Skiing with your Kids

Winter is a great time to get outside and spend some time with your kids – not only does the snow give everything a surreal look, it makes for a lot of fun with snowball fights, building snow forts and (my favorite) skiing. Skiing is a great way to spend time with your kids exploring outside, getting exercise and, most importantly, having fun. Unfortunately, while skiing often becomes a child’s favorite winter pastime, just one or two bad experiences can ruin skiing for kids. Luckily, ski hills and resorts have become very child-friendly, making your job even easier. But, in case you’re not sure how to ski to success, here are a few tips.
1. Dress right. Nothing will ruin skiing faster than being wet and cold. Check out Kyle Barker’s tips on dressing for cold weather before you head out.
2. Ski with your kids. Ski schools are great, and a little non-parental instruction can go a long way. But after that hour-long lesson your children are going to want to show you what they learned and where they skied. This is your chance to turn skiing into a super-exciting thing to do with mom and dad instead of just a fun time with other kids.
3. Make a favorite run. Explore the mountain together, come up with a favorite run and name it. For example, I know that at my home hill, ski school kids (and some instructors) love to ski “The Ultimate”, a run that links together the Eyeball Forest, Wacky Weasel Way, Bird Brains and Rainbow Road (believe it or not, this entire run takes place in the ~600 feet of the beginner hill). If your hill doesn’t already have fun run names, make some up.
4. Don’t expect to spend the whole day on the slopes. Be ready to take lots of breaks, and don’t always expect your children to know when they need to stop. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and lots of snacks, and take full advantage of the warm lodge. And remember, it’s always better to leave early with some extra energy and excitement for the next day on at the hill.
5. Try something new. There’s a good chance you’ll be spending a lot of time on the bunny hill, so mix it up and give yourself a challenge. If you’ve been skiing for your whole life, strap on a snowboard or some telemark gear. If you never managed to lock the heel, maybe it’s time you learned to ski for real. In addition to giving you something to work on and play with, your children are going to get a kick out of watching you take a few spills, and it’ll make learning and falling easier for them, too.
6. Ski by yourself. Everybody needs to have fun skiing, and just because your children can’t ride the big lift doesn’t mean you can’t. Take advantage of ski school or swap parent-duty so that you can take a couple fun runs for yourself.

Aaron Inoue has been working with children in nature for several years. In the summers he leads trips for Avid4 Adventure and in the winter he serves as ski patrol in Idaho.