I'm curious if anyone has any experience with kids and skiing. I would like my youngsters (oldest is 5) to be comfortable skiing as early as possible so it stocked with them as they get older. I feel that they could get started now but I'm not sure if maybe it's a year or two too early. I wish my parents had me on skis at an early age so I'd really like to get my little ones out there early so it's totally natural for them.
Once they can walk steadily and handle boots? Get 'em on skis!! That's usally around age 4....
start out on the bunny slopes and let them progress....
It's hard here in the Mid-Atlantic region....Sugar Loaf isn't "close" it's a long drive and kids get antsy.
as soon as they can walk, apparently.
i'm not a skier (dislike cold, heights and speed) so my boys were deprived, and both struggled to master it but are both competent snowboarders now. but we went with homeschool groups, and once bitten, there was no stopping them. i was astounded at the tiny, tiny people out there! no poles, no fear, no stopping them.
khairete
S.
I would devote a day...on a small slope (do they call them 'bunny slopes' anymore?) and place a young kiddo between my skis. As long as the kiddo can walk, they can ski.
I would TALK the whole time about shifting weight to turn...how to stop etc.
After one day, I would set kiddo free (no poles) on same bunny slope. You will be shocked and amazed at what they can do!
Best!
We started ours in half day ski school at age four. It was a good deal, because it included ski, pole & helmet rental and they were taught by pros, plus it allowed my husband to ski all morning on his own (I don't ski.) Then we'd all meet for lunch and after my husband would spend another hour or so with them practicing on the bunny slope.
We only went skiing a few weekends a year but those early experiences gave them the basics they needed to ski on their own.
we took our boys to Lake Tahoe when we were stationed at Travis AFB for the second time. Our boys started learning to ski around the age of 4.
There is a "ski" park here in Stone Mountain. But once you've had the chance to ski in the Rockies? These are hills, not mountains.
If I were you, I'd call your local ski resort and ask them what age do most kids start taking lessons. That's your answer. They most likely hae an age limit anyway.
The lessons are terrific. They don't use poles that young. They learn and don't get hurt because they are so low to the ground.
As far as your kids are concerned, do they follow instructions well? Are they tied to your apron strings and don't want you out of their sight? If your kids can leave your side and listen to instruction and meet the ski resort's criteria, then I think that's your answer.
It's great when they learn young. They tend to ski well and not be hot-doggers...
Downhill or cross country?
We started last winter and my youngest was 3. He loved it and keeps asking when we are going this year (no snow yet). The 1st trip, I started off with him between my legs, then moved to holding his hand, his right ski against my left. By the 2nd trip he was going down the bunny hill on his own.
I do agree with Diane B that the environment is critical. My 3 year old did love it, but he got cold quickly and was done after 2 hours. If I had paid a ton of $ at a ski resort, I would have been upset. But we stuck with a small local inexpensive place so i was ok with leaving when he was done.
You can put them on cross country skis as soon as they can walk. I recommend starting crosscountry anyway to get the basics of balance and control, then downhill once they are comfortable on skis.
We have a local ski hill that does lessons for young kids. I say "hill" on purpose - it's not part of a mountain ski area (although we have those a little father away). But it doesn't have the chaos of a large area for a whole variety of ski levels. They have some tubing and some short runs, so it's great for amateurs and kids of all ages.
I think the key with little kids is that they not get so horribly cold, they not have a 2 hours drive to get there every time, and they not feel that, once there, they are at the ski site for the entire day. It's too much for them. So places that you can go for 2 hours, practice, and be successful early on are really awesome for getting a fun taste of it. If they love it, great. If they truly hate it, then you haven't invested a lot of money in skis, lift tickets, gas and overnight accommodations.
I agree with Doris Day that learning without poles is best - otherwise there are too many things for them to coordinate. If your kids go to preschool or some other program where they are accomplished at listening to someone else, separating from Mom and Dad, and focus on what's in front of them, you can probably start. If they are always off running in the opposite direction, and if they fight you about getting bundled up in winter gear, they may find skiing frustrating at this age.
And I agree to check with the closest ski places to see what the averages are. However, some places really push kids too young because they make the money whether or not your kid gets frustrated and goes home.
If you want your kids to be on skis early so that they get the early love of it and more years to develop skills to enjoy it, that's great. There are some parents out there who are determined that their little ones will be Olympians, and no one wants to be in a class or on the slopes with them! So be sure that whatever place you choose is looking to foster enjoyment and enough decent skills mastery that they don't get hurt, rather than a place focusing on training ski team members for competition.
I know kids in Colorado who started skiing at 2 or 3 on the bunny slopes. Their parents posted on FB that they skied their first double black last week. I think they're almost 8 and 10 now.
Both my boys started at 3 years old, they learned on a bunny hill and were quickly skiing from the top. There are several 3 & 4 year olds, even 2 year olds out there. You can put them in a lesson or just ski with them. Both my husband and I ski so we just skied with them. My oldest is now 6 and will be on a ski team this year. I don't think they're too young at all! My biggest concern with my boys in the beginning was safety, I made them practice going around cones and stopping to show me that they were in control...otherwise they would fearlessly bomb down the mountain which is not safe.
Kids here start skiing at school in Kinder. Call your local hill and see who young they start classes.
It totally depends on the kid. Is your kid very timid when it comes to physical endeavors or is he/she strong and confident. Or just average. How about their size? Are they small and weak for their age, average or big. I think as long as they are somewhere between average and strong/confident, they will do fine at 5. How about their size? Are they small and weak for their age, average or big.You might want to wait a year and get better results. If it were my kid, I'd wait till she's 7 or 8, but she is really scared of trying new things so I know she would be very difficult and it would be very stressful for her at her current age of 6.
Our daughters started with lessons & downhill around age 4. Son is two & probably will be in childcare for awhile, doesnt communitcate well yet. The most easy going ski place is not far Liberty, Near Gettysburg great for beginners then WISP in MD. www.libertmountainresort.com
We tried a day trip & it is doable but after a day of skiing the drive home seemed veryyyy long :) We also went skiiing this summer! Yes summer time in VA! Hubby found out about this indoor ski place. As soon as he wakes will get all the info & send to ya!
Good luck & have fun!
P
My son was 5 the first year we took him. My daughter is 4 now and will probably ski for the first time this year. My son did great at 5 and, even though he only went skiing for one day (a four hour group lesson), he was able to get right back into it the following year when we went again - he hadn't forgotten a thing!
Our daughter took lessons at 3 years old, although, the resort did ask them to be 4 years old.
She tried to snowboard last year at 8 years old and hated it.
We just brought her back to skiing and she took a lesson and loved it. She is 9.
We just got home from skiing with her team. The ice skaters were able to pick up skiing very easily, without lessons.
If you cannot get them on ski's easily, get them in ice skating lessons. The strokes are similar.
It depends on the kid and their personality! Both of our kids started skiing with us asap bc we just happen to have always lived in places with ski hills and xcountry skiing. At age 1 they just walked along in tiny strap on skis. At age 2-3 they would try short sections of the baby hill (think a tiny hill) and zoom down to one of us who would catch them. My son was afraid of the lifts at age 4-5 and only would ski the baby hill/learners hill. He was a bit out of control at that age but loved it. At age 5-6 (Kindergarten year) he finally decided he liked the lift and started getting good at skiing. My daughter last year was 4 and was fearless. She became so good she could go to the top of any mountain with us and ski all the way down (green slopes) with awesome control. We have all these videos of her bc we were so impressed! We were skiing every single weekend though bc our son was on ski team (he was 9 last year). So, I say you can start whenever but don't expect much from them when they are really young...expect to keep it positive and perhaps only be out on the baby hill a very short period of time at first. I do see lots of 5-6 year olds learning how to ski with plenty of practice. If you don't live near a ski hill and go often though, it will take longer for your child to really get it.
