LEARNING CURVES SKI, SNOWBOARD SCHOOLS INTRODUCE YOUNGSTERS TO THE SLOPES.

Byline: Jerry Rice  Staff Writer

MAMMOTH LAKES - Something you're not likely to hear at the start of a ski or snowboard group lesson: You're going to fall down. A lot, in some cases.

As nine eager children lined up for their first snowboard lesson at Mammoth Mountain, that was likely the last thing on their minds. They seemed to be more interested in other things ahead of them.

Instructor Mike Miele went through his opening monologue. He told the kids what the different parts of the board are called, described how the bindings and the leash work, and then talked about safety on the slopes. After each of the kids strapped a foot to their boards and ran through some exercises, it was time to go have fun.

The conditions were spectacular this early January morning. Mother Nature had just finished planting eight feet of fresh powder on the mountain the day before.

Not that any of these beginners were prepared to take advantage of it. They were still trying to get their snow legs, so to speak.

Nearby, ski instructor Charles Cundiff was going through a similar routine with his students. And, as with the snowboarders, some were catching on quicker than others.

For two of my sons, Andy in the snowboard class and Nick learning to ski, their lessons really started a couple of hours earlier in Canyon Lodge's third-floor rental area. It's the place to go if your group needs equipment for both older kids and adults. Down one floor, there's the Canyon Kids rental shop; they outfit kids up to 6 years old.

Both places open at 8 a.m., and the first tip is a simple one: Arrive early.

``We've had people get here at 9:45 for a 10 o'clock lesson,'' said Frank Doretti, who was stationed at the entrance of the rental area. ``You'd be surprised, but it really happens a lot.''

Showing up that late guarantees you'll never make it to your lesson on time - even if you've prebooked the rentals.

That process begins at one of several computer kiosks, where you'll type in the name, birth date and ability level of each student (first time, novice, intermediate or advanced/expert), along with their shoe size, height and weight. Snowboarders will need to know their stance - regular or goofy. (How you tell is if you kick a ball with your left foot, you're probably goofy; it has nothing to do with working at Disneyland.)

Maneuver past that step by booking rentals at least two days early by calling the resort's toll-free reservation number. Other resorts also offer advance rental reservation phone lines and/or Web sites.

Around the corner from there is where you'll be fitted with the proper boots. For first-timers, especially young ones, it may be a challenge to lace or buckle them up properly, but the morning we were there, an employee was helpful with that process.

There are some lockers nearby where your apres-ski boots or shoes can be stored, but those fill up fast (another reason to arrive early). If they're all spoken for, you'll have to carry them to the last station, where you'll pick up your skis or snowboard and then lug all of that down a flight of stairs to the to the main locker area.

Getting the skis and snowboard went fairly quickly. Several employees were at work matching the right equipment to each person and making sure it was in proper condition. Interestingly, young ski students are not issued a set of poles because they don't use them while learning to ski.

The longest delay was waiting for a proper-fitting helmet, because an employee needed to be dispatched to Canyon Kids to pick up several more to replenish the rental shop's supply. Helmets are a requirement for the children's lessons at Mammoth, but apparently that's forgotten after graduation because most of the young skiers and snowboarders spotted outside of the organized classes were not wearing them.

The entire process took about 40 minutes. It easily would have been longer if the rentals were not booked along with the lessons several days earlier, or if it was a weekend or holiday. On those days, patience certainly would be important - a virtue both instructors demonstrated time and again on the slopes as they led their young charges.

Shortly after Cundiff showed all 10 of his students how to duck walk in their skis, he was leading them up a gentle slope. One girl, still on wobbly legs, fell out of her skis.

``You don't want to face downhill when you put your skis back on,'' Cundiff advised.

After clicking her boots back into her bindings, she tried again. And fell again.

Cundiff showed her and the other kids how to maneuver up the hill sideways, which she was able to do, giving her new confidence.

``We train our instructors how to set expectations for themselves and for their students so it doesn't lead to frustration on either end,'' said Craig Albright, director of Mammoth's ski and snowboard school.

The 375 instructors at Mammoth today are a different breed than they were five decades ago when an old Swiss cowboy, Gus Weber, started teaching ski classes shortly after Dave McCoy built the first lift up the mountain.

``Twenty-five years ago, when I started, there was a big ski test first, and then if you passed the ski test, you had a chance to interview,'' Albright said. ``That has now almost completely flip-flopped. We're much more interested in their experience in other fields - whether they teach or have good communication skills.

``I'll often ask in the course of an interview for them to share a story about teaching a friend how to kick flip (on a skateboard) or whatever - something that they've enjoyed and then turned someone else onto. I want to hear the excitement in their voice. Our thought is it's easy to teach someone how to ski better or to ride better, but it's hard to teach an instructor how to be personable and outgoing.''

Those skills no doubt helped the learning process for the 112,000 students who learned how to ski or snowboard at Mammoth last winter. Of those, 65 percent were kids.

``When I look through hundreds of online (applications) each year, summer camp counselors are almost always a hit because they know what they're getting into,'' Albright said. ``They choose to work with kids again, so they generally like it and relate well with them - and the kids really pick up on that.''

By early afternoon near the base of the slopes, the students were perfecting a number of moves they had learned earlier. The skiers were riding up the ``magic carpet'' and then zig-zagging their way down before forcing their skis into a wedge, like a slice of pizza, so they could come to a stop. The snowboarders were doing bunny hops and half-turns as they were sliding down the hill.

``Some of them are still getting used to the way their bodies move on the boards,'' Miele said after the lesson. ``Adults want to see a lot of progress before they feel they got their money's worth. But the kids just want to come out and have fun.''

At Mammoth, the ``all-day'' first-time beginner packages for kids run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include the lesson, equipment rental, a lift ticket and lunch. The cost this winter is $142 on Saturday and holidays, and $134 Sunday through Friday.

While Mammoth and other resorts offer one- and two-hour lessons at a much lower rate - along with an assortment of other learning packages for adults - several instructors recommended that most first-timers start with private lessons (but those are pricey) or the lengthier group lessons that allow the students to cover more ground before their time is up.

Even with about four hours of actual instruction, neither teacher covered everything he was hoping to. For example, none of the kids in either class made it to the chair lift. One of the holdups was most of the classes that day had more students than usual, thanks to a large, post-holiday crowd that packed Mammoth's Canyon Lodge.

And another thing the instructors didn't do was tell the kids they would be taking a tumble or three during the day. But that warning, I learned, is really never part of the plan.

``We want to put the kids at ease and focus on the things that they're going to need to get past the falling-down part,'' Albright said. ``Instead of telling them, 'Oh, well, this first day or two is going to be brutal,' the focus is on the things that will really help them.''

What to expect from your lessons

Frequently asked questions among those headed to the ski/snowboard schools:

Skiing vs. snowboarding? For beginners, the first hour or two is usually a little more difficult with snowboarding and takes a lot more energy, but after that, the learning curve rises steeply and you may be able to graduate from the beginner slopes sooner than skiers. Beginning skiers usually have better control throughout the learning process, can get on and off the chair lifts more easily and move about the mountain easier. The sports are actually quite different and have their own special attractions.

How long will it take to learn? Most first-timers will spend the first day on the beginner slopes, utilizing the base area lifts. After the second day, wider differences in learning rates become apparent as individual athletic ability and coordination, aggressiveness, etc., take over.

How important are lessons? Very important, especially for the first day or two, both to pick up the fundamentals quicker and to reduce the chance of injury. A lot of people try it on their own or are ``taught'' by a family member or friend who may not know the right teaching techniques.

What about equipment rentals? Most beginners do not have their own equipment. It is possible to rent from sporting goods stores near your home or workplace, on the way to the mountains or at the resort. Many resorts offer package deals on lessons and rentals. On peak season weekends and holidays, it's best to get there early. Late arrivals can encounter a lengthy wait at the rental outlets or a shortage of equipment.

What's advisable for equipment and clothing? Layer clothing, finishing with an exterior wind-resistant layer - ideally waterproof pants and jackets. NO JEANS - they absorb, rather than repel water, and you will be soaked to the skin in no time. Waterproof mittens or gloves are important, along with a wool hat. Helmets are a personal choice, but many ski and snowboard schools - including the ones at Mammoth Mountain - require them for kids. You also will need sunglasses or goggles on clear days because the snow reflects the sunlight; definitely goggles on snowy days. Sunscreen for your face is also a necessity.

How likely is an injury? In spite of their reputations, skiing and snowboarding produce very few injuries, especially serious ones. The vast majority of people who are careful to learn the basics and stay in control do not get hurt, or at most experience sore muscles or a few bruises.

Sources: www.SnowSummit.com, www.DiamondPeak.com, staff research

IF YOU GO

Want to learn how to ski or snowboard? Prices for group and private lessons vary widely, along with what's included. Some resorts offer specials that guarantee you'll be able to ride the beginner chairlift by the end of the first day or you'll receive free lessons until you can. Here are the phone numbers and Web sites where you can get started:

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

Bear Mountain: [phone]; www.bearmountain.com

Mountain High: [phone]; www.mthigh.com

Mount Baldy: [phone]; www.mtbaldy.com

Snow Summit: [phone]; www.snowsummit.com

Snow Valley Mountain Resort: [phone]; www.snowvalley.com

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA:

June Mountain: [phone]; www.junemountain.com

Mammoth Mountain: [phone]; www.mammothmountain.com

LAKE TAHOE: Alpine Meadows Ski and Snowboard Resort: [phone]; www.skialpine.com

Boreal Ridge: [phone]; www.rideboreal.com

Diamond Peak: [phone] for the ski school, [phone] for the snowboard school; www.diamondpeak.com

Donner Ski Ranch: [phone]; www.donnerskiranch.com

Heavenly: [phone]; www.skiheavenly.com

Homewood Mountain Resort: [phone]; www.skihomewood.com

Kirkwood: [phone] for the children's program, [phone] for the adult program; www.kirkwood.com

Mount Rose: [phone], [phone]; www.skirose.com

Northstar-at-Tahoe: [phone]; www.skinorthstar.com

Sierra-at-Tahoe: [phone], Ext. 270; www.sierratahoe.com

Soda Springs: [phone]; www.skisodasprings.com

Squaw Valley USA: [phone] for the Squaw Kids program, [phone] for adult lessons; www.squaw.com

Tahoe Donner Downhill: [phone]; www.tahoedonner.com

Sugar Bowl: [phone]; www.sugarbowl.com

CAPTION(S):

7 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) A group of 4- to 6-year-olds get a ski lesson at Mammoth Mountain, top. At Northstar-at-Tahoe, a tyke gets individual training, above.

(3 -- 5) Part of the fun for children in Mammoth Mountain's ski classes is learning how to ride the Poma lift ... but it's not always easy to stay upright on skis. Some classes are geared toward the youngest would-be skiers, like these 4- to 6-year-olds.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

(6) Make sure to reserve rental equipment in advance to avoid disappointment when you get to the resort.

(7) One of the most important things you'll learn in skiing or snowboarding lessons is how to avoid injury.

Jerry Rice/Great Escapes

Box:

(1) What to expect from your lessons (see text)

(2) IF YOU GO (see text)