Diamond Peak offers a variety of learn to ski and snowboard programs, packages, and clinics for beginners, intermediate, and advanced skiers and riders. Our professional instructors, low student-to-instructor ratios, gentle slopes designed for progression, and friendly environment make Diamond Peak the ideal place to learn how to ski or snowboard and Tahoe's best value. When booking a lesson in advance, it's important to understand the different levels of instruction we offer in order to enroll in the correct lesson program for you or your child.
Please review the different lesson levels below, each of which includes a short video preview of what you will learn in that lesson level. If you feel like your skills fall in between two levels, it's important to choose the lower-level lesson program - our instructors can always teach you relevant skills on terrain you can ski/ride easily, but they will not be able to provide proper instruction on terrain that is above your ability level.
Group Lesson Levels (ages 4+)
Our Ski & Ride Center and Child Ski Center group lesson programs are divided into our Sierra Sliders program (ages 4-6), Sierra Scout program (ages 7-12) and Adult Lesson program (ages 13+). We divide our group lesson programs into these age ranges based on research into how students learn best within a group setting. Friends or siblings who wish to learn together but span these age categories should enroll in a Friends & Family Private lesson available for ages 7 and up. Regardless of which program you fall into, the descriptions of Lesson Levels below should give you a better understanding of what you will learn and what you need to know to get the most out of that lesson.
Note: Group lessons for ages 13+ are only offered at the Beginner Levels 1, 2 and 3. Higher level skiers/riders in this age range must book a private lesson.
Beginner Levels
Beginner Level 1 = Lesson will be taught in the Ski & Ride Center lesson area, the School Yard beginner run and School House chairlift. For ages 4-6, the lesson will in the Child Ski Center learning area and use Pete's Powerline surface lift.
- Ski: Participant has never skied before, is learning how to stop in a wedge, or needs a reminder of how to make a controlled wedge stop.
- Snowboard: Participant has never snowboarded before, is learning how to stop, or needs a reminder on how to stop.
Beginner Level 2 = Lesson will be taught on the School Yard beginner run and School House chairlift.
- Ski: Participant can straight run, wedge and stop on easy green terrain. They are developing turns and wedge stops on easy green terrain.
- Snowboard: Participant can put board on and take off board. Can straight glide and stop on easy green terrain. They are developing speed control and directional changes.
Beginner Level 3 = Lesson will be taught on Lodgepole run and Lodgepole chairlift.
- Ski: Participant can stop and turn on green terrain. They are developing speed control through turn shape on all green terrain and may be starting to ski easy blue terrain.
- Snowboard: Participant can control speed and direction on both edges. They are developing linked turns on green terrain and may be starting to snowboard easy blue terrain.
Intermediate Levels
Note: group lessons at these levels are offered up to age 12 only, ages 13+ must book private lessons.
Level 4 = Lesson will be taught on various green and blue runs accessed by Lodgepole, Lakeview or Red Fox chairlifts.
- Ski: Participant can control their speed through turn shape on all green terrain. They are developing a variety of turn sizes and shapes on easy blue terrain.
- Snowboard: Participant can link turns on green terrain. Developing a variety of turn sizes and shapes on easy blue terrain.
Level 5 = Lesson will be taught on various green and blue runs accessed by Lodgepole, Lakeview or Red Fox chairlifts.
- Ski: Participant can do a variety of turn sizes and shapes to control speed on easy blue terrain. They are developing parallel turns on blue terrain.
- Snowboard: Participant can link turns on all green and easy blue terrain. Developing speed control through turn size and shape on blue terrain.
Level 6 = Lesson will be taught on various green and blue runs accessed by Lodgepole, Lakeview or Red Fox chairlifts.
- Ski: Participant can do basic parallel turns on blue terrain. They are developing pole plants and may be starting to ski variable conditions and easy black terrain.
- Snowboard: Participant can control speed through turn size and shape on all blue terrain. Developing turns on easy black terrain. Introducing switch, carving and basic freestyle riding.
Advanced Levels
Note: group lessons at these levels are offered up to age 12 only, ages 13+ must book private lessons.
Level 7 = Lesson will be taught using all areas of Diamond Peak including Lakeview and Crystal Express chairlifts.
- Ski: Participant can control their speed through turn shape while parallel with a pole plant on all blue and easy black terrain. They are developing skiing and carving on variable black terrain.
- Snowboard: Participant can link turns on all intermediate and easy black terrain, and perform some basic freestyle maneuvers. Developing skills in variable conditions and steeper black terrain.
Level 8 = Lesson will be taught using all areas of Diamond Peak including Lakeview and Crystal Express chairlifts.
- Snowboard: Participant can ride on variable black terrain with a variety of turn sizes and shapes. Developing skills in bumps, steeps and chutes.
- Ski: Participant can ski on variable black terrain with a variety of turn sizes and shapes. They are developing skills in bumps, steeps and chutes.
Level 9 = Lesson will be taught using all areas of Diamond Peak including Lakeview and Crystal Express chairlifts.
- Ski: Participant can ski in all terrain and conditions with a variety of turn sizes and shapes. They are developing strategies and tactics for skiing the whole mountain in a variety of conditions.
- Snowboard: Participant Can ride in all terrain and conditions with a variety of turn sizes and shapes. Developing strategies and tactics for riding the whole mountain in a variety of conditions.
Visit the Ski & Ride Center page for pricing and more information about lessons for ages 7+ or the Child Ski Center page for pricing and more information about lessons for ages 3-6.
