Bridger Bowl

Bridger Bowl

Bridger Bowl is a very busy place in Bozeman.  There are a bunch of runs to ski in Bridger Bowl.  There’s also people who teach you. You can rent ski equipment.

For skiing, you need a pass for ski lifts.  Most of the jumps are hard, but there are easier ones that are just a few inches tall.  Snowflake is the easiest but people put obstacles to try.

They have lessons to help you. When you sign in, if you’re doing lessons, you will get a ticket.  There will be a dot on it.  There will be a flags to go to the matching color of the dot.  Wait at the matching flag and give the ticket to the adult that is coming to you.

You can rent skis.  You don’t have to get ski sticks.  You also need to know your height and weight.

When you go to Bridger Bowl do your best!

Mom says…

Bridger Bowl is a great ski area.  It’s close enough to Bozeman that I can drop my kids off at school, ski from 9:30-2, and then be back to pick them up by 3.  In my opinion it’s better than Red Lodge, and it’s less overwhelming and less expensive for those who are beginners than Big Sky.

Bridger Bowl’s website can be confusing if you’re not used to it.  Here’s a run-down on what Bridger Bowl offers for kids:

• Multi-week lessons are for locals that want their kids to ski every weekend.
• Lesson packages are perfect for those visiting, sign up for 3 at a time and get a discount.
• Learn to Ski (or snowboard) in 3 is a great deal for newbies!
• Eagle Mount has an amazing ski program for children with disabilities.  It’s very affordable as well, and the volunteers and staff are fantastic. You sign up with Eagle Mount, not Bridger.

  

Gear!

If you’re coming in from out of town, you might wonder what the best gear is for skiing. Here is what we use.

• Mittens are warmer than gloves.  We like these. 
• Wool ski socks stay put and keep feet warm, dry, and comfortable. Size up since they tend to run small or shrink.  We like these. 
• Wool base layer (long underwear) is the best, but there are great synthetic brands as well. We like these.
• Layer!  I ski with a backpack and then collect what they don’t want, and re-distribute what they do. The sun coming out, wind picking up, or just getting warm from the exercise of skiing can make us be warm, cold, and then warm again within a few minutes.  We recommend a wool base layer (above), fleece coat, ski/snow pants, an extra puffy coat if it’s really cold, and then a shell with a hood.  Also a hat that covers the ears, ski goggles, and a baklava-type head covering if there is wind!
  Tinted goggles help protect eyes from the bright sun reflecting off the snow, and a brightly colored hat, scarf, or coat makes kids easy to see on the ski hill.
• Play it Again Sports offers season rentals for kids (adults too!) for a great price.
• Round House Skis is just down the hill from Bridger Bowl (same parking lot) and they offer rentals for a little less than Bridger. I usually end up renting at Bridger since we’re buying a pass at the same time and the passes and rentals are in the same building, but if you’re renting for more than one person this is absolutely worth the extra stop.
• They’ll give you a receipt with the details of your rental that has the specifications of your ski settings (Bridger or Round House)- save this so that renting goes faster the next time!
• Yes, they need to wear a helmet!  Not only for safety, but it helps keep those hats on and heads warm as well.

More that you’ll want to know

• Yes, you can park your kids in lessons and then go ski yourself. The teachers are excellent and the whole program is really well run.
• There is play-care for the littles. This is a great program, I haven’t actually used it yet but I have seen the program and met the staff, and I would feel comfortable leaving my little one (and I’m super protective of my littles!). It’s not very crowded.  Buying the hourly pass to playcare is usually the best deal.
• If you have a non-skier, the lodges are warm, friendly, and a great place to hang out.  One overlooks the beginner hill with a big beautiful window, great for parents who want to observe their new skiers who are in lessons.
• If you are bringing a toddler along, or have a lot of gear and your children aren’t quite strong enough to help carry it yet, bring a sled! I tend to put my little in the sled, and then bring a backpack, piling gear on top of him as well.
• If you have a little who isn’t old enough for lessons, but whats to be included, they will love little skis that strap on over snow boots.  We just use these near the lodges and lessons, there are lots of places to play in the snow at Bridger. It’s not too crowded at all, even on the weekends.