Kid Stoke

[bvibert]

This has been my desktop since I took it last season:

It'll be time for a new one soon!

Here they are about to rip some bumps on a beautiful spring day at the end of last season:

This thread is getting me stoked to get back out skiing with them again this season!

 

[Tin]

Looking at the bottom picture I think my gf and I were lapping Gunny with you that day.

 

[MadMadWorld]

Awesome! My son is too small. This is all I have so far, lol.

View attachment 9437

Speaking of. My son is now 16 months. What can I do this winter, if anything? I was thinking of getting some little baby skis or something and just going in the backyard. I was talking to a guy at Wachusett and he took his son on the lift at 18 months but I doubt that will happen haha. Just some sliding while I hold him would be fun for me and satisfy my desire to be able to say he "skied at 18 months old".

Cute kid Nick. There really is no baseline age. If you live close to a mountain, take them there at a young age before they can even ski. Pull them around on a sled and get them used to the sights and sounds. Let them make snow angels, play and horse around with them. A positive first experience makes a huge difference when it comes to skiing. This makes a huge difference when they actually reach a skiing age. And even then, it's important to know when enough is enough and not to push it. Sometimes it's better to cut your losses for the day.

 

[Nick]

My son is 9 mos now----my thought was once he starts walking an has reasonable balance I could get some plastic skis and just push him around the back yard/driveway. Just to get him acclimated with being outside in winter and the feeling of gravity/motion. My hope was that we could put him in lessons the end of next season (when hes 2+)

Perhaps wishful thinking though----this thread will likely prove to be quite helpful.

Lol I was thinking the same thing. Look at us guys. I know it's partially a thing to ... you want your kid to get older and say I've been skiing since I was 1 !!

 

[Nick]

Serious question now. Where do you buy infant skis? Just basic plastic ones I'm sure ... something to slide on.

 

[Katahdin]

We started our daughter at two and a half. We would have started her the winter before, but couldn’t find ski boots small enough. She is a bit of a daredevil and very determined. After a few runs on the magic carpet she spotted the chairlift and asked to go on that. Using an Edgie Wedgie to hold her tips together she was making snowplow turns and controlling her speed pretty quickly. We ditched the Edgie Wedgie partway through her first season. By the end of her second season (and tons of time on the snow) she was making parallel turns on most blue terrain. My wife is a former children’s ski instructor, so we haven’t had any formal ski lessons. Here is a video from the end of last winter (her second season) a couple months before her fourth birthday:

 

[bvibert]

Serious question now. Where do you buy infant skis? Just basic plastic ones I'm sure ... something to slide on.

Something like this is all you need to get them used to moving around in the snow:
http://www.sunandski.com/Lucky_Bums...75310810.htm?gclid=CLCA3_jYw7oCFeJDMgodpTkAMg

 

[bvibert]

Looking at the bottom picture I think my gf and I were lapping Gunny with you that day.

I'm pretty sure that was taken the last day we were open last year. What a great day it was!

 

[dlague]

I know that many of the kids we are talking about are in the 2-6 year old range but in case some one missed it in the Skiing on the Cheap Thread and have elemetary aged kids here is something to consider!

Vermont and New Hampshire have programs in place to provide free skiing for you child. In VT it is the 5th Grade Passport and in NH it is the 4th and 5th Grade Passport. (lift ticket vouchers for just about every resort in that state)

Vermont 5th Grade Passport

SKI NH 4th and 5th grade Passports

Also someting to consider:

January Learn to Ski- Vermont
Ski and Snowboard Month free-4-kids

There are also passport programs in NY (3rd, 4th and 5th grades) and ME (5th, 6th and 7th grades)

Another point - start off at a smaller resort! The private and even group lessons are cheaper. Put you child in half day programs early season. Early December is relativly light and the programs are generally no very busy yet. We got our son in a program for three hours at Gunstock (December 6th ish several years ago now) and he ended up having private lessons for the whole time.

 

[Tin]

I'm pretty sure that was taken the last day we were open last year. What a great day it was!

Yup. That was the day. Amazing time.

 

[buellski]

We started both of ours just shy of their 3rd birthdays.


Daughter in 2006 at Whaleback. She was six then and just really started showing interest.


Son in 2008 at Okemo. Just shy of 4 and already crazy about it.


2011 at Cranmore. They both can pretty much ski anything I can

 

[catherine]

Three at King Pine running down the slope beside him. Lessons at King Pine at four. One of the scariest moments in my life was the first time he went on the chairlift during lessons. King Pine does an awesome job with kids

 

[DackerDan]

Really cute kids. I think it is so cool to see them out there. We had ours out by age 3 and now she rips the race course and loves the steep and deep when we go to Utah. She is only 13 but next spring I introduce her to Tucks, she loves hiking and camping so backcountry skiing is the next logical progression.

 

[KD7000]

Nick, you can have the little kids plastic skis that are sitting in my basement. Come get 'em; I'm not far from you.

PM me
-Brian

 

[quiglam1]

My son at age 18 months, on his first pair of skis. Taken December 1993 - Snow Ridge, NY
He is a PSIA Certified Instructor, now.

 

[Smellytele]

View attachment 9506

My son at age 18 months, on his first pair of skis. Taken December 1993 - Snow Ridge, NY
He is a PSIA Certified Instructor, now.

And I hope you have new boots.

 

[quiglam1]

New boots and skis. :lol:

 

[Savemeasammy]

I just bought a $19 ticket to Stratton next Wednesday on liftopia, and I will be taking my 6 year old out for his first day this year! He is pretty excited - and so am I. It's not the same as ripping with my buddies, but I do genuinely enjoy skiing with my little guy! I just got him started last season, and he is making great strides. I bought him some new equipment for this season, and he is ready to roll!

 

[Savemeasammy]

My happy 4 year old on his first day of skiing!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ScottySkis]

View attachment 9983
My happy 4 year old on his first day of skiing!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He looks very happy. Got to love the kids enjoying turns.