Poles for Kids?

[Greg]

That was my goal with my son. Just to make it fun and get a lot of mileage in. At 15 he is skiing fast and loose in all types of terrain and conditions. He might be a better technical skier if he had joined a racing program, but he loves skiing as much, if not more, than I do and we have been skiing together most days for the past 11 seasons.

Perfect! :beer:

Donna weinbrect started out as a USSA racer at Hidden Valley NJ.
Marc Payne turned her on to the world of freestyle skiing long before her days up at K-Ton.
Greg just do not start her off too early American kids will burn out around the age of Fourteen if thy are not standing on the podium at most races.
They learn early just who the competition is... Greg make it FUN for her and let her decide just what event she wants to do.

I think you missed this post:

I really don't know if I have the energy or desire to become a hard core ski racing/freestyle dad. If they want to do it, I'll support them, but quite honestly, I'd rather just free ski with them as much as possible.

 

[ski9]

That was my goal with my son. Just to make it fun and get a lot of mileage in. At 15 he is skiing fast and loose in all types of terrain and conditions. He might be a better technical skier if he had joined a racing program, but he loves skiing as much, if not more, than I do and we have been skiing together most days for the past 11 seasons.

Just to be clear, there's a difference at many hills between the "devo" kids and the travel team kids. Our devo kids typically take a warm-up run on a green circle, then a few runs down a gentle blue, just making follow the leader snake turns. Then, they do one foot drills, either lifting a foot or leaving a ski at the bottom of the run. Then they head to the terrain park and the youngest ski over the lips (the park crew aren't happy about it), while others do rails. They also take runs down the regular pipe and the Superpipe, if it's empty. Other drills include hopping over gates, playing tag through a tree run, tucking, and just about all the little race camp drills I've been through.

After a lunch break, they hit the NASTAR course for three or four runs, then they head down to the diamonds for the rest of the afternoon. They work on moguls and hop turns on the steeper headwalls.

Some kids hate being in a group atmosphere, while others, like my kid, see skiing as an extension of her soccer season. My kid just happens to be much more enthusiastic about skiing because of her friendships.

But whatever works...whatever gets them out skiing.

 

[SkiDork]

I think ski9 hit it in the head. Greg - I didn't mean to sound pushy that you should put your daughter in a program, just that IF you decide to do it, racing is a great place to start. The DEVO's usually just have a good overall time doing lots of different stuff and learning good fundamental skills from coaches who know how to teach it right. Like ski9 said, my kids responded well to the group of peers atmosphere and it helped them out. OTOH some kids might not respond as well to that and would prefer to stay with mom and dad and just have fun with them. Either way, its all good as long as they're out there and not playing Nintendo all day long!

 

[2knees]

I will bet anyone here that I can get Greg's kid railing turns in four runs!
Any takers?

I bet any kid can figure out you're an idiot in 4 minutes!

Any takers? :lol:

 

[crank]

Just to be clear, there's a difference at many hills between the "devo" kids and the travel team kids. Our devo kids typically take a warm-up run on a green circle, then a few runs down a gentle blue, just making follow the leader snake turns. Then, they do one foot drills, either lifting a foot or leaving a ski at the bottom of the run. Then they head to the terrain park and the youngest ski over the lips (the park crew aren't happy about it), while others do rails. They also take runs down the regular pipe and the Superpipe, if it's empty. Other drills include hopping over gates, playing tag through a tree run, tucking, and just about all the little race camp drills I've been through.

After a lunch break, they hit the NASTAR course for three or four runs, then they head down to the diamonds for the rest of the afternoon. They work on moguls and hop turns on the steeper headwalls.

Some kids hate being in a group atmosphere, while others, like my kid, see skiing as an extension of her soccer season. My kid just happens to be much more enthusiastic about skiing because of her friendships.

But whatever works...whatever gets them out skiing.

Totally agree regarding whatever works. My kid never got into team sports and had no desire to join a ski program, racing or otherwise. I did make him take lessons though; mainly because I didn't want to be constantly critiqueing him and I wanted him to progress, ability wise, at a decent rate. Mostly he learned the way I learned, which is by skiing a lot and observing and following good skiers.

I do sometimes give him the odd tip, or I will lead him onto some sketchy terrain and conditions to teach him how to handle different situations.

 

[Madroch]

Greg:

I will let you know how the transition goes after this weekend. Both my kids are going to poles this weekend-- my son is 6, my daughter is 7 (8 later this month). They have both been skiing for one year-- but each had ten lessons, and about ten other days skiing last year. They ski everything at sundown-- Gunbarrel, etc- even Temptor with moguls (even once on bulletproof ice moguls last spring)-- not always prettily, but they can link the turns down through the bumps and get down. I waited to give them some ski time this year before the transition to get re-acclimated. And they needed it-- lost a lot of confidence over the summer-- and both switched to significantly longer skis-- an adjustment period was in order. My son, particularly, stuggled with terrain he used to zip down- though he did do Temptor in the big soft bumps- he did so much more cautiously-- but still loved them. He preclaims he wants to be a bumper, while my daughter wants to race (I may look into programs later this year or next for her).

For me the decision as to wether to keep them with the poles will be strictly fun factor-- if they enjoy them- they will keep them- if they get in the way- and start reducing the fun factor- out they go. I will also listen to what the instructor have to say-- but my daughters pretty much okayed them last year.

 

[tjf67]

I bet any kid can figure out you're an idiot in 4 minutes!

Any takers? :lol:

blah haha

 

[Greg]

Some 34" Roxy Rocker poles will be under the tree for her on Christmas morning!

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

Just curious, would you have considered going pole-less yourself for a while?

 

[Brettski]

Why would you give your child a Pole....do they even speak English?

 

[2knees]

a HUUUUGE swing and a miss.

 

[Brettski]

a HUUUUGE swing and a miss.

smiles

 

[SkiDork]

Greg - I see you started the poles. She's looking good. Congrats.

 

[Greg]

Greg - I see you started the poles. She's looking good. Congrats.

She's happy so I'm happy. She's not really sure what to do with them yet and was sorta holding them up in the air in a "Y" shape. Plus I think they distracted her from making her usual short turns. She was straightlining a few runs and discovered she likes speed, but it made me very nervous. :-o

 

[SkiDork]

I saw in the 12/21 video what looked like her pretending she had them at one point.

Don't worry if she doesn't really know what to do with them yet. It will come in time. They all look like that at first.