Kids on the Single at MRG

[KingM]

I'm going to MRG for the first time of the season this Saturday but will be going with my three kids. Last year, at Bolton, my 7 y.o. daughter balked at the end of one of the lifts. My wife got off, expecting her to come and she froze up. They had to stop the thing as it swung around for the return trip. She's been gun shy ever since about lifts, which isn't usually a problem as I just grab her coat and physically give her a nudge to get off.

But of course, you can't do that on the single, and the frustrating thing is that this is the first year that she and her twin brother are good enough to ski the single terrain. I really want to get up there, and think it would be a shame if they didn't get to ski it (not to mention a shame for me) just because she was nervous about the lift. Really, she's a good skier for her age, if it weren't for those lifts.

Has anyone else dealt with a balky child on the lifts and how did they get the child over this fear? (I should add that it doesn't help that her twin brother smirks a bit and my 12 y.o. son openly mocks his little sister about the Bolton incident. I'm working on this.)

 

[noski]

Has anyone else dealt with a balky child on the lifts and how did they get the child over this fear? (I should add that it doesn't help that her twin brother smirks a bit and my 12 y.o. son openly mocks his little sister about the Bolton incident. I'm working on this.)

That's a tough one in that on the Single this is all you will think about all the way up.... When my daughter started in the GMVS program in second grade as a new skier, she had the same problem. She was in tears all the way up the lift (she rode with Kelley Lewis, not me of course!). She ended up being an excellent skier and very good racer.

I can only suggest you avoid the Single initally and ride with her on a double with the understanding you aren't going to help her off, she is a big girl now and can get off the lift. Let her know- and make sure she is clear- that when you get off the lift you will both ski to the left/right out of the way and take your time getting ready to take off. She may need a minute to settle down. Do that until she is confident. Then the Single will perhaps be easier, with you in the chair ahead- and the boys behind her- (you can freeze their mouths shut with a good glare....)- greeting her as she gets off the lift- then skiing to the side as planned.

I am not a skier, but I am a mom.;-)

 

[tree_skier]

They have someone at the top and bottom to help. When I first took my kids there my daughter needed help getting on the single and they lifted her and put her on it. Make sure they all understand the safety bar. It swings around from the side. My daughters first ride she didn't and had a scary ride up but was ok after it was completely explained.

 

[BeanoNYC]

I wouldn't even mention it to her. It's just going to get her nervous. Be sure to tell your sons to keep their traps shut as well. I agree with Noski on the order on the lift: You, your daughter, your 12/yo, then the twin. When you get off...get at a safe distance and encourage her as she nears the exit point. My .02, take it or leave it.

 

[dl]

when/if you get her on the single, i would go last. if you get on and she doesn't, she'll be stuck at the bottom until you get down. have the boys go first so they can't stick around to give her a hard time and then have her go in front of you.

 

[tomski]

You should have your head examined for even considering putting a 7 year on any chair alone let alone a 2,000 verticle foot single over some intense terrain. How is she going to handle it if the lift stops for an extended period of time?

Spend the day at Sugarbush, or send the wife and kids there while you ski MRG.

 

[smootharc]

Tell her one thing important....

Leaning on the single safety bar can swing it open, especially if shorter legs don't put the weight of the skis onto the foot platform.

This is inherently different than 99% of the lifts (with overhead safety bars) a kid has been on. I like my kids' arms over the bar (in case their buts started slipping off the seat) and leaning on an overhead bar just makes it further closed.

Not to be paranoid, but this is a fundamental difference of an overhead bar vs. a swing gate bar. On the single, I told my kids to put their left arm around the thick vertical "master" chair bar. This is a fixed element.

My .02

 

[KingM]

You should have your head examined for even considering putting a 7 year on any chair alone let alone a 2,000 verticle foot single over some intense terrain. How is she going to handle it if the lift stops for an extended period of time?

Spend the day at Sugarbush, or send the wife and kids there while you ski MRG.

She's eight now, not seven, but that's how kids grow up in the MRV. Seriously, I have seen 4 year olds on black diamonds up here. And you'll see all sorts of kids on the single.

I won't do it if I think she's going to get upset. She'll be fine if it stops. She's just developed an unnecessary worry every time she gets off the chair. I'm not particularly worried about the "intense terrain" or 2,000 feet of verticle.

 

[polski]

I've been thinking about this myself as my kids have those free season passes to MRG this year and neither has been on the single. Don't think it will be a problem for the older boy, now 10 (pictured in my avatar on his first trip to MRG, last year). The younger boy, 7, has had a couple shall we say "incidents" on chairlifts so this would be tougher.

As others have said I think you definitely should go first. You can tell the liftie at the bottom what the situation is, and also the guy at the top -- and at the top you'll be there to help your daughter get off the chair.

Tell her beforehand that although you'll be in separate chairs you'll still be within earshot of each other.

I'd suggest you get her brothers invested in your daughter's success by saying 1) if she doesn't get on the chair for some reason, they have to stay with her at the bottom until you get back (and make sure everyone is very clear on that contingency), and 2) if she unloads successfully at the top they all get some sort of treat.

Couple other things FWIW:

The new single runs 10% faster than the old, 550 FPM instead of 500. That's because the new chairs are heavier so they couldn't put as many on the line, but they were able to speed up the lift to maintain the same 500 SPH uphill capacity. This makes the choice we face a little more difficult.

Also, I've read reports that the new safety bars are pretty sticky at this early date. So opening and closing the bar may be a bigger problem than any risk of it opening inadvertently.

Yeah, I see kids who can't be older than 4 or 5 doing things on Chute and Liftline that I'm quite sure I'll never be able to do myself.

 

[KingM]

The new single runs 10% faster than the old, 550 FPM instead of 500. That's because the new chairs are heavier so they couldn't put as many on the line, but they were able to speed up the lift to maintain the same 500 SPH uphill capacity. This makes the choice we face a little more difficult.

I didn't know that, thanks. I'd heard about the safety bars, but Eric assured me that they could give the kids a hand and it wouldn't be a problem. The other advice from above is good, too.

Yeah, I see kids who can't be older than 4 or 5 doing things on Chute and Liftline that I'm quite sure I'll never be able to do myself.

I was skiing down Organ Grinder with my son last winter (not extremely tough, for you non-SB skiers, but a pretty steep black) when one of my son's friends skied by, calling, "Hey, E!" as he passed. Only he was skiing backwards. It had just been groomed, but still. My son said, "Yeah, he's pretty good, but G and N are better."

Some of these kids are the children of ski instructors and grew up in the mini-bears program. They boast ski day numbers that would put them right up there with the top skiers on this board, and they're still in elementary school.

 

[noski]

End of story

Please be sure to let us know how this story plays out.

 

[polski]

I still want an update!

Got in a powder night Thursday at the local hill (Ski Bradford) and my older son (10) had an episode where he was talking and not paying enough attention and didn't keep his tips up as we got to the top of a lift. Left ski tip got caught under the chair but the binding released so no harm done other than a bit of a scare ... and a major Lesson Learned.