How to Tell You’re at a Place with Beginners

Midwestern ski areas have their virtues, including being cheap (you can stay at home) and accessible (you can stay at home). They’re also places where beginners and novices can feel comfortable on much of the terrain.

Even so, there’s a difference between “beginning snowboarder” and “pretend snowboarder.” Even the cheapest, true novice snowboard has edges. Anything else is a sled.