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Brundage Mountain Celebrates Fourth Straight Best Ski School Nomination from USA TODAY
Affordable learning terrain and a welcoming mountain community give Idaho skiers and riders two proud reasons to vote
Brundage Mountain’s MTN Sports School has earned its fourth consecutive nomination for Best Ski School in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. With McCall also nominated again for Best Ski Town, local skiers and riders have two opportunities to show their pride in the people and places that make winter here special.
Voting is open now, and readers can cast one vote per day in each category through 10:00 am on Monday, Nov. 9. The top 10 winners will be announced Wednesday, Nov. 18.
For Brundage, the nomination celebrates a team dedicated to helping guests feel welcome, build confidence and discover their own reasons to love skiing and snowboarding.
“A great lesson starts with understanding the person in front of you,” said Zach Miller, director of the Brundage MTN Sports School. “For one guest, success might mean making their very first turns. For another, it’s feeling ready to explore a new part of the mountain with their family. Our instructors care about those moments, and this nomination is a wonderful recognition of that work.”
More Room to Learn and Explore
The nomination comes as Brundage prepares to welcome families to an enhanced Beartopia learning area for winter 2026-27.
Served by the Easy Rider conveyor, Easy Street Chairlift and Bear Chair, Beartopia offers a progression from gentle first turns to more adventurous terrain. This season’s improvements include regrading Easy Street, reconfiguring the conveyor learning area and thinning trees between several Bear Chair runs to create approachable opportunities for exploring beyond the groomed trails.
Beartopia lift tickets cost $30 when purchased online, or $40 during holiday periods, giving families an affordable way to practice and explore without purchasing a full-mountain ticket.
The MTN Sports School is also introducing a refreshed lineup of MTN Explorers children’s programs, with day, multiweek and camp options that accommodate different family schedules.
Together, these investments reflect the independently owned resort’s commitment to keeping skiing and snowboarding accessible while caring for the mountain experience that brings people back.
A Little Hometown Pride Goes a Long Way
McCall’s return to the Best Ski Town ballot offers another reason to celebrate. With access to Brundage Mountain, Tamarack Resort and Little Ski Hill, the community connects a wide range of winter experiences with the welcoming character of a real Idaho mountain town.
“We hear it all the time: ‘Don’t tell anyone how good we have it here,’” said Brundage Mountain General Manager Ken Rider. “I understand that instinct. But the people who teach our kids, welcome our guests and make this such a special ski community deserve some recognition. Let’s put a little hometown and Idaho pride behind our ski school and McCall. There’s a lot here to be proud of.”
McCall Nominated for Best Ski Town Honors
Brundage Mountain is a short eight-mile drive from scenic McCall, Idaho, which was also recognized by USA TODAY. McCall was nominated for Best Ski Town for the second year in row.
Nestled in the Payette National Forest, McCall is a true mountain town with authentic character and exceptional snow. Averaging 200–300 inches of snowfall each winter, it offers access to three alpine ski areas, miles of Nordic trails, and a laid-back community spirit that makes visitors feel right at home.
Brundage encourages supporters to make voting for both nominees a daily habit through Nov. 9.
