New Skiier in the Family

[ledhedsymbols]

I haven't been skiing but twice in the last twenty odd years. When I was a teenager in SLC, I cut school to hit the slopes with my buddies WAY more than I should have.

After high school, I joined the Navy got married, got out of the Navy, had kids etc etc etc. I only went skiing with my brother a couple of times when we both went to Utah for the holidays to visit my mom.

A couple weeks ago, my nearly 12 year old daughter gets it in her head that she wants to ski. She brings it up for about a week, so I said "you know what, let's do it."

I signed us up for a beginner lesson at Mount Baker Ski Area rented some gear and played hooky, just like old times, to go skiing.

Turns out, my little athletic girl is born to be on the slopes. She went from "this is how you step into a ski" to her first chairlift in about three hours! She's got the athletic ability and the balance already, and she was linking turns on the bunny slope in an hour. The first time she put the whole run together, she beamed at me and shrieked she was so happy.

She wanted to know when we could go back all the way home. I'm already buying some good used gear for us both, and I look forward to taking her up again in the next week or so.

Say hello to my future ski-bum, and ski-lodge heartbreaker Claire.

[unclebilly]

That’s great news and always great to see the young ones strap on 2 boards instead of a single powder scraper.

My kids started a bit younger, daughter at 18 months and son at 4. Both are part of a race program. My 10 year old son trains twice a week and my daughter trains once a week. We ski at one of the most challenging resorts in North America and my kids have both been doing double black runs since they were 6 or 7. It’s all psychological and I think an important life lesson to teach them that they CAN ski (do) things that are seemingly impossible (for some).

My ski season is probably already over after my wreck on Dec 27th. I’m taking today off but wil be at the hill tomorrow watching the kids train GS.

If you want to see your girl’s ability soar, try to get her into a ski club or race program.

[unclebilly]

Early season photo of my kids. 10 year old son in foreground, 7 year old daughter behind.



My 7 year old daughter skiing some uncharted pow along the resort boundary.



One other thing. The most important piece of gear you will buy is a helmet.

Let me repeat that. The most important piece of gear you will buy is a helmet.

I watched my girl take a terrible fall almost all the way down Desperado last year. She got her tips crossed on ice and tumbled, slid head first, cartwheeled, hit a rock, and went over a cliff on the run with the most vertical drop in North America. Her helmet likely saved her life and is now garbage.

You could be making a decision that will affect the rest of her life when you choose her helmet.

I’d suggest you get her a race helmet with a FIS sticker on it. Preferably with MIPS. The FIS sticker is analogous to a Snell sticker on a motorcycle or car helmet. Everything else is just a helmet built to a price point.

[billybek]

Looks like you have some awesome snow at Mt. Baker! The weather has certainly been sending a crap load of snow to the west coast higher elevations.

If you are looking at used gear, try finding a ski shop that has a trade in program for kids/youth. I usually buy new for my son but get phenomenal value from the trade in program. I consider it cheap rental for the gear. Boots typically last two seasons as do the skis and fortunately I usually only do skis or boots in one year not both. Until this year. My 12 year old is 5'6" tall now and wearing boots almost as big as mine!
I had booked a day at Norquay for tomorrow but it appears that he is too far behind on his homework to go. Will see.
I second the call for buying a great helmet for your girl (and yourself).

[ledhedsymbols]

Thanks for the advice guys. Helmets will be worn period. She didn't bat an eye when I told her we both needed helmets on Wednesday.

I'm taking her 8 year old sister up tomorrow to see how she likes it!

[Cdnone1]

I got back on the snow for the first time in years on Thursday. My youngest son lost his job and apartment due to Covid so moved to our place in the mountains to be a ski instructor for the season. I had never actually skied with him before and it was the most pleasant day I have spent in years. Making plans to get up there once a week, especially since he has a friends and family pass.
I am jealous of both of your home resorts. Skied Baker when I was nineteen and chasing the snow one year. I've skied, Sunshine outside of Banff as well

[Baz]

Fantastic!

Threads like this are why I enjoy this forum.

Made my day.....

[LWJ]

Fantastic!

My 18 yr old son asked to go skiing this break. So we did. He was a natural as well.

Funny. He was a train wreck when he tried at age 6 and quit!!!

I too took this as a cue to get back in. Bought a pass. Some new skis. Been having a great time. Yay! A COVID hobby.

[rsrguy]

Congrats!
I raced as a teen and have lived in some of the best ski country on the planet now for almost 20 years... I taught for a good portion of that those years. While I haven’t taught publicly since my injuries I have been teaching my grandchildren, 6 so far, and a 2 year old this year...

I’ll share a few teaching secrets with you fellow rippers provided your up for it...

Never let the youngsters get cold or overly frustrated...frequent breaks and treats are key.

Get them lessons

Don’t ever use the strap harness set up, it teaches the munchkin to lean back... hard to fix later..

Use an edgy wedgie...

Resist the compulsion to explain any techniques.... kids will pick it all up naturally just play do as I’m doing... drills like marching through turns teach balance and weight transfer while turning... they don’t even have a clue what they’re learning, but 5 or 6 drills done as follow the leader will get them what they need without overthinking or confusion...

As soon as possible get involved in nastar, not because you want them to race but because skiing gates force good habits without them overthinking, it becomes natural to turn with your feet that way...

Most importantly buy passes in the spring and get the discount, with new skiers do your best to get at least 4 days of consecutive skiing in, it really makes all the difference in the world...

[Ayles]

Today at Alpental with my wife and 7yo son. Snow was great, but we do need to get up to Mt Baker sooner than later.

Terrible visibility for the first half of the day:

[BK911]

Great story.
Not sure who will have more fun, you or her!
You watching your daughter having a blast while reliving your glory days, or her discovering a new talent.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

Congrats!
I raced as a teen and have lived in some of the best ski country on the planet now for almost 20 years... I taught for a good portion of that those years. While I haven’t taught publicly since my injuries I have been teaching my grandchildren, 6 so far, and a 2 year old this year...

I’ll share a few teaching secrets with you fellow rippers provided your up for it...

Never let the youngsters get cold or overly frustrated...frequent breaks and treats are key.

Get them lessons

Don’t ever use the strap harness set up, it teaches the munchkin to lean back... hard to fix later..

Use an edgy wedgie...

Resist the compulsion to explain any techniques.... kids will pick it all up naturally just play do as I’m doing... drills like marching through turns teach balance and weight transfer while turning... they don’t even have a clue what they’re learning, but 5 or 6 drills done as follow the leader will get them what they need without overthinking or confusion...

As soon as possible get involved in nastar, not because you want them to race but because skiing gates forces good habits without them overthinking, it becomes natural to turn with your feet that way...

Most importantly buy passes in the spring and get the discount, with new skiers do your best to get at least 4 days of consecutive skiing in, it really makes all the difference in the world...

^^^ good advice right there!

[Nickshu]

We ski a lot as a family. Actually due to COVID we'll actually ski even more this year than ever because we have nothing else to do, lodging is dirt cheap this year, and we are forced to make reservations to ski which has forced us to plan it out. Win-win...one good thing from COVID.

We stayed in Beaver Creek Village, on the square, for $350 a night the week after Christmas. In a normal year that's a $2000/night endeavor. Next weekend we're staying at a ski in/out place at Lionshead in Vail for dirt cheap as well. Also heading to Park City in February. Woohoo!

[rsrguy]

Let me know if you make it to snow basin... I'll rip some trenches or pow with ya... Even during cvd... PC is too crowded for my taste, plus you have to ride lifts all day..

[ledhedsymbols]

I went to high school in West Jordan. We used to take the "ski bus" up to Little Cottonwood Canyon and get student lift tickets at Brighton for $15 when we were cutting school.

Brighton, Alta, Snowbird and Solitude are my picks when skiing Utah. Skip the PC crowd.

I took both my daughters up today. I spent the day teaching my youngest (nearly 9) basic things. Stopped for sammiches and snowball fights all day. She can stop and steer on the bunny hill at the end of day one. Great Success!



We went up with one of my best friends, who has boys the same ages. Our oldest kids too off and I didn't see her except for lunch and to take one picture together. This girl is a skiier! She learned all the green beginner runs today with her buddy Charlie.




On the downside, it started raining around midday. One of the icky things about Washington skiing. We hung in there until 2:30 or so and managed to survive being drenched and cold out there!

[rsrguy]

Happens here more often than I'd like..

[Brown747]

Baker holds the world record for season snowfall.....1998-99 1140”...that’s 95 ft!

https://www.athropolis.com/arctic-facts/fact-baker.htm