They didn't slip when they stood, or get wet when they sat down, or have any reservations at all about pointing the skis or snowboard downhill, as per instructions from the teacher, even though all this was a first for many of the nearly 600 students out for the 52nd running of the Deseret News Ski School.
The reason, of course, was that students walked and stood up and sat down on green grass, not yet browned by winter or covered with snow.It was, as Alan Engen, director of the Deseret News program and director of skiing at Alta, said, "A perfect place, a perfect day for learning."
The school, as it has for the past couple of decades, opened on the gentle slopes of Sugarhouse Park. There were about 200 snowboarders and 400 skiers registered.
While this is the 52nd year ski lessons have been offered, this is the first year for snowboarding.
Snowboarding was added, said Engen, because of the noticeable popularity of the sport, especially among the younger students. When snowboarders move onto snow next week, they will head for Snowbird. Skiers, as they have for most of the past 52 years, will head to Alta.
Lane Clegg, overseeing the snowboard program for Snowbird, said a couple of things surprised him about the first class of students.
"Even though we have several adults, I expected more. It could be because we limited numbers this year. Also, we got a couple of families who came together, and wanted to stay together and learn together. I think it's great," he said.
One of those was the Lyman family -- Tom and his wife, Marcella, and kids Nisha (16), Whitney (13), Chelsea (12) and Maddison (8).
"We ski as a family," said the senior Lyman, "and my kids have been pestering me to try snowboarding -- so we did. This is a great opportunity as a family."
In the first class, snowboard students learned to step into and out of a snowboard, how to carry the board, how to walk from one point to another with a snowboard on one foot, and how to stand, which is somewhat more challenging when standing on snow.
In classes next door, ski students followed a similar program. They learned to put skis on and take them off, how to walk, climb a gentle hill and make a stationary turn. Again, all maneuvers are somewhat more difficult when done on snow.
The next class is scheduled for Saturday. Weather forecasts are calling for colder temperatures and the possibilities of snow early in the week. If the pattern does change, then skiers and snowboarders will meet at Alta and Snowbird, respectively, for the second session. If the weather pattern does not turn, then students will return to the park for the second class. There will be no ski school over the Thanksgiving holiday. The final classes will be Dec. 4 and 11.