Kids losing interest in skiing

[hammer]

I was wondering if anyone has had to deal with this problem, and if so, what they have done that works...

My 16YO son is OK with skiing, but gets bored easily...I think the best approach for him is to get to more new places. My 12YO daughter, however, is starting to hate going on ski trips with us...she took a rough fall last year at Sunapee (face plant into ice/granular) and, when we go out now, she will do maybe a few runs and then will outright refuse to go out. She went in the school ski program for a few years and can do reasonably well...I have seen her do good parallel skidded turns. Recently, however, when she skis all she does is go into a power wedge and refuses to turn, even though she has been told that she needs to turn if she is concerned about keeping her speed down.

I like to go on ski trips with the family, but the kids' attitudes definitely reduce the fun factor...:-?

 

[frozencorn]

Threaten and bribe them.

 

[reefer]

I was wondering if anyone has had to deal with this problem, and if so, what they have done that works...

My 16YO son is OK with skiing, but gets bored easily...I think the best approach for him is to get to more new places. My 12YO daughter, however, is starting to hate going on ski trips with us...she took a rough fall last year at Sunapee (face plant into ice/granular) and, when we go out now, she will do maybe a few runs and then will outright refuse to go out. She went in the school ski program for a few years and can do reasonably well...I have seen her do good parallel skidded turns. Recently, however, when she skis all she does is go into a power wedge and refuses to turn, even though she has been told that she needs to turn if she is concerned about keeping her speed down.

I like to go on ski trips with the family, but the kids' attitudes definitely reduce the fun factor...:-?

Leave them home with friends. You've done the best you can introducing them to the sport. They'll get it at some point along the way and you'll have many a good ski day with them throughout life................

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

If they don't like skiing, think of the $$$$$$ you'll save...one of the reasons skiing is so cool to me is that it was an individual thing that I picked up myself. My parents made me do T-ball, Sunday school and Soccer and I hated all those things because I was foreced to do it..

 

[tree_skier]

Your 12 yo needs to go into a program like the development program at Mt. Sneaux. She will be with a group of kids her age from 8:30 to 1 and will have alot more fun and learn to love skiing.

 

[Grassi21]

Leave them home with friends. You've done the best you can introducing them to the sport. They'll get it at some point along the way and you'll have many a good ski day with them throughout life................

+1

I just hope I show the same restraint if my kids choose to not ski or play lax.

 

[St. Bear]

I think it really helps if a kid has friends who are interested in skiing. My brother and I are great examples. We both learned to ski from a very young age, but none of my close friends ever skied while most of his friends did. He was always more enthusiastic while I kind of just went through the motions with ski school. I stopped skiing when I got into high school and just recently started again last year after a 14 year break, and now I have other people to ski with (my wife and friend who recently got into the sport). My brother on the other hand never stopped skiing with his friends, and is a much better skier than me.

I've thought why I drifted away from the sport for so long while my brother didn't lose interest, and I honestly think it comes down to friends. None of my friends skied, so I never went skiing outside of the weekly school trip to Pats Peak, while my brother constantly went different places with his friends.

 

[jack97]

I just hope I show the same restraint if my kids choose to not ski or play lax.

tell that kid of yours he's a loser unless he makes letters for the high school team. it will save you headaches in the future, no sport activity.... means more free time to get himself into trouble.

 

[Greg]

+1

I just hope I show the same restraint if my kids choose to not ski or play lax.

Way to go. You're just going to confuse the poor kid with activities that conflict. Spring is for moguls, not throwing a ball around with a silly stick.

 

[drjeff]

I think it really helps if a kid has friends who are interested in skiing. My brother and I are great examples. We both learned to ski from a very young age, but none of my close friends ever skied while most of his friends did. He was always more enthusiastic while I kind of just went through the motions with ski school. I stopped skiing when I got into high school and just recently started again last year after a 14 year break, and now I have other people to ski with (my wife and friend who recently got into the sport). My brother on the other hand never stopped skiing with his friends, and is a much better skier than me.

I've thought why I drifted away from the sport for so long while my brother didn't lose interest, and I honestly think it comes down to friends. None of my friends skied, so I never went skiing outside of the weekly school trip to Pats Peak, while my brother constantly went different places with his friends.

Let me take a stab in the dark here based on your signature and you're '08-'09 days and your location in the sig too. Have your kids had/seemed to have more fun on the hill at Mountain Creek than your road trip ski days??? Sometimes the on hill fun that they may be having may be trounced by the parental presence factor (I'm unfortunately already starting to see this with my 5 year old ) Just don't force them to have fun (or atleast let you have fun in their presence), because even if they choose to take a few seasons off, 98% of the time they will come back to it, and thank you for getting them started!

 

[St. Bear]

Let me take a stab in the dark here based on your signature and you're '08-'09 days and your location in the sig too. Have your kids had/seemed to have more fun on the hill at Mountain Creek than your road trip ski days??? Sometimes the on hill fun that they may be having may be trounced by the parental presence factor (I'm unfortunately already starting to see this with my 5 year old ) Just don't force them to have fun (or atleast let you have fun in their presence), because even if they choose to take a few seasons off, 98% of the time they will come back to it, and thank you for getting them started!

I actually don't have any children yet. I was just trying to put in my $.02 from my childhood experience.

 

[Greg]

Let me take a stab in the dark here based on your signature and you're '08-'09 days and your location in the sig too.

Uhm.....he wasn't the OP...

 

[hammer]

+1

I just hope I show the same restraint if my kids choose to not ski or play lax.

Aside from the few family skiing trips we go on in the winter, my kids aren't into sports, but they will stay active, even if it's just rec soccer league in the fall and spring...:smash:

My daughter did participate in XC in the fall, but it was mainly for the social aspect. Made a lot of progress her first time, hopefully she will sign up again next year.

 

[bvibert]

Way to go. You're just going to confuse the poor kid with activities that conflict. Spring is for moguls, not throwing a ball around with a silly stick.

x2

 

[Grassi21]

Way to go. You're just going to confuse the poor kid with activities that conflict. Spring is for moguls, not throwing a ball around with a silly stick.

Dude, I'm still conflict over the overlapping season.

 

[Grassi21]

tell that kid of yours he's a loser unless he makes letters for the high school team. it will save you headaches in the future, no sport activity.... means more free time to get himself into trouble.

considering his Dad coaches the defense for the local HS team he should have a leg up.

 

[Ballistic]

Hammer, honestly, it doesn't matter what it was that you like to do with them, at that age, they don't want to go out and do stuff with their parents. Whether it's going to baseball games, kayaking, or in your case skiing, family trips don't mesh well with teenagers in general.

Just invite them and encourage them, anything that resembles them not having a choice will be most un-appealing. Like drjeff said, "even if they choose to take a few seasons off, 98% of the time they will come back to it, and thank you for getting them started!"

 

[SkiDork]

question: How old were they both when they started skiing, and how many days have they skied each season?

 

[hammer]

question: How old were they both when they started skiing, and how many days have they skied each season?

They were each about 7 or 8, and until this year they have been going out about 10-15 times a year, and most of those trips were through the school ski programs.

Advice to others...start your kids earlier if possible...

 

[2knees]

+1

I just hope I show the same restraint if my kids choose to not ski or play lax.

Dude, I'm still conflict over the overlapping season.

i just thought of a new drinking game.

tonight, i'm going to buy a 12 pack and everytime you mention lacrosse, that you played lacrosse or you coach lacrosse, i have to take a drink.

I'll be bombed in a half an hour i bet......:lol: