual Snow a few years back when I needed to rehabilitate after a bad fall hurt my leg and ankle. The training with the boot (mine) and the skis (theirs) was a blessing and gave me strength and control that I did not have before the injury. I think taking lessons at the mountain is a waste of money and time. I recommend showing up at the mountain lodge in top shape and form. Get all your runs and grins. How valuable is your time once you travel to Mammoth or Vail or Snowbird or ??? You want to send all the lower skilled skiers or boarders to get the basics before you go so that you can all ski together. More fun for them too. Meet Bob the owner and learn about his "fun" attitude for all skiers and boarders. He is cool. Keith L. ^. .^ read more

Virtual Snow - Snowboarding on the carpet - Ski Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Hadn't ever skied before, and only had a short period of time to learn before a Thanksgiving trip to Beaver Creek, Colorado. Bob and his team had me well prepared with a handful of lessons, and I ended up having a blast on the mountain. My group was shocked it was my first time skiing. Would recommend them to anyone looking to learn to ski/snowboard- because of them I've found a new sport for life! read more

When I first found Virtual Snow my enthusiasm for skiing far surpassed my ability. That's probably still true but both my enthusiasm and my abilities are much, much greater. I probably spent two summers on the ski machines. It's good exercise (no breaks to ride the lifts) and it created great muscle memory that serves me every day I'm on the slopes. I'm so so grateful for Bob and his trainers!! In the interest of full disclosure, Bob has become a terrific friend. Why wouldn't I consider the person who truly introduced me to my favorite sport a friend? read more

I bought a package of 5 lessons here (plus a required intro lesson) and enjoyed them all, but I wondered how well they would translate to actual snow. I needn't have worried... I am amazed how well I could ski after taking lessons here and can't wait for my next trip. I got a lot of compliments on my form and am thrilled with the results. Katie and Bob are the best. Highly recommend. read more

So happy I finally experienced virtual snow! I originally saw the concept at a ski dazzle event in SF, but it was called something different. A few google searches later I came across Virtual Snow & a few months of procrastinating I finally made it. I've been snowboarding for years, but I only go once a year, or once every 2? So it's really difficult to improve my skills. I also was self taught and have managed to make my way down the Mtn slowly each time LOL. Bob & Katie are really great and talking to you & figuring out what you want to work on specifically. You essentially learn/practice at your own pace, with their guidance. There's a training DVD that you follow along with, which is super easy to follow and fantastic lessons. It's a small shop with 4 of these machines, so i don't see it getting crazy there. I went on a weeknight & loved the peace & quiet. I chose to work on my posture & pressure (since I never learned correctly) and long term I want to improve linking my turns, and carving. The only caveat is how expensive it is. The introduction was half off ($80) and ea lesson is $160 after. It's cheaper if you get packages (6,10,15,etc) but you have to pay for it all upfront. Uhhhh yea I don't have 1k to just throw down. If you do, it's def worth it. One hour on the machine & it def feels like a day on the mtn. read more

It worked! Big thanks to Bob and Virtual Snow Training System! I've tried skiing and snowboarding several times on the mountain before but never was able to get down the mountain without falling hard several times. but after I took the ski lessons with Bob at Virtual Snow I was so happy to see the results! Bob was super friendly and helpful. He only focuses on the results rather than counting the hours for you. and he will teach you things according to your learning pace, what you want to achieve. etc. I went to Mammoth right after taking 4 ski lessons with Bob and and by the end of the day I was able to ski down the hill easily without falling. My friends were all surprised at how fast I improved! I would definitely recommend to anyone who is a beginner at ski/snowboarding, who is willing to learn but don't want to keep falling. read more

My 12-year-old daughter decided she wanted to ski. I'm from Hawai'i and knew nothing about it, so I started Googling and found VS. If you are a total beginner, with no knowledge as well as no experience, Virtual Snow is a very sound investment. Here's why: Skiing is so expensive, wasted time and mistakes can quickly blow a lot of money. Also, it's easy to get discouraged and quit, or maybe injured as well. I wanted my child to have a positive experience so she would not quit. With virtual training, you can learn to ski BEFORE your first time on the snow, so you won't get to the mountain and spend your first day falling and freezing. If you are going on family vacation, virtual training sets you and your kids up to have a great time on day one, rather than starting with lessons and spending a lot of time trying to learn the basics. You will be able to take advantage of every minute's worth of resort expenses. Without any knowledge of skiing, I also didn't know where to go at first Big Bear, Mammoth, Mt. High ? Or what equipment to rent, etc. After several virtual lessons, Mark suggested we go to Mt. High, ski on our own for a bit, then take a lesson on the slopes. He told us where to rent skis, etc. We took his advice, and on our first run down the baby slope, we were skiing. We did feel a lesson at the slopes was worthwhile to learn how to get on and off the chair, etc. By the afternoon, after getting tips from the instructor, we were pretty comfortable. That was the last lesson we took at the slopes. For the rest of the season, we alternated skiing with virtual training. By the end of the season we were intermediate skiiers, having fallen only a handful of times. Again, the up-front cost of Virtual Snow is made up by sparing you the cost of not having a good time after you've traveled far and spent a lot on a resort, only to spend time falling and maybe quitting in frustration. read more