Across Colorado, resorts are helping young skiers build a lasting connection to the mountains. Through school visits, gear drives, lesson programs, and local partnerships, they’re creating opportunities for kids to step into snow-covered traditions and start carving their own stories. Generation Ski is about growing up outside, learning through movement, and building confidence one turn at a time. It’s a culture that grows with each skier who joins in, weaving new voices into Colorado’s long-standing story of snow, sky, and open slopes.
Colorado Ski Country USA and our member resorts are planting the seeds for the future of skiing with the expansion of the Kids Ski Passport. By opening the program to kindergarten through 6th grade students, we’re making it easier for families to share the mountains and carry on winter traditions. The Passport provides four days at each of 19 resorts, giving kids the chance to grow up on snow, discover adventure with their families, and form lasting connections to Colorado’s peaks.
Including K–2 students allows the youngest skiers to start experiencing the mountain sooner, giving more families the chance to make skiing part of their story.
At Arapahoe Basin, investing in young skiers is a long-term commitment. With free and discounted first-time lessons, in-resort camps, and partnerships with schools and community organizations like Blackpackers and BOEC, A-Basin is creating a welcoming and inclusive entry point for kids to discover snowsports. The resort also offers youth discounts and adaptive programs, opening the door for more families and first-timers to grow up with skiing in their lives.
Granby Ranch is a proud hub of homegrown ski culture, where the next generation takes its first turns. Through their Free Ski Fridays initiative, all Grand County School District students and teachers receive free lift tickets, rentals, and lessons every Friday, making wintertime in the mountains part of the local rhythm. Over 90% of instructors hold certifications, and the resort offers a nurturing, high-quality learning environment for all ages, from tiny tykes to teens and beyond.
Steamboat is focused on creating opportunities for kids to start skiing and riding from an early age. Through the resort’s Kids Ski Free Week, families can access discounted lessons and rentals that make getting on the mountain more approachable. Local schools across the county take part in ski days, while partnerships with SOS Outreach and the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club help connect even more kids to the sport. Steamboat also works with local preschools to introduce the youngest skiers to the slopes and continues to develop new programs designed to welcome future generations of riders.
Aspen Snowmass invests deeply in the next generation of skiers. Kids six and under ski free every season, and local school partnerships account for more than 3,500 free ski days annually. Beyond lift tickets, the resort donates tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of gear through Four Mountain Sports to schools and nonprofits. Programs like Adaptive Skiing with Challenge Aspen, English learner classes, and initiatives with Culture Shifters, the Buddy Program, and Girls on Patrol continue to expand opportunities for underrepresented youth. Aspen Snowmass is committed to giving every child a chance to grow up on the mountain.
With the Power Kids Pass, Purgatory Resort gives every child 12 and under a free season pass… no strings attached. This pass unlocks access not only to Purgatory but to all Power Pass mountains across the region, encouraging more young skiers and riders to make the slopes their playground. In winter and summer alike, kids are invited to discover a lifelong love of the outdoors, with perks like free mountain biking included. By getting kids outside early, this program nurtures courage, connection, and a lifelong love of fresh air and freedom.
Sunlight Mountain is making skiing possible for hundreds of kids each season through thoughtful partnerships and innovative programs. From giving 1,000 free lessons annually to hosting over 1,600 students on school trips, the resort is deeply embedded in its community. Initiatives like free season passes for 1,200+ fourth graders and partnerships with groups like Roaring Fork Show Up and the Buddy Program remove barriers to entry and introduce underrepresented youth to snowsports in a welcoming, supportive environment.
