
Virtual Ski in Santa Monica provides indoor snowboarding on state-of-the-art simulators, offering a unique way to practice or learn year-round
I’d first heard about the idea of indoor snowboarding class while watching Married at First Sight’s Denver edition in late 2023 / early 2024. One of the couples did a date at Snöbahn, a bit south of Denver. The idea immediately captured my attention. Previously, I’d taken two ski lessons – one at Mammoth Mountain and one at Vail Mountain in Colorado.
But, did I want to do a third ski lesson? Or – perhaps – try something I was always too scared to learn: snowboarding?
A few weeks after taking my first adult snowboarding class at Mammoth Mountain, I found myself energized and eager to deepen my skills.. Sure, I’d fallen a few times of times. But, in falling, I realized that the anticipation and fear of falling was the issue. When I actually fell, I actually felt fine. I wasn’t embarrassed – because I was still learning. And, I made myself not compare myself to anyone else. The real victory was getting back up and trying again. That feeling stuck with me.
I shared my newfound enthusiasm with my friend Rosemary one afternoon, during a less-than-impressive visit to Ventiki Tiki Bar in Ventura. Afterward, I headed home, determined to turn my mood around. That’s when I decided the best way to channel my excitement was to drive to the Burton store in Santa Monica and invest in my own snowboarding gear.
When inspiration strikes, I tend to follow it without hesitation.
My visit to Burton turned out to be truly outstanding. My sales associate was incredibly helpful, and I left with a full setup: Women’s Burton Felix Step On® Snowboard Boots (complete with complimentary heat molding), a Burton Camber Snowboard, and Women’s Burton Step On® Re:Flex Snowboard Bindings—all at a discount, which is always a bonus. To top it off, she told me I was one of the nicest and most fun customers she’d ever worked with at the Santa Monica store! That definitely made me smile.


But then, as soon as I got home and plopped onto my bed, reality hit. I found myself staring at my phone, thinking, What did I just do? Sure, I wanted to head back to Mammoth Mountain before the season ended and snowboard. But, committing to another long weekend trip didn’t feel quite right yet. That’s when I revisited the idea of indoor skiing and snowboarding facilities—and stumbled upon Virtual Snow LA.
After research and doing a deep dive on their Instagram, I made an appointment for the introduction session for the following Thursday.
When I arrived for my private session, Ella, my trainer, introduced herself to me. Gratefully, she was an absolute professional.



She found a boot size that fit me, fitted me with the waist holder and got me into the magic carpet trainer.


Ella led me through:
❄️ Heel Side Slipping and Stopping
🏂 Directional Slip (Falling Leaf)
🎿 Toe Side Slipping and Stopping
🏔️ Toe Side Direction Slip
To say that it was a workout would be an understatement. My body moved like it had a mind of its own – and my over thinking brain got out of its way. It was an absolute pleasure to follow Ella’s guidance, the video training and my own body. Even when I lost my balance by over leaning and fell, I still felt safe – and, I got back up.
As I verbally coached myself through the moves, I couldn’t help but reflect on how, as we age, we often lose touch with the sheer delight of play. For me, snowboarding feels like play. Where skiing always made me feel awkward and out of my element—with boots that pinched, poles that got in the way, and skis I couldn’t quite manage, snowboarding just felt right.
I also appreciated that Ella took video of my form, allowing me to see myself in action and recognize what I had accomplished.
After class, I felt exhausted—but in a good way. My legs were slowly adjusting to the sensation of being strapped to a board, and my body and core were adapting to the unique movements the sport requires. Following Ella’s advice to practice on actual snow, I went ahead and booked a two-hour snowboarding lesson at Mountain High in Wrightwood.
Taking a private indoor snowboarding lesson was a solid choice in continuing my training. The one-on-one instruction gave me the space to learn at my own pace without feeling intimidated, while building my confidence.


I had the opportunity to ask questions, practice, and refine my technique. One of the most interesting parts? They have an attachable ledge can even teach you how to get on and off a ski lift properly!
Overall, my experience at Virtual Snow was been invaluable in preparing me to hit the slopes with excitement, confidence, and—most importantly—a mindset of play.
Virtual Snow ❄️ Indoor Ski and Snowboard Training
3105 Pico BlvdSanta Monica, California 90405