It's time to learn a snow sport

— -- Birgitta Lindgren is accustomed to hearing the fears of city dwellers who show up at her cross-country ski and snowshoeing center near Steamboat Springs, Colo., and admit they're afraid of the forest.

"It's not because of the animals. It's not from a fear of getting lost," she says. "They're afraid of getting mugged. And it's always city people."

Here's some good news: If there has ever been a mugging in her neck of the woods, Lindgren isn't aware of it. Here's some more: Novice skiers and snowshoers who show up Saturday at the Steamboat Ski Touring Center — and at locations in 21 other states — won't pay a cent for equipment rental, passes or instruction as part of Winter Trails Day, now in its 14th year.

The promotion is a highlight in the January-long Learn a Snow Sport Month, which has grown vastly this year to include resorts in 23 states, up from just a handful in 2008. Deals and dates vary depending on the resort, but they include discounts on lessons and equipment rentals, and they're aimed at getting newbies to a) take a lesson and b) do so early in the season so they can return to build on the experience.

The promotions are coordinated in part by SnowSports Industries America, which represents suppliers of snow-related sports products. As such, they're eager to keep skis, snowboards and related paraphernalia moving, and creating new aficionados is a way to do that. But the bleak economy also has caused ski resorts to dream up their own enticements as they attempt to broaden their customer base.

In 2007, the number of downhill skiers dropped 14% to 5.5 million from 6.4 million the year before. Cross-country skiing was down 36% during the same period, though promoters blame the declines on a mid-winter thaw in the East. The number of snowboarders increased slightly during the same period.

Snowshoeing remains one of the more obscure winter sports. But it's also among the easiest to learn, which is why it's a featured activity on Winter Trails Day.