Wintergreen

At Wintergreen Resort, the focus this year is on introducing people to skiing — for the second time as well as the first.

“This year it’s all about beginners, highlighting people who haven’t skied in a while or who want to learn the sport,” said resort spokeswoman Sarah Lovejoy. “It dovetails with our guaranteed learn to ski program.”

A free beginner lesson comes with any equipment rental. “If you don’t feel ready, you can go through the class again,” she said. After that first class, you get discounts on a second lesson at the advanced beginner level, a discounted season pass and discounts on equipment at the ski shop.

“It takes you from never-ever skier or snowboarder to, ‘Here’s your pass and equipment,’ ” she said. “Five easy lessons and you’re skiing.”

In keeping with the emphasis, there’s a new beginner area with a new surface lift on Discovery Ridge for the Snowsports School. Both kids and adults are welcome.

Children will find a new obstacle course of things to ski under and over and a new lift of their own in The Treehouse learning area.

In the terrain park, snowboarders who want to develop their skills will find beginner-level tabletops and features as well as the more challenging features for more advanced tricks.

Rental equipment this year is new from HEAD, and the ski manufacturer has helped redesign the rental shops to get people out of line and on the slopes quicker.

Ten new snowmaking guns will go mostly on the expert trails in the Highlands area.

Wintergreen: 25 trails; 1,003-foot vertical drop, longest run: almost 7,400 feet. Terrain park with features for different skill levels. Two snow-tubing areas.

• Adult lift ticket: $45 midweek, $61 weekends and $64 holidays, $199 season pass (valid Sunday afternoon through Friday night only). Snow tubing: $18 midweek, $23 weekends for two hours on The Plunge; $18 weekends for two hours on The Slide.
• Location: in the Blue Ridge Mountains, about two hours west of Richmond.
• Details: (434) 325-2200 for resort, (434) 325-8057 for ski information center, or www.wintergreenresort.com.