Most camps are focused around freestyle riding, like halfpipe and kickers, so you should have the basics down to get the most out of the facilities offered there. But even if you’ve never ridden a pipe in your life, this is the best place to start. Most camps have two halfpipes, one smaller for beginners with less vert and shorter trannies to get you off the lip easier. And the kickers come in all shapes and sizes, so if 40-foot tabletops aren’t your thing, there’re a few smaller ones to start with until you get the confidence to really start huckin’.

The snow gets pretty soft in the afternoons and is slower and more forgiving—a nice cushion for a beginner. The smaller jumps and pipes are also a lot less intimidating than the bigger ones, where there’re usually a lot of pros going off. But even there, the vibe is super positive, with more encouragement going around than anything. People get way more stoked on you for trying and will only tell you what to do to get better, so there’s nothing to lose.

— Alison Berkley