EpicSki Academy

Big Sky is so uncommonly uncrowded it deserves the slogan of “a place all your own,” exactly as the marketing department claims.
With 400 inches of annual snowfall, 4,350 feet of vertical, and 85 miles of runs, you’ll only see a scattering of skiers and nary a lift line, except perhaps at the aerial tram which transports expert skiers and sightseers to the top of spectacular Lone Mountain for the heart stopping view (and mind blowing skiing). Welcome to Montana, where the powder is dry, the beer is cold, and the natives wear shovels and transceivers!

Here’s the program…

We’ll ski three distinct mountains—Lone Mountain, which rises to 11,166 feet; Andesite Mountain, with its many wide, long, sustained-pitch intermediate runs; and Flatiron Mountain, off the beaten path, with the terrain variety to please advanced beginners to experts who venture there. We’ll stay slopeside at the Huntley Lodge and use the facilities of the Yellowstone Conference Center for our indoor functions.

The Academy begins Sunday evening with a welcome party, then we ski for four full days in small groups with instruction from our outstanding coaches, with indoor presentations scheduled after the day’s skiing to anchor the on-snow program. Our goal is for all our participants to leave the Academy happy they came, delighted with their skiing, and equipped with the skills to continue making progress as their own coach after returning home.

Working in small groups with one of our top pros, students will attain progress in four important areas that will open the door to sustainable growth:

1. They’ll learn to collaborate so both teacher and student are centered on the student’s learning—together discovering what is needed for improvement.
2. Students will learn the fundamentals of self-coaching so they can continue to advance at home every day they are on the snow.
3. Students will develop a systemic understanding of what it takes to keep moving forward in any sports endeavor to which they apply themselves. The transferability of what you learn at ESA makes it an invaluable experience.
4. Learning to learn – that’s what creates breakthroughs! One of the greatest skills an athlete possesses is persistence—to move through the ups and downs and the failures and successes of sports development and to realize that “it’s all good.”
   

Our Credo

We strongly believe that the ability to keep learning no matter what, a state formerly reserved for young children and top athletes, is eminently attainable by reasonably motivated adult recreational skiers.

Dates

We’ll tee-up the week at our Welcome Party, Sunday, March 29. We’ll ski for the following four days and say farewell Thursday April 2.

Price

$950 for four full days of instruction, lift tickets, afternoon sessions, welcome party, video movement analysis, bootfitting assessment, formal banquet Wednesday evening, and a souvenir. This leaves your transportation, meals, lodging and equipment as additional trip expenses.

Attendance Policy

EpicSki Academy is a benefit reserved for EpicSki Subscribers and their guests. If you’re not a subscriber at the time of registration, your additional $35 will provide the necessary upgrade for one year. We hope you’ll participate in the forums, read often, and add your comments and voice to the discussions there.

Lodging

We have made arrangements for first class, deluxe, and loft rooms on-slope at the Huntley Lodge, which includes a skier’s hearty breakfast buffet. Children 10 and under stay free when in the same room as their parents with existing beds and enjoy complimentary daily breakfast buffet and lift tickets.

First class lodging rates are $114 for one person, $139 for two persons, $164 for three persons, and $189 for four persons.

Deluxe lodging rates are $124 for one person, $149 for two persons, $174 for three persons, and $199 for four persons.

Loft rooms (can sleep six people) are $145 for one person, $170 for two persons, $190 for three persons, $220 for four persons, $245 for five persons, and $270 for six persons.

Big Horn 3-bedroom/3-bath condos: $278

These rates do not include tax and service fees. The current total is 17% for tax and service fees on accommodations.

The Huntley Lodge has a restaurant, bar, pool, hot tub, and shops. It adjoins the Yellowstone Conference Center, where all of our indoor activities will take place. The resort offers daily yoga sessions, free ski movies, and numerous family activities that are complimentary for Huntley guests. More information about the Huntley Lodge here. For reservations, call 800.548.4486.

Transportation

More than 25 flights a day arrive into nearby Bozeman, Montana on four major airlines; Northwest, Delta/SkyWest, United/United Express and Alaska/ Horizon. The Bozeman airport is located just one scenic hour north of the resort. Arrivals and departures daily (approx. 150 flights per week) are provided by the following airlines:

• Northwest – 1.800.225.2525 www.nwa.com Non-stops from Minneapolis, MN, Detroit MI and links nationwide & worldwide.
• Delta – 1.800-221.1212 www.delta.com Non-stops from Salt Lake City.
• Skywest/Delta Connection – 1.800.453.9417 Non-stops from Salt Lake City.
• Horizon/Alaska – 1.800.547.9308 www.horizonair.com Non-stops from Seattle, WA and links all over the northwest
• United/United Express – 1.800.241.6522 www.united.com Non-stops from Denver, CO and links nationwide & worldwide.

Airport Shuttle Service (reservations required)

• Karst Stage motorcoach shuttle service – 800.287.4759 or 406.556.3540. (Local call from Big Sky.) Online reservations, schedule and rates available at www.karststage.com. You will receive an E-mail confirmation of your online reservation.
• Mountain Taxi – 406.995.4895 or 800.423.4742 www.bigskytaxi.com.
• Classic Limo Service – Affordable luxury door-to-door private transportation. E-mail for quotes. Call 866.688.5466 or 1.406.585.5466 or visit www.classiclimo-bzn.com.

Rental Cars

The following agencies are located in the airport or provide drop-off service for airport arrivals.

• Avis – 406.388.6414
• Budget – 800-952-8343 or 406.388.4091
• Bozeman Ford – 406.587.1221
• Dollar – 406.388.1323
• Hertz – 406.388.6939
• National – 406.388.6694
• Rent-A-Wreck – 406.587.4551
• Thrifty – 406.388.3484
• Ugly Duckling – 406.587.1000
• U-Save – 406.587.9716

Miscellaneous

If you have questions, please contact us.