Seven Oaks is the place to ski, snowboard and snow tube in central Iowa! Located in Boone – a quick drive from Ames, Fort Dodge, Des Moines, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, Grimes, Adel, and other surrounding communities.

Save time before you arrive for your winter adventure at Seven Oaks.
Print and sign the Winter Daily Waiver

First time skiing or snowboarding?

Seven Oaks offer 3 fantastic ways of learning the great sport of skiing or snowboarding.

1. FREE mini ski/snowboard lessons- this is a great way to learn the basics.  The instructor gives you the information and you practice what you just learned.  This is a hands-off approach. Offered all day every day. See below for complete details.
2. Paid Private ski/snowboard lessons are a one on one 75-minute lesson with your own instructor.  The time spent in the 75 minutes is based on what you need help with…stopping, turning, riding lifts, etc.  it is tailored to your needs and is a hands-on approach. Advanced reservations recommended.  See below for complete details. 
3. Take a Class and Earn a Pass is a great way to develop you into a competent skier or snowboarder.  This package comes complete with earning a Nights Only Season Pass when you complete the program. The package includes 3 Lift tickets, 3 Rentals, and 3 1½ hour classes. Normal class size is 6 people. Restrictions apply, see Flyer for details…Limited spots available. Advanced reservations needed. See below for complete details.

Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. We have designed our facility and programs for people just like you. You will learn more in one of our mini-lessons or paid private lessons than you will all day from your friends. Skiing and snowboarding is FUN and we want everyone to experience it.

Included with purchase of a lift ticket, we provide beginner mini lessons to skiers and snowboarders ages 7 and above. Our free mini lessons for skiing and snowboarding are available every 30 minutes starting at the top of the hour and will start at the large “LESSONS START HERE” sign near our “School Yard” (beginners’ slope).  The lessons will be held in groups of 15 or less and last approximately 15-20 minutes.  These lessons will have the instructor showing you the basics of your equipment, stopping, turning, riding the different lifts and other basic techniques to practice before heading to bigger slopes.  You may take as many of these lessons as you wish. We give you the knowledge and you practice on your own.

Beginners under age 7 are welcome if accompanied by an adult, however, we strongly recommend that they take a 75-minute paid private lesson ~ see private lessons information below.

Everyone learns at a different pace. It is important to keep your expectations reasonable. This way both you and your children have a successful and rewarding day on the slopes. Some factors that can affect learning include your temperament (how open you are to new things), age, and physical ability. Both skiing and snowboarding take special skills that improve with practice over time. Ultimately, your expectations for you and your kids should focus on the fun and excitement of the overall experience.

Watching the following short videos will certainly help you understand the basic beginner techniques before heading to Seven Oaks.  It will be well worth your 20- 30 minute to watch the following videos:

Our 75-minute private lessons for skiing and snowboarding are a 1 on 1 lesson. Your instructor will work with you from the basics to more advanced beginner techniques. This lesson is perfect for someone wanting to learn the sport of skiing and snowboarding or for someone wanting to take their basic beginner skills up a notch. During your lesson there may be times where the instructor will be a little more hands on but only if you are comfortable with person-to-person contact. Most of the time it will be hand to hand contact.

Private lessons are reserved online, in advance, with payment due at the time of reserving your spot. Advanced reservations for private lessons are highly recommended as we do often book out. Private lessons can be booked onsite day of but only if they are available- check for availability at the ticket office. Lift ticket, equipment rental package, and helmet rental are an additional cost and not included in the lesson fee. Once you arrive at Seven Oaks stop into the ticket office to purchase these items and pick up your lesson voucher. The private lesson will start at the large “LESSONS START HERE” sign near our “School Yard” (beginners’ slope). Your instructor will find you at the School Yard.

Private lessons are nonrefundable. Reschedule requests for private lessons must be sent via email 48 hours in advance of lesson time/date. Reschedule requests must be emailed to [email protected]. Rescheduling a private lesson within the 48 hours before the lesson time/date will incur a $20 fee. Private lessons may only be rescheduled one time. Weather Policy: Lessons will be refunded if Seven Oaks operational hours are altered due to weather OR if road conditions warrant cancellation.

Private lessons available:
1 participant and 1 instructor 75-minute private lesson is $60
2 participants and 1 instructor 75-minute private lesson is $110
Please note: *We require participants to be at least 4 years old for private lessons. If 2 participants are in the lesson together, we highly recommend they are similar in age/skill level for the best experience. If combining multiple ages or ability levels in a private lesson, the lesson will focus on and progress as fast as the lowest age/ability level in the group. No more than 2 participants will be allowed, first ever private lessons must be 1 participant with 1 instructor. Additional participants can only be added by emailing [email protected] for preapproval from the ticket office. Send us an email with your order number and your request for approval (name/age/experience of both participants) and we will let you know via email if approval is granted. Children and adults may not share private lessons. Email [email protected] for “early season” lesson availability (all other lessons are posted in the online store).

Click Here To Book

This package comes complete with earning a Nights Only Season Pass when you complete the program. The package includes 3 Lift tickets, 3 Rentals, and 3 1½ hour classes. Restrictions apply, see Flyer for details… Registration begins on November 1st, limited spots available!

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Please check in at the ticket office at least 30 minutes before each class. Check-in is available starting at 4:00 pm on the day of your classes.