The ski school has offices and meeting places at Vail Village near the base of the Vista Bahn Express, at LionsHead next to the gondola, at Golden Peak next to Chairs 6 and 12, at Mid-Vail next to Chairs 3 and 4, and at the top of the gondola. Private lessons meet at Vail Village. Lessons are taught in more than 30 languages. Call the ski school at (970) 476-3239. Prices we provide are for regular season.

Group lessons: $110 for a full day, all ability levels, skiing or snowboarding. Vail offers a wide variety of lesson-lift-and/or-rental packages for skiers and snowboarders.

First-timer package: Full-day ski or snowboard lesson and beginner lift cost $145; with rentals, $175. The First Time Series is three consecutive full days of lessons that cost $240 for lessons, lifts and rentals.

You can also rent your skis or snowboards on line before you leave home at Rentskis.com.Your equipment will be waiting when you arrive.

Private lessons: One to six people cost $160 for one hour, $275 for two hours, $405 for a half-day, and $595 for the day.

Special workshops: Focus on specific skills or snow conditions, such as parallel skiing or bumps. Most are afternoon three-hour sessions for $85.

We've had first-hand experience at the "Her Turn" Workshops, and strongly recommend them. The three-day program puts you in classes with other women of the same ability. Breakthroughs are common in the supportive small-group atmosphere. Offered select dates. Call the resort for information and reservations.

Pepi's Wedel Weeks were created in the European tradition, which allows skiers to start off the ski season with an inexpensive lesson package. These are held for three weeks only, in December and January. It's a seven-day program with breakfast, lessons every morning and afternoon, races, a welcome reception, an evening party and a farewell dinner. Call (800) 610-7374.

ReTreat Yourself is a four-day women's snowboarding camp with pro rider Barrett Christy that includes coaching, board tuning clinics, demos, yoga and more. Call (800) 475-4543 for information and reservations.

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Racing: Vail has quite a recreational racing complex near the bottom of the Avanti Express lift with two NASTAR courses, two coin-operated courses, two courses reserved for groups, a course for teaching clinics and a Sybervision area. A surface lift serves the courses.