Bridgestone Winter Driving School
Bridgestone Winter Driving School
Bridgestone Winter Driving School
4.5
7:45 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
7:45 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
7:45 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
7:45 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
7:45 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
7:45 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
7:45 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
7:45 AM - 5:30 PM
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About
Since 1983, America's only purpose-built winter driving school, exclusively in Steamboat Springs, CO.
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Bridgestone Winter Driving School
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
15 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
beacht1me
Denver, CO6 contributions
Feb 2015 • Solo
While in Steamboat for the month of February, I took the day long Second Step class at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School. Prior to making arrangements for the class, I called with some questions. I was recently in a car accident, so I wanted to make sure that this was the class I should take. I also wanted to make sure that I’d have an opportunity to talk to the instructor with my concerns. The woman I spoke to took a lot of time to discuss what to expect in the class, and explained how the day would go. When I arrived for the day, I was greeted by the same person. She remembered our conversation and immediately put me at ease by introducing me to my instructor and explaining my situation. After a brief, yet informative overview by our instructor, our class headed out to their driving facility. We were greeted with shiny new Lexus cars! We were then split up into pairs of two, and throughout the day we traded off so that each of us could do each exercise. I found it helpful to be the passenger at times because as luck would have it, my partner was a very good driver! The instruction throughout the day was wonderful. Even though my class was quite full, I never felt like the instructors weren’t paying specific attention to me. The radio contact was very helpful as you get immediate feedback and encouragement. The afternoon portion of the class was most helpful and I almost wish there would have been a second day to work on those activities a bit more – avoiding obstacles, breaking, sliding, etc. I may look into taking the class again, but will try for more wintery conditions to challenge myself a bit more. At the close of the day, the instructor explained that you can come back with your own car to either drive on the track on your own, or you can have a private lesson with an instructor. Would have loved coffee in the morning for the video presentation, but great day overall. Thank you to the entire staff. What a great program!
Written March 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melanie N
Steamboat Springs, CO2 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
I have ridden snowmobiles, mushed a dog sled, ridden in a hot air balloon, and have done nearly every non-skiing activity a resort town has to offer.However, participating in the Bridgestone Winter Driving School is hands-down the best activity to do when taking a ski break. This one of a kind activity can only be done in Steamboat Springs, CO. They clearly explain what a car can do on the snow and ice, and teach you how to use steering, braking, and acceleration collectively and independently for control. The morning is spent practicing these real world skills of braking and turning, then the drivers are sent to the track to put the practice to the test. The afternoon is spent teaching how to steer while braking, becoming comfortable steering without a brake, and how use the lateral weight of your vehicle to your advantage. After these practice drills, the drivers have more time to test these skills on the track. During all the drills, practice, and laps, the school has radios in the vehicles to coach every step of the way. The instant feedback is phenomenal for the learning process. The final activity was participating in a ride along with one of the instructors, who demonstrated how to REALLY drive, which ten times better than any roller coaster. The instructors were informative, humorous, and made the learning meaningful. Bridgestone Winter Driving School is definitely a 'can't miss' Steamboat activity.
Written February 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for the glowing review. Your endorsement as the best non-skiing activity in North America is a powerful statement and we appreciate you taking the time to post your review and share your experience. Glad to hear you had fun learning to drive in low grip situations and enjoyed the opportunity to ride along with one of our driving pros. Thank you again.
Written February 27, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrew J
Alexandria, VA40 contributions
Jan 2015 • Solo
We've been traveling to Steamboat Springs every winter for nine years to ski. Over the years, we've noted the cars decaled with the Bridgestone Winter Driving School parked outside the Sheraton Hotel (initially) and later outside the Steamboat Grand Resort. While the idea of a winter driving school was intriguing, we just couldn't bring ourselves to give up a day of skiing to attend, and weren't sure what we'd do with our daughter while we attended in any case.
Last year, we mentioned to some local friends that our daughter had just gotten her driving learner's permit, and they strongly encouraged us to enroll her in the winter driving school the next time we came to Steamboat. So when we booked this year's trip, we added an extra day just for that purpose. Our initial worries that they might have an issue with her age (16) were quickly dispelled when we called to enroll her. It was clear that they enjoy teaching young drivers who haven't yet developed bad habits, and that they thought she would benefit greatly from participating.
We dropped our daughter off at the driving school office about 8am, and after filling out and signing the paperwork, we left her in the hands of the school, along with another teenager who arrived about the same time. When we picked her up at 4pm, she was all smiles. Our daughter told us that the class was both fun and incredibly informative. Each student got plenty of time behind the wheel on their snowy/icy track, learning how the cars react to the conditions and how to control the vehicle. Our daughter says that she is now much more comfortable with the idea of driving in winter weather. As a parent, I must say that I am *much* happier knowing that she has had some professional guidance to help her drive more safely when the road conditions are less than optimal.
Last year, we mentioned to some local friends that our daughter had just gotten her driving learner's permit, and they strongly encouraged us to enroll her in the winter driving school the next time we came to Steamboat. So when we booked this year's trip, we added an extra day just for that purpose. Our initial worries that they might have an issue with her age (16) were quickly dispelled when we called to enroll her. It was clear that they enjoy teaching young drivers who haven't yet developed bad habits, and that they thought she would benefit greatly from participating.
We dropped our daughter off at the driving school office about 8am, and after filling out and signing the paperwork, we left her in the hands of the school, along with another teenager who arrived about the same time. When we picked her up at 4pm, she was all smiles. Our daughter told us that the class was both fun and incredibly informative. Each student got plenty of time behind the wheel on their snowy/icy track, learning how the cars react to the conditions and how to control the vehicle. Our daughter says that she is now much more comfortable with the idea of driving in winter weather. As a parent, I must say that I am *much* happier knowing that she has had some professional guidance to help her drive more safely when the road conditions are less than optimal.
Written February 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share yours and your teenage daughter’s experience. It’s very rewarding to hear she had both a positive learning experience and fun at the BWDS. We greatly appreciate your support of the Bridgestone WInter Driving School. Thanks again.
Written February 12, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Portia I
Brooklyn, NY39 contributions
Jan 2019 • Business
My company sends a group of sales advisors who are home based in snow prone territories to this class every year. I now see why! I grew up driving through snow and rain in Pittsburgh, PA, but didn’t realize until taking this course how little I knew about the correct way to respond to situations where I have lost control of my vehicle.
They give you mainly windshield time where you’re learning and practicing the skills that they review in the morning. The conditions get more and more treacherous as the day gets on and the track becomes more icy, but at the same time, you’re getting more and more comfortable whipping around the curves and over and understeering. I would recommend this to all!
They give you mainly windshield time where you’re learning and practicing the skills that they review in the morning. The conditions get more and more treacherous as the day gets on and the track becomes more icy, but at the same time, you’re getting more and more comfortable whipping around the curves and over and understeering. I would recommend this to all!
Written February 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth K
Wellington, CO147 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
We came because we had a new and overconfident teen driver. She definitely found her limits and was introduced to some important skills. Our highly confident and experienced adult male driver discovered some limits and new approaches. I came into the class concerned and underconfident. I really enjoyed the driving and was really pleased with how quickly a person can improve with skilled coaching and a safe place to practice. The teachers are outstanding as is the course and also the vehicles.
Written February 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeroen S
The Hague, The Netherlands22 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
We went to Steamboat in February to take the Second Gear winter driving class and had a great day. This class was a safety driving course, they also offer performance driving for advanced winter drivers.
The day started pretty rough, you have to sign some papers, show your driver's license and pick a sandwich for lunch. The lady at reception was kind of rude though, and we didn't feel very welcome at first. Quickly however, things got way better.
Our instructor Gary started the day with a powerpoint presentation and a clear overview of what we were going to do all day. He was very friendly and made an effort to connect to every person in the class that day. After the instruction we took a shuttle to the track where the cars were waiting for us.
At the track we met TJ, our other instructor. He too was very nice, and gave very clear instructions. We were told to get into brand new Lexuses (AWESOME!), there were ES350's and RX530's. We were also told to team up with someone you didn't come with, in the interest of not ruining relationships. While certainly a nice thought, one of us was paired with a partner that seemed annoyed to be taking the course that day so that made the experience less nice.
On the track we did four different exercises involving breaking with and without ABS and understeer and oversteer control. Each instructor guided half of the participants for each exercise, so we were able to do each exercise plenty of times - not a lot of waiting around for the whole group to finish. Instructions were clear and personal through car radio. Gary and TJ positioned their car so that they could see what we were doing and they gave clear feedback on what we did and should have done.
Other than the exercises we also did a bunch of laps on the track. During these laps our instructors took position so they could overview the entire track and make sure there was enough space for every car, asking some cars to take different turns or slow down a bit when necessary. They were also able to provide feedback and made a game of making one of the difficult turns perfectly - the first to get it would get a beer.
The warm and sunny day made the track go bad in some spots by the end of our training. Gary and TJ kept track of this and made sure we avoided these spots.
We had an awesome day with the Bridgestone winter driving school and I would love to take a performance course next. Highly recommended.
The day started pretty rough, you have to sign some papers, show your driver's license and pick a sandwich for lunch. The lady at reception was kind of rude though, and we didn't feel very welcome at first. Quickly however, things got way better.
Our instructor Gary started the day with a powerpoint presentation and a clear overview of what we were going to do all day. He was very friendly and made an effort to connect to every person in the class that day. After the instruction we took a shuttle to the track where the cars were waiting for us.
At the track we met TJ, our other instructor. He too was very nice, and gave very clear instructions. We were told to get into brand new Lexuses (AWESOME!), there were ES350's and RX530's. We were also told to team up with someone you didn't come with, in the interest of not ruining relationships. While certainly a nice thought, one of us was paired with a partner that seemed annoyed to be taking the course that day so that made the experience less nice.
On the track we did four different exercises involving breaking with and without ABS and understeer and oversteer control. Each instructor guided half of the participants for each exercise, so we were able to do each exercise plenty of times - not a lot of waiting around for the whole group to finish. Instructions were clear and personal through car radio. Gary and TJ positioned their car so that they could see what we were doing and they gave clear feedback on what we did and should have done.
Other than the exercises we also did a bunch of laps on the track. During these laps our instructors took position so they could overview the entire track and make sure there was enough space for every car, asking some cars to take different turns or slow down a bit when necessary. They were also able to provide feedback and made a game of making one of the difficult turns perfectly - the first to get it would get a beer.
The warm and sunny day made the track go bad in some spots by the end of our training. Gary and TJ kept track of this and made sure we avoided these spots.
We had an awesome day with the Bridgestone winter driving school and I would love to take a performance course next. Highly recommended.
Written March 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Waterloonie
Santa Barbara, CA1,604 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
This is a fantastic thing to do in Steamboat Springs. People come from all over the country to experience this winter driving school and for good reason. It offers so much more than other operations that teach you vehicular physics on frozen lakes. So if you happen to be in Steamboat on a ski vacation and want to do something wonderfully different, do book a day at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School. It's exciting, great fun and truly educational. Highly recommended!
Written February 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bucket List Life
19 contributions
Jan 2019 • Solo
I am so glad I finally did this, I have been saying for years that I wanted to especially as I live in a ski town. I finally attend the class and it wasn't just useful, but a very fun experience that I would do again and again!
Written January 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
roscobe
Orange County, CA210 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
The guys where abrasive, not sure if it was just a bad day or what. Either way, it made for an unpleasant experiences.
Also, would have been nice to use my own vehicle; they want you in their cars while you listen to a sales pitch. I paid to learn how to drive better in winter weather, not buy a Toyota or Bridgstone tires.
Also, would have been nice to use my own vehicle; they want you in their cars while you listen to a sales pitch. I paid to learn how to drive better in winter weather, not buy a Toyota or Bridgstone tires.
Written January 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Roscobe. We don’t find it fair to post a review eluding to the fact you attended a class when you did not. You didn’t even speak directly with anyone at the BWDS or visit our office in person. You communicated solely via email. I’m sorry your didn’t find our policies regrading private track rental and use of private vehicles at our facility to your liking.
Written March 7, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MC12348
Steamboat Springs, CO14 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
As a life long resident of the snow belt I thought I was a pretty good winter driver. These guys showed me otherwise. I've just been lucky. I had no idea that many of the "techniques" I believed to be true are simply urban myth and not based on physics and science. As one of the instructors told me- some people ski for 20 years but that doesn't mean they are Olympic caliber skiers. Don't feel bad about it, just learn the right way and keep practicing the proper technique. I'll be back for the advanced school next year!
Written December 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Bridgestone Winter Driving School - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Bridgestone Winter Driving School Information
Excellent Reviews | 13 |
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Very Good Reviews | 1 |
Bridgestone Winter Driving School Photos | 5 |