Tonkawood’s mission is to empower young adventurers to conquer the slopes with confidence and joy. After registration is complete, we will contact you to collect all skier information.
Mark your calendar for the 6 lessons this winter. Make up dates will be used if we have to cancel for weather.
Tonkawood accepts children ages 3 and up. Three- and four-year-olds ski in beginner groups alongside other young first-timers.
Because groups are formed by ability rather than age, a young beginner is never placed with more advanced skiers simply because of their birthday.
Children who have never skied are welcome. Tonkawood begins with beginner lessons at any age, and each child is placed by skill level rather than age using the information you give at sign-up.
Because groups are organised by ability rather than age, the ages within a single lesson may vary. After each lesson, instructors evaluate every skier's skills and development, and children may move between groups and skill levels across the six lessons as they progress.
Tonkawood Ski School is $400 for the season, which covers six instructor-led lessons and your child's ski pass. Equipment is not included; seasonal rentals are available separately through Powder Ridge.
The alpine race team is priced separately and does not include a ski pass. Race team pricing is tiered by registration date — see the sign-up page for the current rate.
Six. Tonkawood is a multi-week season program rather than a single lesson — your child skis with the program across six scheduled dates over the winter, building on the week before each time.
If a lesson is cancelled for weather, it is covered by the scheduled make-up dates.
Tonkawood runs both Saturday and Sunday sessions. Arrive by 9am for Saturday sessions and by 1pm for Sunday sessions. Each lesson runs two hours.
The season schedule lists the six lesson dates along with the make-up dates used if a lesson is cancelled for weather.
Tonkawood lessons are held at Powder Ridge Ski Area, 15015 93rd Ave, Kimball, MN 55353. Tonkawood is a Twin Cities ski school — families come from Minneapolis and the west metro and travel to Powder Ridge for lessons.
Powder Ridge can be reached at (320) 398-7200.
Each child needs skis, boots, a helmet, goggles, warm layers, snow pants, a warm jacket, ski mittens or gloves, warm ski socks and a neck gaiter. Beginners do not need poles — you will be told when your skier is ready for them. Hand warmers make happy skiers and parents!
Renting
Powder Ridge offers a seasonal rental package — skis, boots and poles — for $199. You take the equipment home each week and return it at the end of the season. Identify yourself as a Tonkawood parent for this pricing.
If you are renting, either pick up your gear before the first lesson or arrive an hour early on the first day to get fitted and ready to ski.
Buying
Hoigaards and Gear West Alpine are our retail partners. They carry a full line-up of new and used boots, skis, poles, helmets, clothing and winter accessories.
Tonkawood may cancel a lesson when the temperature or wind chill is -10 degrees or lower. Cancellations are announced by 6am on Saturdays and 8am on Sundays by email, on this website and on social media. Do not assume a lesson is cancelled unless you have been notified.
Some days sound worse than they ski. Because of wind direction and other conditions, we may decide to go ahead with classes on a day the forecast looks questionable.
Cancelled lessons are covered by the scheduled make-up dates — see the season schedule.
Lesson times, group sizes, what parents do, gear, weather policy and more — answered in full.
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