January is Learn to Ski Month in Colorado Ski Country. Almost every resort is offering incentives for folks who have never skied or those who want to improve.

In the past few weeks I've talked with a number of people who are interested in either learning to ski or getting back into the sport after taking time off for career or family. With the number of offers at our resorts, now is the perfect time to think about taking a lesson.

One offer in particular grabbed my attention:

Two all-day beginner ski lessons. Cost includes equipment rental, lift tickets and lessons for two full days, all for $129.

Certainly that's a good deal, and one that can be found at most resorts. But the bargain was the next sentence:

Upon completion of the two-day lesson, graduates receive a full season pass good for the remainder of the ski season.

This, I thought, has to be the deal of the year.

Upon digging a bit further, I discovered this offer is being made by SolVista Basin, a small ski area near Granby. I know from experience it's a family-friendly resort.

"We believe that SolVista is the perfect learn-to-ski mountain," said Stephanie Carey, director of marketing at SolVista. "We have a great program for the perfect mountain. It's one we've offered for the past few seasons and is uniquely designed for beginner skiers and boarders, adults and children alike, to get them up and skiing on the mountain."

For more information about learn-to-ski programs at SolVista or other Colorado ski areas, go to solvista.com or coloradoski.com.

A learn-to-ski mountain

* SolVista, located 15 minutes north of Winter Park, is one of the smaller resorts in the consortium of ski areas known as the "Gems of the Rockies."

* What makes SolVista the perfect mountain for beginners is the design and layout of the area. The base lodge is located at the bottom of a natural bowl. All ski lifts emanate from the base, and all trails and runs feed back to the base.

* There is a wide variety of runs that are perfect for the beginner or intermediate skier. Most of the runs on the mountain are green (beginner) or blue (intermediate), but there also are a few dark blue runs. Because of the layout of the mountain in relation to the base lodge, it's difficult to get lost.

Deal of the year

* The Get on the Snow program at SolVista features two all-day group ski lessons. Each lesson lasts five hours.

* The $129 fee includes a two-day lesson, lift tickets and equipment rental. You also receive a $20 voucher good in the base lodge ski shop.

* Upon completion of the course, each student receives a full season pass good through March 7. (Holiday weekends Jan. 19-21 and Feb. 16-18 are excluded.)

Learn Direct Parallel

* The SolVista ski school offers the Primary Movements Teaching System. This is the system developed by Harald Harb, the one in which I am certified and which I write about extensively in this column. After 41 years of teaching skiing, I find there is no better way to learn how to ski.

* This system utilizes a Direct Parallel method that eliminates the need for the snowplow or wedge.

* The benefit of Direct Parallel is that you minimize unnecessary skiing movements, thus allowing a skier to become more proficient sooner. You'll likely be up and skiing in two days.

Craig McNeil is a certified Primary Movements instructor. To order his book, How to Ski the Blues and Blacks without Getting Black and Blue, or to contact him, go to his Web site, HowToSki.net.