When Alta Ski Area started operations on January 15th, 1939, it only had one single-person chairlift. Tickets cost just 25 cents per ride, and a ski school was bound to come around with more and more people wanting to enjoy the activity of “dashing over the snow.”
Today Alta’s ski school, or the Alf Engen Ski School, is run by Ski School Director Scott Mathers, working to build confidence with skiers so they can enjoy their days on the mountains with the 130+ instructors. Karl Fahrner was the first ski school director, running it from 1938-1939. U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame inductee Dick Durrance took the reigns in 1941, and between 1948 and 1989, the organization was run by Alf Engen.
“I can promise you this, this could be an interesting afternoon or it might change your whole perspective about life.” – Mike Noble, Alf Engen Ski School Instructor
Today the ski school hosts a bunch of lessons and camps, ranging from large group lessons to small private lessons. They even have telemark lessons! But obviously there’s no snowboard lessons to be had (pop on over to Snowbird for those). You can learn more about the Alf Engen Ski School here.