kids first time on skis

[DEVO]

We taught our 4yr old son ourselves. I agree that it can be VERY hard to teach family yourselves. Even when I was an active ski instructor I hated doing it, and to this day will not offer advice unless specifically sked. But last year it was too early in the season and Attitash wanted us to pay for a private lesson since they did not have any kids group programs running yet. Luckily for us it worked out fine as our son picked it up right away (was skiing blue trail from the top by day 3 :lol.

We also found that small mountains worked great when he was still really getting used to being on skiis. Pats Peak, Cranmore, etc

 

[billski]

Expert

I have 3 daughters and they all started at age 4 with lessons. 1995, 1997 and 2000. I'll call myself an "expert" because I had to deal with the kids after the lessson (a point that seems lost on some people.)

I agree with all the advice given in this thread and add a few pieces of my own.
1. Signup your children a lesson.
2. The closer the resort to your house, the better.
3. The cheaper the better. You will never pay for PSIA skill set on the first few lessons.
3. Convenience is the watchword. Clothes, commute, food, everything.
4. Get there an hour or two ahead of time, do the equipment jumble.
5. It will hurt, not it won't, I'm too hot, I'm cold, I'm thirsty, I have to go to the bathroom. I'm tired. I'm hungry. I don't want to.
6. Pick an instructor who is REAL GOOD with kids. Nursery school or better. Who cares about their ski skills for the first few days. You'll have time for that later.

After the lesson:

1. Set your expectations low. Real low. In fact, just consider it a walk on the snow.

2. Unless you have a real understanding partner, don't expect to get any real skiing in for yourself. In fact, don't even bother putting your skis on the first few times.

4. 4-year olds will mostly just want to play in the snow. And walk in the snow.

5. 4-year olds have a 30 to 45 minute attention span, TOPS.

6. One adult per child, please. I don't care if you do have twins The ski equipment and potty problems are more enormous than you can imagine.

7. Magic carpet is the way to go, if you can find one.

8. You can run faster than your kid will snowplow down the hill (at first.) Having your boards on will just get in the way. I only met one area that shoo-ed me off the hill cause I didn't have my skis on. When I had my skis on they told me I needed a ticked,even though I never used a lift Good news, it was only one area, ever.


9. Not all kids do this naturally, contrary to the success stories.

10. It's a psychological battle. You have to figure out how to make it fun and comfortable at the same time.

11. If they say they are done, they are done. Regardless of the reason. Go in. But don't go home. Entertain them in the lodge with food, snacks, pinball, whatever. Ask them again in an hour. If they still say no, go home. Don't push it or you'll lose them.

12. Good weather cures much. Look for bluebird days. Don't bother with sub-zero temps, their attention span goes negative.

13. Girls are definitely more challenging to teach than boys. I can't explain it, it just is.

All of the above gets increasingly less of an issue as your child progresses. The first couple years seems like punishment (for all the things you did to your own parents!). Think long-term, long-terms.

Get out there. Good Luck.

p.s., Try not to go on a pow day or you'll be either ready to commit suicide or headed for divorce court!

 

[bvibert]

Re: Expert

8. You can run faster than your kid will snowplow down the hill (at first.) Having your boards on will just get in the way. I only met one area that shoo-ed me off the hill cause I didn't have my skis on. When I had my skis on they told me I needed a ticked,even though I never used a lift Good news, it was only one area, ever.

On a side note, I think you'll find most areas have similar rules. They just may not enforce them. I believe the reason they want you to have a ticket is two reasons, one is to make more money, the other is that the ticket has the liabilty notice on the back. They figure that by attaching the ticket you are agreeing to the terms...

 

[Brettski]

Did I mention Smuggler's Notch for a week of skiing?

All the stuff that Billski just mentioned, you don't have to worry about.

 

[billski]

Did I mention Smuggler's Notch for a week of skiing?

All the stuff that Billski just mentioned, you don't have to worry about.

That's true if you a) have deep pockets and b) are happy with the "dump and run" strategy. The Dr. Spocks and Brazelton's of the world will scorn you for inferior parenting!

What animal species is it that when the mother feels you have had enough thows you out of the nest???

 

[Brettski]

Nope, They absolutely loved it, we'd used to check in on them at lunch, or in the latter years ran in to them at the top of the Notch and had lunch with them.

We'd get them at the end of the day, and skiied with them...the first year was funny, my youngest at the time, 4 I think, would love coming down...pizza pie, french fry, pizza pie, frech fry, frech fry, frech fry, frech fry, frech fry...I had to skate downhill afer her....pizza pie...dead stop...

Big Bucks...well I'm all in to finding deals....

I've done this for the last 5 years now....

http://www.skyauction.com/action/offer/1054828

The week long lessons add up, but the more days, the cheaper per day it becomes.

Plus, didm't I mention the Pool and fun zone stuff. Also, when we get back to the slopeside condo, we all make the dinner together. That's another savings in that we bring all our food, and don't eat out....we did one day last year.

The week long lessons really make them improve very quickly, pluse they have a model on how to teach kids, which I don't know.

Anyway last year we skiied quite a bit together as one big happy family, thank you very much. They had some group lessons at belleayre, but for the most part we all just stuck together. At the end of the season, they did everything at Jay, except steep glades...The last several seasons, we would hit the 'skills and I would continue with their education on mountain

Starting out though, I decided to enlist the help of some pro's....