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Young Kids and skiing

avantskier

Booting up
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Feb 28, 2017
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33
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MA
So the thread about where your first day was has me wondering about next steps for my daughter. She will turn 2 this summer, and has been on the lucky bums skis (the ones that you use regular snow boots in) a few days this past winter. First time, not a big hit, but all subsequent outings she loved, with giggles, laughter and "weee" while sliding, and ending every slide down the magic carpet slope with either "more, daddy" or "again, daddy". I've been with her, holding her between my legs:

https://goo.gl/photos/VXFTVJrEq9D3tMi79


What is the recommended next step from here? I would really like her to be able to start sliding on her own, so she can figure out the whole balance thing. Harness next? Sliding in the back yard? Something else?

Not sure about lessons @ 2yo, but if anyone has experience here as well, would appreciate input.

@ mods, ever think about a kids zone subforum?
 

scott43

So much better than a pro
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Nov 12, 2015
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13,552
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Great White North
My son just turned 2 and I'm looking toward next winter as well. He seems to be further along walking-wise and may be ready for some skiing and skating. Frankly, I tried skating with him this past winter and it was more or less complete fail other than perhaps to get him used to the idea that we go skating. I don't know how he'll do this winter. He seems to be advanced as far as physical ability goes but I dunno. We'll see!
 

skibob

Skiing the powder
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Santa Rosa Fire Belt
Started my daughter at 5 and my son at 4. Most ski schools won't take kids under 3 and they have to be potty trained. I say start them young if they have the leg and core strength, coordination, and maturity. Just manage expectations rationally . . .
 

crgildart

Gravity Slave
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Nov 12, 2015
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The Bull City
Until they are at least 6 or 7 it is usually best to go with the attitude that you have zero expectations of actually getting to ski yourself and are 100% prepared to leave after an hour if they aren't enjoying it... Be prepared to eat the investment, rentals, lesson fees, lift tickets (for yourself, most places let kids under 5 ski free). We've had some luck with the half day ski wee type programs.. one kid liked it, the other spent the whole time inside with her instructor and stopped wanting to ski entirely until she was about 10. It was pretty cold that day long ago and she was only 4 at the time. Anyway, should have bailed right away and come back another day. I put my interests first and she stopped wanting to ski as the result.

Also, I brought non skiing mom along to manage our kids who weren't feeling it so I could still ski some, but mom really hated that. Packed lodge, no internet wifi working, etc. Managed to stay entertained with the kids some in the arcade. After three trips from 2007-2009 Mrs CRGildart opts out off every ski trip from then to present.

Lots of folks here give stronger encouragement, pretty much making the kids come and learn but if your kids aren't already pretty winterized, living daily in cold and snowy zones a trip to the mountains could go terrible and scar them for many years as skiing isn't fun and don't want to go anymore.. If they're already good in really cold outdoor activities odds of success are a lot better.
 

pete

not peace but 2 Beers!
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like others noted, maybe not expect great things other than getting comfortable and used to equipment. If working/training yourself, no biggie and time spent with kid(s) is time well spent. I've seen lots of really young kids and know a couple of folk who used the harnesses. Child has to be somewhat core strong, enough they don't crumble under a pull or tug left/right. These parents were great skiers so this option at the time was limiting for me.

My kids did lessons starting around 4 and 5 yrs old, this as @skibob noted to ensure potty trained but too some stamina. They really did only a morning and afternoon one or one and half hour lesson. Part of our justification is one: we'd suck as teachers - they'd get good basics and the other, we effectively paid for baby sitting and got to ski and make use of our lifts.

I figure more time on ski's the better, so a back yard even without hills isn't bad. Nordic still teaches skills and improves strength plus gentler slope can aid in basic edging.
 

skiprob

Putting on skis
Skier
Joined
Dec 30, 2016
Posts
31
The best advice I ever heard was that if you wanted them to love skiing, give them complete control over the trip...

"Want to go in? No problem" - after only one run
"Want a hot chocolate? Yeah sure." - we just had breakfast
"Want to go back out? I'm ready." - you only had a sip

Give them the feeling of being in control and that the experience is more about being together and they might just end up loving it.

This person's children are both college graduates and gainfully employed.

Here's my payoff...
Ben Matt Maple Ski Ridge.JPG Snowbasin 2017-01-06 Ben and Matt.jpg
 

kimmyt

My Rack Is Bigger Than Yours
Skier
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
518
My son is just over three, and so far this has been our progression:

2 years: got those Lucky Bums strap on skis to play on in the backyard when it snowed. Didn't force him just pushed the stoke 'OMG SKIS ARE SO FUN DONT YOU WANT TO SKI LIKE MOMMY/DADDY' and take them off the minute he gets frustrated. We worked on 'shuffle shuffle' to move.

2.5 years: we are lucky to have a kids indoor skiing gym near us and they have a parent/tot class where they let the kiddos play around with skiing, snowboarding and since it was spring also Strider bikes. They also did some balance games etc. It was fun, he learned what 'skier stance' was from this class and still responds to that as a cue.

2.5+: he got his first pair of 'big boy' skis and boots for Xmas. We have a very slight slop in our front yard so my husband built a little ramp at the top on a snow day and they did a few runs between dad's legs. We started him on the magic carpet, only when the weather was nice so as to make it more enjoyable, lots of snacks, praising him for standing up on his own and basically just getting him comfy with gliding on snow down hill (and also getting us familiar with how best to ski with him, hint: get one of those handle backpacks and save your back!). First few times on the magic carpet we were taking a lot of his weight but over time he is bearing his own weight and we are just helping him turn/speed control.

3: He started to really 'get it'. Likes to glide. Hates mom and dad to hold him, so now we ski backwards in front of him while he holds our hands or sometimes we let go and he just glides and skis "All By Myself!" Found some really mellow short chair lifts and played around with those so that we had a bit of a longer run because the magic carpets are so short some times.

Right now he glides really well, sometimes gets in the back seat or gets going too fast because he doesn't really get the concept of turning or wedging yet. We've been seeing some success there though with telling him to push his skis further apart (wedge) or push with one side more than the other. We might try the leashes but try to hook them to his skis to use as an assist in turning as opposed to a speed control measure, but we'll see. We'll get a few more magic carpet sessions this season if he's into it and see where he is next year. I have found that he can really only do like 10-15 runs MAX before the returns start diminishing. Also, his ability to ski happily is largely related to what time of the day it is (energy stores etc). He's fully potty trained, so we got that going for us, but the local ski area's kids program doesnt start until 4 so we'l have to wait two more seasons as he has a spring birthday.

It's been good fun so far though, and we've managed to keep it really low key so we only really do it if he's into it and mostly we just focus on getting him to be really excited about skiing.
 
Thread Starter
TS
avantskier

avantskier

Booting up
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MA
yes, i am on the same page, no expectations here...its all about them having fun and a positive experience that will keep them loving the sport for life. great thing is, i think both my kids are already hooked...despite no snow outside and temps last week in the 70s-80s, they were asking to go skiing!

i was more hoping to get ideas around stuff we could do to get more comfortable sliding around...to start understanding how to use the muscles they are developing, to develop a "snow sense", a sense of balance. I'm by no means trying to push her onto a path to the WC, but just want to instill the foundations that they can start to understand/develop now, which will benefit them in the long run.

definitely going to try the harness next year, but other thoughts of what to do.
 

crgildart

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The Bull City
I figure more time on ski's the better, so a back yard even without hills isn't bad. Nordic still teaches skills and improves strength plus gentler slope can aid in basic edging.


Yep, THIS! We did this a couple times when they were really little, even without snow letting them stomp around in the boots and learn to put skis on and take them off, fall down and get back up with skis on, etc.. One thing, even with no snow make sure they are wearing gloves so they don't cut themselves on the (best slightly detuned for the really little beginner) edges.
 

kimmyt

My Rack Is Bigger Than Yours
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Nov 12, 2015
Posts
518
i was more hoping to get ideas around stuff we could do to get more comfortable sliding around...to start understanding how to use the muscles they are developing, to develop a "snow sense", a sense of balance. I'm by no means trying to push her onto a path to the WC, but just want to instill the foundations that they can start to understand/develop now, which will benefit them in the long run.

I mean, I feel that probably any sort of strength/endurance/dexterity skills will help. If she doesn't have a strider bike, GET ONE. Those things are amazing and great for playing around with balance and getting them used to a little bit of speed, trusting themselves etc. But, aside from that one ski class we took we don't really do dryland training, we just encourage our little guy to be adventurous and also try to teach him how to gauge acceptable risk.

I guess getting a pair of boots you could work on getting her comfortable walking in them, thats a really big thing for them to get use to. Maybe play some games in ski boots, make it silly.
 

Magi

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Winter Park, Colorado
...

What is the recommended next step from here? I would really like her to be able to start sliding on her own, so she can figure out the whole balance thing. Harness next? Sliding in the back yard? Something else?

Not sure about lessons @ 2yo, but if anyone has experience here as well, would appreciate input.

First things first: Please - do not, under any circumstances, use a harness attached to the child's body. If you need a harness - you're on the wrong terrain for the kiddo. /rant off


Speaking from my experience as an instructor, and from my training on children's development, 2 is a great age to start kids with Skiing. Kids like playing, so play on snow!

Professional lessons are certainly an option if you'd like them. My mountain offers 1.5 hour private lessons for 2 year olds as an add-on for our all day childcare option. Full day lessons start at 3 for fully potty trained kiddos.

A big part of teaching kids successfully is understanding that children are learning not just what to do, but how to do it. Adults can be told "rotate your leg" - really young kids have to be taught what rotating is before you can hope to have them figure out how to do it. Beyond that - understanding what an average X year old is capable of emotionally, physically, and cognitively helps a ton with communication, expectations, and getting results. PSIA teaches instructors how kids work, and how to teach them in depth with the Children's Specialist 1 and 2 credentials.

Here's a basic progression that you might find helpful:

1) Learn to slide on snow in a straight line where the terrain controls our speed for us.
2) Put easy-wedge/edgie-wedgie/mr. worm on skis
3) Learn how pushing feet out makes a wedge
4) Slide while pushing feet out! What happened? (you stopped! or slowed at least)
5) Learn to control step 4
6) Master rotating our feet in ourselves, so the easy-wedge has slack in it
7) Take easy-wedge off!
8) Get Balance going well fore/aft and laterally in wedge
9) Coach child to "make one foot heavy" while in the wedge (Turning happens!)
10) Coach turning until you point back up the hill to stop. (Speed control!)

Take lots of breaks for building things in snow, digging, throwing snowballs, eating snow, and generally having fun - whatever form that takes.
 

Kneale Brownson

Making fresh tracks forever on the other side
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I would change item #9 to "coach child to make one foot lighter". One of the most difficult things for kids to UNLEARN is power wedging on the outside foot.
 

Dwight

Practitioner of skiing, solid and liquid
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As a waterskier, I was going to recommend a rope and handle in the yard. Similar to what @Tricia posted. A great way to have fun, learn balance and have FUN.
 

skibob

Skiing the powder
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Jan 5, 2016
Posts
4,268
Location
Santa Rosa Fire Belt
My son is just over three, and so far this has been our progression:

2 years: got those Lucky Bums strap on skis to play on in the backyard when it snowed. Didn't force him just pushed the stoke 'OMG SKIS ARE SO FUN DONT YOU WANT TO SKI LIKE MOMMY/DADDY' and take them off the minute he gets frustrated. We worked on 'shuffle shuffle' to move.

2.5 years: we are lucky to have a kids indoor skiing gym near us and they have a parent/tot class where they let the kiddos play around with skiing, snowboarding and since it was spring also Strider bikes. They also did some balance games etc. It was fun, he learned what 'skier stance' was from this class and still responds to that as a cue.

2.5+: he got his first pair of 'big boy' skis and boots for Xmas. We have a very slight slop in our front yard so my husband built a little ramp at the top on a snow day and they did a few runs between dad's legs. We started him on the magic carpet, only when the weather was nice so as to make it more enjoyable, lots of snacks, praising him for standing up on his own and basically just getting him comfy with gliding on snow down hill (and also getting us familiar with how best to ski with him, hint: get one of those handle backpacks and save your back!). First few times on the magic carpet we were taking a lot of his weight but over time he is bearing his own weight and we are just helping him turn/speed control.

3: He started to really 'get it'. Likes to glide. Hates mom and dad to hold him, so now we ski backwards in front of him while he holds our hands or sometimes we let go and he just glides and skis "All By Myself!" Found some really mellow short chair lifts and played around with those so that we had a bit of a longer run because the magic carpets are so short some times.

Right now he glides really well, sometimes gets in the back seat or gets going too fast because he doesn't really get the concept of turning or wedging yet. We've been seeing some success there though with telling him to push his skis further apart (wedge) or push with one side more than the other. We might try the leashes but try to hook them to his skis to use as an assist in turning as opposed to a speed control measure, but we'll see. We'll get a few more magic carpet sessions this season if he's into it and see where he is next year. I have found that he can really only do like 10-15 runs MAX before the returns start diminishing. Also, his ability to ski happily is largely related to what time of the day it is (energy stores etc). He's fully potty trained, so we got that going for us, but the local ski area's kids program doesnt start until 4 so we'l have to wait two more seasons as he has a spring birthday.

It's been good fun so far though, and we've managed to keep it really low key so we only really do it if he's into it and mostly we just focus on getting him to be really excited about skiing.
I'll never forget the first time my son skied down a real slope by himself w/o me skiing backwards in front of him. He was right next to the lift and (4 years old) shouted, "hey look at me, I'm skiing!!!!" and waved at the people on every chair. Wish I'd been filming that.
 

jimmy

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A few things to know about skiers up to age 6-8 that are different than an older skier.

They ski in the backseat because that is how they balance.

It is entirely appropriate for them to use upper body movements to initiate a turn; try getting them to turn by looking left to turn left, don't use a harness...........

Their hands appear to be connected to their feet, you see contortions with hands and arms, focus on the feet this is developmental and will go away if you let it.
 

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
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When my friends little girl was just 2, I helped them get ski boots and skis to get started.
They spent time getting her into and out of ski gear to "play" until she was cool with putting it all on. Some kids get frustrated with putting the gear on so this is important to the fun factor.
Then they took her to a shallow hill and pushed her off to daddy who caught her and took her back to uncle Scott.
This was the beginning of her learning to slide and glide. Soon, daddy stepped to one side or the other and she learned, intuitively, to turn because she skied toward daddy
 

Josh Matta

Skiing the powder
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Dec 21, 2015
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4,123
I would change item #9 to "coach child to make one foot lighter". One of the most difficult things for kids to UNLEARN is power wedging on the outside foot.

well there is a huge difference between bracing and pushing on the outside foot, and balancing on it. If you are making a foot lighter you(well they) will never power wedge....

I use to hate getting power wedgers but I can break like 95 percent of them in less than a couple hour, usually only to have the parents screw them up again by skiing them down terrain that is too steep.

but here is how I break power wedgers kids or adults

1. go back to carpet
2. take off a ski
3. go learn to turn using just your outside ski. any pushing or upper body rotation just will not work.
4. repeat on other side
5. once they have good turn on each side go back to chairlift and re teach the wedge I call it the narrowest wedge possible
6 teach them to turn by turning their outside leg in.......even a 3-4 year old can learn this if given the right words that work with that particular kid.
7. ski them on easy terrain, never ever come close to pushing them into the fear zone.
8. tell the parents that skill level dictates terrain, terrain does not dictate skill level. make sure the kid skis on easy terrain.

its funny I talk with a bunch of kids who actually like skiing on our easier terrain with me, but its almost always the parents who are always like "but they have more fun on (insert inappropriate terrain), so I took them there" not to mention in most cases the parent should nt be skiing there either.......
 

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