Glenwood Springs, CO – Colorado’s Sunlight Mountain Resort and LiveWell Garfield County have partnered to take part in the World’s largest ski and snowboard lesson, a national campaign aimed at making its way into the Guinness Book of World Records on Friday, Jan. 8. Currently more than 150 ski areas and a number of ski industry trade groups across the U.S. are participating in the effort.

In all, the group aims to break two existing records and set two new records. The record for single-venue ski and snowboard lessons are both approximately 500 people. Only a few resorts are expected to vie for the single-venue record.

Sunlight is vying to help set new world records for the largest multi-venue ski lesson, and the largest multi-venue snowboard lesson. LiveWell has contributed financial support to provide nearly two dozen local students with a free 1.5-hour beginner ski or snowboard lesson including transportation, and rental equipment.

“LiveWell recognizes that not only will this event encourage a slew of newcomers to learn how to ski or snowboard, but will introduce local kids and adults who have never tried skiing or snowboarding to fall in love with a new recreational activity they’ll pursue for the rest of their lives,” said Jeff Jackel, recreation director for the Town of Carbondale, and member of the LiveWell Garfield County steering committee.

Jackel said that supporting the lesson attempt aligns with the organization’s goals to increase healthy eating and active living in the community and schools. According to LiveWell Colorado, one in four kids in the state is overweight or obese, while one of every two Colorado adults is overweight or obese. In 2014, LiveWell Garfield County established five new working groups assigned to tackle the various facets surrounding the issue.

“These ski and snowboard lessons will put many kids in an unfamiliar outdoor winter mountain environment, which will cultivate new skills and abilities for them to learn a winter activity sport that encourages them to lead a year-round physical active lifestyle,” Jackel said.

Local officials of the U.S. Forest Service have expressed their support of the World record attempt, and will be on-site to serve as impartial witnesses as per Guinness guidelines.

“We’re excited to have such great local support, and our world record attempt aligns well with Sunlight’s tradition of being the perfect place for beginners to not only learn how to ski or snowboard, but to learn how to shine,” said Troy Hawks, the ski resort’s Marketing and Sales Director.

Hawks added that Sunlight was the first ski area in the nation to offer free skiing to local grade-school students. For more than three decades, Sunlight’s fourth grade program has offered free season passes to local fourth grade students. Since Sunlight’s initial offer, similar grade school programs have emerged in most other ski states in the country, including Colorado’s 5^th and 6^th Grade Passport Program that offers ski days at each of the organization’s 21 member ski areas.

Sunlight’s attempt to set the World’s biggest lesson occurs on Skier Appreciation Day, Jan. 8, that offers $20 lift tickets to all skiers and snowboarders, with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to the United Way of Garfield County. Also that weekend on Jan. 10, Sunlight hosts its annual Student/Teacher Appreciation Day. Teachers ski free of charge, and students ski for just $20.

“It’s the perfect match with Skier Appreciation Day, a celebration that Sunlight fans been enjoying for years, we can’t wait,” Hawks said.