Free Skiing for 4th & 5th Graders: West Virginia's Passport Program with Expert Snowmaking

Joe Stevens, Outdoor Explorer, Executive Director – West Virginia Ski Areas Association

As temperatures drop in West Virginia's mountains, the winter sports season kicks off with the hum of snowguns blanketing slopes at Canaan Valley Resort, Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Winterplace, and Oglebay Resort. The traditional ski, snowboard, and snow tubing season spans from Thanksgiving through early April.

West Virginia's ski areas draw over 800,000 visitors annually. This season, the West Virginia Ski Areas Association aims to boost participation with its Ski Free 4th and 5th Grade Passport Program, offering free skiing or snowboarding for eligible children at all participating resorts.

Designed to introduce 4th and 5th graders—an ideal age for quickly mastering new sports—to skiing and snowboarding, the program provides hands-on outdoor experiences across the Mountain State's renowned slopes.

The $25 Passport grants one complimentary beginner package (lift ticket, lesson, and rentals) at your chosen resort, plus up to three additional junior lift tickets during the 2019-2020 season. Benefits may vary by resort. Children can also present the Passport for a free one-day lift ticket when skiing with a paying adult. Purchase yours at the West Virginia Ski Areas Association website.

West Virginia resorts stand out with superior snowmaking capabilities—producing over 20,000 tons of snow per hour under optimal conditions (low teens), enough to cover 20 football fields with a foot of snow each hour—ensuring reliable coverage.

Professional, PSIA-certified instructors at every resort cater to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced riders. Patient and adaptive, they create memorable first experiences and refine techniques on terrain perfect for novices and intermediates. West Virginia is the ideal destination to learn and love snow sports.