By Thomas Vendittelli

HIGHMOUNT, N.Y. Dec. 27 -- It’s ski season once again, and the time for digging out the gear has finally arrived. The snow-loving masses will soon be flocking to their areas of choice in search of whatever can be found on a white-faced mountain.

If you are looking for an amazing experience this winter, think first of Belleayre Mountain. Known for decades as one of the best mountains to ski or ride in New York State, Belleayre prides itself on its instructional programs. Also, Belleayre has recently completed the addition of a new high-speed lift, cutting lines down and jetting skiers to the summit in around five minutes.

This season is gearing up to be hopefully the best ever at Belleayre. In addition to improvements, there is a different feeling here that is missing at other mountains. Something just a little bit old fashioned is in the air, which makes the Belleayre experience one of a kind.

Always known as a great place to learn, Belleayre captures the essence of tradition with its gorgeous Catskill Mountain location. The area is built in the middle of the Catskill Forest Preserve, which provides majestic and unspoiled surroundings. Missing is the frantic bustle present at larger ski areas, leaving just relaxation, a fresh coat of white stuff and a sense of freedom like nothing else.

If you are a beginner or even a first-timer to the world of snow sports, there is no better place to go than Belleayre. Belleayre’s unique Learning Circle teaching program creates a no-pressure, stress-free environment to grasp the basics and more.

“The program creates a private and pressure-free environment where people have had a very high rate of success,” says Belleayre’s marketing director, Heather Van Benschoten. “We slowly guide skiers through the five-step program at their own speed.”

Participants are treated to an overview of the fundamentals, followed by instruction on left and right turns. After another station on stopping (my favorite), students are instructed and cleared to use the tow rope to try out their new skills. The lesson isn’t even timed!

It is this kind of above-and-beyond attention to detail that separates Belleayre from the pack. No wonder it was voted Best Place To Learn, by Skiing Magazine.

Once you’re up to speed, you are free to try your skills out on your choice of Belleayre’s 47 trails. At Belleayre you don’t have to worry about the clutter of beginner skiers crowding onto the one good intermediate run you get at some other mountains. Eighty percent of the trails are beginner and intermediate, so you’ll have plenty of options to ski the mountain on your own terms.

For those of you a little more comfortable on your weapon of choice, there is an exciting addition this year which Belleayre hopes will add a touch of the modern to it’s old school charm. The Super Chief quad is now a high speed detachable quad capable of jetting you to the top of the mountain in only five minutes. From there more advanced skiers and riders have their pick of one of Belleayre’s many black and double diamond trails.

Hop back on the Super Chief and you’ll be at the peak again before you can even catch your breath! More runs than ever before are now capable at Belleayre Mountain.

For those of you interested in free styling, there is a healthy park maintained with enough jumps, jibs and rails to keep everyone happy. For extra fun, schedule your visit to coincide with one of Belleayre’s ever-popular Rail Jams. Held monthly, the Jams are part of the Belleayre Terrain Park Series, a continuation of the successful events of last year.

The kickoff event took place on Thanksgiving weekend and was a huge success, with cash prizes, live music and plenty of talented free-stylers putting on a show. The next event is scheduled for Jan. 7, and it will test jump skills on a variety of obstacles in the Area 51 terrain park. Anyone can compete and it’s only $10 to enter after your lift ticket for the day.

Check out www.Belleayre.com, for more information on the many exciting events Belleayre has planned for this season.

Once you visit Belleayre and experience all the natural beauty and snow fun first-hand, you’ll want to stay even longer! Luckily, this won’t be a problem, thanks to a partnership with the Belleayre Region Lodging and Tourism Association. All you need to do to explore lodging options and weekend packages is visit www.catskillhighpeaks.com. There are a lot of wonderful lodging areas close by, and the association even has information available for house rentals in the area.

Of course, there are special packages available for those who wish to book an all-inclusive ski and stay vacation. There is even a kids ski and stay free policy, just in case families need yet another reason to book!

This season there is no other ski area offering the combination of small-mountain nostalgic charm and character with big-mountain know-how and experience. Belleayre has something to offer every member of the family, from the avid freestyle snowboarder right down to the never-skied-before beginner. With the addition of the new Super Chief high speed quad, Belleayre has never been better, but the mountain has something that can’t be measured in terms of vertical elevation.

As Ms. Van Benschoten puts it, “What makes this mountain so special is the low key, no glitz or glamour atmosphere. At Belleayre we’re all about skiing.”

So gather up the family and get on board for what is gearing up to be the best season in Belleayre history.

Thomas Vendittelli, a snowboarder and a Wagner College student, is participating this season in the Eastern Ski Writers Association internship program.