Ok, maybe you’re not a kid anymore, and you’re not joining the local Bill Koch club. You can still learn to ski by taking a lesson or two at one of the great local touring centers in the area. Lapland Lake in Northville (www.laplandlake.com), Garnet Hill Lodge in North River (www.garnet-hill.com), and Mt. Van Hoevenberg (www.mtvanhoevenberg.com) in Lake Placid are great skis centers, which do a fabulous job with trail grooming and offer fully certified ski instructors.

Cascade (www.cascadeski.com) in Lake Placid and Pineridge (www.pineridgexc.com), east of Troy, also offer groomed trails and lessons on appointment. Osceola Tug Hill (www.uxcski.com), northwest of Utica, offers groomed trails, ski rentals, and lake effect snow!

You will be amazed how quickly the ski centers competent instructors will have you gliding down the trail. In a weekend or two you can learn and master the basic skills necessary to have fun sliding on snow, both up and down hills. These ski centers also offer full rental gear in both classic and skate technique (Pineridge rentals are classic only), so all you need is a positive attitude and a willingness to try and learn something new.