Skiing with kids can be fun and rewarding if you have patience. In this post, you will learn how to ski with your kids!
Here are some tips and factors you should consider when skiing with your kids.
1. Age of the Child.
Depending on their age, you can only get so much time from them in the snow.
If your child is under the age of three, more than likely, you are only going to get one or two runs before they need a break or are done skiing for the day. Sometimes the most significant challenge is getting the equipment on. I recommend having them walk around in their ski boots at home before taking them to the ski hill. Bring lots of snacks and treats to make their first few days on the mountain as fun as possible, Do not expect too much from them during this age. Just make it as entertaining as possible.
For three and four-year-old kids, the first day will be the hardest; they can last if you pace them and do two runs at a time and make sure they take at least three breaks throughout the day, kids in this age can pick up skiing within two days, or sometimes it takes as long as five days. Again try to make it as fun as possible, bring lots of snacks, and keep lots of treats in your pockets for pick-me-ups. As far as the skiing goes, I recommend teaching them how to go and stay on their feet before I teach them how to turn to a stop and turn to maintain control, no pizza, all french fry. This method requires more patience and a little more time on the bunny hill but proves invaluable once they start moving off the bunny slopes. If you are sending your little one off to ski school, make sure they understand how much fun they will have and excite them for all the little things they can do, like have a hot chocolate break or play in the snow.
Kids five and six can pick skiing up within a couple of days. Again, they will test your patience, and you should always pace them accordingly, ensure you take breaks, and allow them to rest and recover before you take them back out. For skiing, I teach the same method for all children and adults as it has the best results in the long run. Learn how to balance over the skis, turn the skis to a stop, and then turn to control speed, no pizza, all french fry.
Kids seven to twelve years old can pick up skiing within a day. They should always have lunch and take a short afternoon break, but they can learn fast with the correct instruction, ensuring they are having fun.
Teenagers can sometimes have the best balance or the worst, boys typically want to go as fast as possible, and girls always do it with the most style. Most teenagers will not listen to their parents, so I always recommend you get them into a lesson.
2. Get the Right Equipment
Getting the right ski equipment for your kids is paramount to their success as skiers.
When renting or buying gear, make sure you go for the smaller size. I recommend getting the most miniature skis for those under four years old, around 70 cm. It gives them the advantage of constantly moving around on their skis, turning them, and staying parallel.
For older kids, the general rule of thumb when starting is the skis should not be higher than the chest; once they start advancing, they can begin to get longer skis with different shapes.
Ski boots can be tricky, especially for kids of different sizes. For kids under three, the smallest is typically a size 14.5, which converts to a kids size 7. For the most petite feet, the ski boot can fall off with the attached ski when riding a lift or even skiing down. (this comes from experience) When you pick up your child, ensure you pick up the whole ski and keep a hold of it. Regarding ski boots, you want your child to be comfortable, but you also want them not to be too big on their feet.
3. Pick the Right Terrain
When choosing the appropriate terrain for your kids, be mindful of your child’s physical abilities.
If it is your child’s first time skiing, find the bunny hill and stay on that bunny hill until the child can turn in a small corridor, can stop at any moment, and can follow you down the mountain; also, make sure they can stand up on their own. If they can move to the next green run, make sure you find out which one is appropriate by asking an instructor or a mountain host.
If your child is working on staying parallel on green terrain, I recommend you take them to an easy green run, have them work on making turns with their feet close together, and focus on sliding the tails of the skis.
For kids working on skiing bumps and variable terrain, teach them how to use their poles properly and allow their feet to come towards their heads, not the head moving towards their feet.
4. Take Breaks
Always take breaks with your kids. Let them eat, rest, and re-energize. Bring snacks; get them a hot chocolate and a cup of water. If you are having lunch, take your time, kids always perform better after having a good rest.
5. Make it Fun
Above all else, make sure that your kids are having fun. If you are not having fun, your kids are not having fun. Always ensure they are staying warm enough. If they need extra layers or hand warmers, ensure you get some for them. If the child is upset, it’s probably time for a break.
