Start em young

[Greg]

BUMP -

Anyone planning on starting their kids this winter?

~~Raises hand~~

The brainwashing was successful last winter. Abby is really excisted to start this season. She turns 4 in January. We'll be concentrating on it at Sundown and she'll take a trip with us to Sugarbush. I think Dave mentioned the kids' program up there is really good. I can't wait. We're already starting to think about picking out gear and season rentals for skis...

 

[ALLSKIING]

~~Raises hand~~

she'll take a trip with us to Sugarbush. I think Dave mentioned the kids' program up there is really good. I can't wait. We're already starting to think about picking out gear and season rentals for skis...

It is very good but on the very busy times like most places it gets a little crazy and the kids don't learn as much or as quick. Best thing to do is go on a weekday.

 

[ga2ski]

BUMP -

Anyone planning on starting their kids this winter? Or have any good stories about getting the little ones going on skis?

As soon as he can walk .. . you can bet I'll have him on skis. He may go first his first ride via the backpack this fall. shhhh don't tell my wife.

 

[Greg]

As soon as he can walk .. . you can bet I'll have him on skis. He may go first his first ride via the backpack this fall. shhhh don't tell my wife.

I used to think like you about my oldest daughter. It became pretty clear to us that she wouldn't be ready until this season (3, turning 4). All kids are different, I guess, but I think anything before 2 or 3 is too young.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I used to think like you about my oldest daughter. It became pretty clear to us that she wouldn't be ready until this season (3, turning 4). All kids are different, I guess, but I think anything before 2 or 3 is too young.

I started my 3 kids when each one was 5. Before that they basically just wanted to play in the snow. That said, I think parents should start their kids whatever age they think is in their kid's best interest. My kids didn't suffer from their "late start", they are all very good and love the sport.

 

[bvibert]

When I was working at Sundown last season there was a guy there with his 18 month old. He had one of those poles with the bars that stuck out for the kid to lean their legs on, kinda like a t-bar or poma lift. He would pull the kid up to loading area of the lift and pick him right up into the chair. Then he came back down with his kid in tow and did it all again. They would probably be out for 2 hours or so then head home. I thought it was kind of cool, but the kid looked pretty indifferent to the whole experience. I don't think he was really learning anything...

 

[JimG.]

I used to think like you about my oldest daughter. It became pretty clear to us that she wouldn't be ready until this season (3, turning 4). All kids are different, I guess, but I think anything before 2 or 3 is too young.

It all depends on the child and their desire to learn. Don't bring a little one out unless they are begging you to do so. My oldest son David just wanted to do anything I did, so he started walking and sliding on plastic skis when he was about 2. He was linking turns with regular kids ski equipment before he was 3. My middle son Peter just wanted to do whatever David did. He did the same things at the same ages as David. And so it continues with my youngest James...he was born in July, not March like his brothers, so he's a little behind them age wise, but he was linking turns by the age of 3 1/2.

Alot depends on the child's relationship with their parents too. Parents who go to the mountain and don't really ski but who unload their kids at ski school to get away from them for awhile find that their kids aren't really too interested in skiing. Parents who ski alot and who spend time skiing with their children find that their kids can't get enough.

Finally, adults need to tone back what they define as "skiing". Folks expecting a little one to rip the zipperline and then huck a 50 foot cliff onto a 45 degree pitch are going to be disappointed. To a 2 1/2 year old, putting their ski boots and skis on by themselves, walking around on the skis in the cold, throwing snowballs at Dad, and then going inside for hot chocolate after an hour qualifies as a day of skiing.

As long as it's fun and they can be with thier parents, kids as young as the 18 month old bvibert mentions do just fine.

 

[Vortex]

3 and 5 worked for us. My son was able to to pick it up quick. Started in Dec on skies by march he was skiing and boarding. Next year the skies got used 3 times and he has not been on them since. 12 know.

My daughter took a few days (3 years old) She could go right along got tired quick, but was making turns and riding lifts.

 

[SkiDork]

It all depends on the child and their desire to learn. Don't bring a little one out unless they are begging you to do so. My oldest son David just wanted to do anything I did, so he started walking and sliding on plastic skis when he was about 2. He was linking turns with regular kids ski equipment before he was 3. My middle son Peter just wanted to do whatever David did. He did the same things at the same ages as David. And so it continues with my youngest James...he was born in July, not March like his brothers, so he's a little behind them age wise, but he was linking turns by the age of 3 1/2.

Alot depends on the child's relationship with their parents too. Parents who go to the mountain and don't really ski but who unload their kids at ski school to get away from them for awhile find that their kids aren't really too interested in skiing. Parents who ski alot and who spend time skiing with their children find that their kids can't get enough.

Finally, adults need to tone back what they define as "skiing". Folks expecting a little one to rip the zipperline and then huck a 50 foot cliff onto a 45 degree pitch are going to be disappointed. To a 2 1/2 year old, putting their ski boots and skis on by themselves, walking around on the skis in the cold, throwing snowballs at Dad, and then going inside for hot chocolate after an hour qualifies as a day of skiing.

As long as it's fun and they can be with thier parents, kids as young as the 18 month old bvibert mentions do just fine.

We unloaded them at ski school, but went skiing. We knew we weren't worth a wooden nickel as an instructor, so let the pros do it. Then when they started skiing with is, Tyrolean has no patience for whiners so they would have to keep up or be put back in school. I have a little more patience for whiners but not a lot.

 

[JimG.]

We unloaded them at ski school, but went skiing. We knew we weren't worth a wooden nickel as an instructor, so let the pros do it. Then when they started skiing with is, Tyrolean has no patience for whiners so they would have to keep up or be put back in school. I have a little more patience for whiners but not a lot.

But you guys ski and the kids ski with you after ski school, probably on a daily basis.

I'm talking about the folks who show up in street clothes and dump their kids in ski school, then head off somewhere else all day or hang at the bar. That's not you guys at all.

 

[SkiDork]

But you guys ski and the kids ski with you after ski school, probably on a daily basis.

I'm talking about the folks who show up in street clothes and dump their kids in ski school, then head off somewhere else all day or hang at the bar. That's not you guys at all.

True.

 

[Greg]

It all depends on the child and their desire to learn. Don't bring a little one out unless they are begging you to do so. My oldest son David just wanted to do anything I did...

Alot depends on the child's relationship with their parents too...Parents who ski alot and who spend time skiing with their children find that their kids can't get enough.

I think I'm all set...

 

[jack97]

We started our daughter at 5, just three or four outings that year. Since then we’ve slowly increase the number. Every time out, we ski together as a family and we tone it down so that she can keep up with us. An important point to consider is that at a young age, their body, bones and muscles alters their ski techniques. They usually ski hunch over and the legs are strongest in the snowplow position. She made parallel turns at 8, however she was very close at 7 but school work limited her time out on the slopes.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Alot depends on the child's relationship with their parents too. Parents who go to the mountain and don't really ski but who unload their kids at ski school to get away from them for awhile find that their kids aren't really too interested in skiing. Parents who ski alot and who spend time skiing with their children find that their kids can't get enough.

How about parents who unload their kids in ski school or the nursey who do really ski and they dump them off so they can have time to ski themselves.

My gut reaction is I don't like it. I hate seeing a little kid crying to an instructor that they're cold and want their mother. That said, parents have to find time for themselves too. My kids wanted to stay with me so that's the way it was. There are big gaps in their ages so I only had to teach one at a time. I'd usually spend Saturday skiing/teaching my son/daughter then head out Sunday to ski myself while son/daughter was home with mom. Everyone seemed happy with this arrangement, but every family is different.

 

[ALLSKIING]

I'm talking about the folks who show up in street clothes and dump their kids in ski school, then head off somewhere else all day or hang at the bar. .

Wait...Thats wrong.....:wink:

 

[JimG.]

How about parents who unload their kids in ski school or the nursey who do really ski and they dump them off so they can have time to ski themselves.

As with my response to SkiDork, I wasn't including these folks in my comment. I was referring to the parents who show up at 8:30 in street clothes, drop the kids off, then leave and do something else or go to the bar and hang out.

With 3 boys, I know all too well how precious ski time without the kids is. But even here, a balance has to be struck. Kids suffer when they don't get an hour or two of free skiing time with their parents. As much as they might say they don't want us around sometimes, don't believe it. Kids live for their parents' attention and quality time.

And once they're experienced enough, they'll be too good to ski with the old farts anyway and we will have all the free skiing time we want.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

As with my response to SkiDork, I wasn't including these folks in my comment.

I wasn't referring to the Dork family either, it was a comment in general.

 

[jack97]

Kids suffer when they don't get an hour or two of free skiing time with their parents. As much as they might say they don't want us around sometimes, don't believe it. Kids live for their parents' attention and quality time.

And once they're experienced enough, they'll be too good to ski with the old farts anyway and we will have all the free skiing time we want.

As soon as my daughter started to ski parallel; go down faster with more control, we went to Wachusetts. She had no problems with the upper mount trails; at the mid point, some of the trails split and unite back at the lift lines. She wanted to ski alone and meet back at the lifts. I said OK and we did that for a while. Eventually, she hinted that she wanted to ski together.

I figure one day she is going to out-ski me or want to ski with her friends, enjoy it while you can.

 

[Catul]

My eldest daughter took a week-long introductory class at Sundown when she was 4, we didn't really ski much together that season. Last year, at 5, she took the classes again and skied about 10 days with me, is very much hooked and looking forward to this season already.

My younger daughter is now 4 and will be taking that same class and is pretty psyched too, so I hope to spend lots of time with both of them on the slopes. And, my 2.5 year-old son is asking to ski (really only because his two sisters are talking about it)

I think getting kids out on the slopes at around 3-4 years old is fine, just for a limited time (on the plastic skis if you have to) to get them used to the idea of sliding on the snow. After that, it's a matter of how much they like it - I know I really enjoyed skiing with them and watching their progress. As someone said above, won't be very long before I'll have a tough time keeping up with them, so this is the time to cherish.

 

[SkiDork]

John (9 this year) will be doing his 2nd year on the K freestyle hopefuls and Alexandra (6 this year) is going to be racing for her first year. Last spring I was hardly able to keep up with her on some of the sloppy spring trails at K. I have a feeeling she'll be a fast racer. We shall see.

Both of them started at 2, at the Friendly Pengiun over at Rams Head. Both had a lot of mileage at that young age and since.

When they're 2, though, its basically an hour each morning and afternoon. Which was fine with us because we were able to ski to our hearts content.

Now that they'll both be doing ski club stuff, scheduling will be much tougher