Another time, I brought thin gloves and his fingers froze. (There were tears.) I’ve made the opposite mistake too, piling on way too many layers until he could barely move and looked like the overdressed Randy in “A Christmas Story.”

These gear tips should help you do a better job of dressing your little shredders for a day in the mountains.

1. Helmet: Not optional anymore. Add a stocking cap under the helmet when it’s cold.
2. Goggles: Help protect eyes from glaring sun, wind, and blowing snow.
3. Neck Gaiter: Prevents cold from creeping down the neck and keeps faces warm.
4. Gloves / Mittens: Choose wind and waterproof/water-resistant gloves or mittens with plenty of insulation. Mittens are warmer for littler kids, while gloves let older kids adjust their gear.
5. Base Layers: Synthetic thermal underwear tops and bottoms are breathable, wick moisture, and keep their core warm.
6. Mid-layers: Fleece, puffy, sweatshirt, or long-sleeved t-shirt up top and fleece pants or sweatpants for bottoms.
7. Ski Jacket & Pants / Snowsuit: The outer layer should have insulation and be waterproof/water-resistant. A hood and pockets are ideal, and the jacket should be long enough to keep snow from creeping into their britches. A snowsuit rocks at this, but can make potty breaks challenging for younger kids.
8. Socks: Warm wool or synthetic-blend socks that fit well in ski boots. (See photo below for an example of socks available from Spokane Alpine Haus.)
9. Skis / Boots / Bindings / Poles: Ski or snowboard gear that fits well will help your little one learn faster and have more fun. You can buy used gear from swaps, but leasing gear each year as kids grow from a local ski shop, such as Spokane Alpine Haus, is ideal. A small investment gets your child quality gear that’s fitted by an expert each season.

Read more stories from OTO’s annual Family Winter Sports Guides.

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In the meantime, here are some pro tips for teaching kids.

Learning the Foundations

• Start with “pizza!” and “French fries” for little skiers. These basics, including the snowplow to control speed and stop (pizza) and moving downhill with skis parallel (fries), are foundational.
• Then move on to making turns back and forth across the mountain and practicing stopping.

Training Gear

• An “Edgie Wedgie” (ski tip connector) helps keep little skis connected and in a pizza/snowplow formation, which is especially important so children can learn to stop.
• Some kind of harness for hoisting kids on and off chairlifts and picking them up after falls is also invaluable. Some harnesses come with a leash to keep the little shredder connected to mom or dad and in control.

Chairlifts

• Chairlift loading and unloading can be scary for kids and parents. Have your child watch with you while other kids and adults are getting on the chair to see how they do it. When it’s your turn, ask the liftie to slow it down for you if necessary, then have your child look at you as you wait together in the loading zone and then grab the chair pole and keep ski tips up as the chair scoops you up.
• When it’s time to get off the lift with little kids, you may need to wrap an arm around them to help guide them off the lift safely. Older kids need to be reminded to keep their ski tips up and to stand straight when they dismount.

Motivation

• When they are learning, kids can get tired or frustrated quickly, so having a small treat like a piece of chocolate, gummy worms, or fruit snack at the top or bottom of each run can keep them motivated to not give up too early.
• Making sure they are dressed properly for the conditions to keep them warm enough and not too hot is also key.

Out There Kids learning how to ski at Inland NW Mountains: (left) Landon learning Pizza and French Fries at age 2.5 with Dad, at Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park. // Photo: Amy McCaffree; (middle & right) Remi doing the splits; Remi and his friend on the bunny hill. // Photo: Shallan Knowles.

Tips from The OTO Archives

Find more stories about alpine winter sports and ski families in the OTO archives.

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While skiing as a family may be a little more challenging this winter due to the ongoing pandemic, the benefits of getting outside for fun and exercise will be more important than ever this winter. These tips will help you and your kids get out there this season and save money in the process.

1. Lift Ticket & Season Pass Deals

One of the easiest ways to save money if you plan to ski and snowboard several times this winter is to take advantage of discounted season passes. Fall season pass sales typically end by the middle of November or earlier, although you should be able to buy a full-priced pass after sales end. This year many local resorts may restrict lift ticket sales on busy days due to concerns about overcrowding, which means having a season pass that gives you and your family nearly guaranteed access, especially on weekends, will be more worth it than ever. Some resorts offer family season passes, too, with more savings. If you only plan to head to the mountains a couple times, check your local resort’s website for any promotional deals. (Ski the NW Rockies offers a 5th Grade Ski Free Passport program.)

2. Buy Used Gear

Buying used ski and snowboard equipment and apparel is a no-brainer for cash-strapped families. In more normal times, ski swaps have been the place to go for great deals on everything from boards and boots to jackets, ski pants, and gloves. This year Northwest ski swaps have been canceled, so it may take more effort to find quality used gear. Try shops like Spokane’s Rambleraven Gear Trader or Play It Again Sports that sell quality used gear, thrift stores where you can occasionally score incredible deals, and sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. For more details, check out the article on used gear by Amy McCaffree.

3. Borrow What You Need

If you have friends or family who ski or snowboard with their kids, ask around to see if any of them have old gear they’ve grown out of that you or your kids could borrow. Most people are happy to have a friend use old ski or snowboard equipment that would otherwise be gathering dust in the garage.

4. Lease or Rent

Several ski shops in the Inland Northwest lease or rent ski and snowboard equipment. Spokane Alpine Haus has a popular Jr. Ski/Snowboard Season Lease program that facilitates huge savings on needing to replace equipment that many kids grow out of after a season or two. Local resorts also rent equipment, although having your gear rental or lease lined up as early as possible will be more important than ever this season as more pandemic-weary people flock to the mountains.

5. Ski or Ride with What You’ve Got

Many budgets are tighter this year than they have been in years and buying new or even used gear may be out of the question for some of you. If that sounds familiar, this may be the year of making the old gear you have work. Spruce up old and beat-down boots with a new pair of insoles. Fix old jackets and pants with stick-on gear patches. Let the kids ride on boards that might be a bit too small for them and wear jackets and pants that might need some creative adjustments to fit right. Anything is better than forfeiting all that quality outdoor time a season on the ski hill provides.

6. Brown Bag It

With a fall surge in COVID cases and mask mandates and limits on the number of physically distanced individuals that will be allowed in lodges at one time, packing your own lunches, snacks, and beverages will help you save money and stay healthy. Get creative and think beyond brown bag staples. Bring an ice chest to keep tasty goodies from freezing, hot beverages and soup in insulated bottles, your own utensils and plates, several quarts of drinking water per person, garbage and recycling bags, a gas grill for some quick tailgate BBQ or heating up treats like frozen burritos in foil, and lawn chairs if the parking lot isn’t full and the weather cooperates.

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 Witnessing Santa swooshing down the slopes is just one way to experience Christmas magic (and your kids can have that opportunity again this December at local ski mountains). And there are many ways to experience the magic of winter, from the whimsical to the spiritual to natural wonders—like ice crystals glistening in the sunshine, or catching big, fluffy snowflakes on your tongue. For me, anything that inspires awe feels like magic: a dramatic sunset viewed from the summit of Mt. Spokane during night skiing; untracked powder and looking back to see my S-turn artwork; or my young son and daughter, instead of fighting, snuggling together under a blanket to watch “Polar Express.”

One of the best settings for soothing our senses is nature. Exploring a forest trail on cross-country skis or fat bike. Riding the chairlift to a mountain summit and carving your way down a black diamond. Gazing at a starry night sky. The great outdoors inspires peace of mind, and our souls need, even crave, beauty and silence. So, whatever brings you peace and joy, do more of that this season. 

Whether you celebrate Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any combination of these, the spirit of this holiday season should make our hearts grow bigger, just like what happened to the Grinch. And I’m sure we can all agree that our world needs more shared love, joy, and kindness these days. Intentional expressions of caring, generous giving and sharing—these become contagious throughout our communities. We find ourselves being more patient with everyone—the whiny child, the grumpy Boomer, the group of snowboarders sitting in the middle of a run. 

This year’s holiday guide features ideas and ways for you to find and enjoy your own winter magic, participate in joyful giving, experience new outdoor adventures, and relish this festive season. May you seize as many days as you can from what’s left in 2019; but even though the year is ending, winter is just beginning.Cheers & happy holidays! See you on the mountain! 

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Fortunately, I was able to move out of the road somewhat without ending up in the ditch. There was enough cell service to get a call off to our roadside assistance service for a tow and another call home to my wife for a rescue mission. I then dug into the emergency supplies I keep on hand in the winter and covered up the 4-year-old obliviously snoozing in his car seat with a blanket.

While I waited for the tow truck to arrive, I watched a mix of safe and reckless drivers pass by on the snow and ice covered road, and passed the time thinking about winter driving and being more prepared for being stranded.

Here are a few tips for safer winter driving to think about as we get ready for another season of skiing and snowboarding and driving sometimes sketchy roads.

Make Sure Your Vehicle Is Ready for Winter

Is your ski mobile ready for another season of winter driving? Get it checked out and tuned up by a professional, including a brake and heating/cooling system inspection. Consider vehicle repairs or an upgrade if the prognosis is questionable.

There are also quite a few things most of us can do ourselves: make sure your lights and turn signals are all clean and working, your windshield is chip and crack free, your windshield wipers are in good condition, the wiper fluid reservoir is full, and you have a functioning windshield scraper. And always fill up your gas tank before hitting the road.

Most importantly, have your tires checked out by a tire shop to make sure they are up for winter driving. Don’t forget to check the quality and pressure of your spare tire, and make sure you know how to deploy the spare and have the tools to remove it from your vehicle, as well as the jack to swap out tires.

Jumper cables and basic tools for dealing with dead batteries should also be in everyone’s winter driving kit. Finally, be sure to have the number for any AAA or other roadside assistance services you have with you in the vehicle.

Get Yourself Ready for Winter Driving

Assess the conditions before hitting the road and make sure you and your vehicle are up for what’s out there. On particularly snowy or icy days, assess your comfort limits and know when to stay home and off the roads.

Once you head out on the road, make sure you have everything you need for the drive close by to avoid distracting yourself while rummaging around for your water bottle or a snack when you should be paying attention to the road.

If you need to switch the tunes, answer a phone call, or make a text, pull over in a safe place. Distracted driving on winter roads is the cause of many accidents.

And finally, if you want to decrease your odds of an accident, slow down and don’t follow too close to other vehicles. If you’re holding up traffic or someone is tailgating you, find a safe place to pull over and let them by.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

When travelling winter mountain roads, it’s always a good idea to keep your vehicle well-stocked with basic safety and emergency gear and supplies. Things like road flares or reflective cones to warn oncoming drivers of an accident or vehicle stranded on the road are a great idea, as is a basic first-aid kit to deal with minor injuries.

A shovel and extra winter gloves for digging a vehicle out of a snowbank is highly recommended. And keep a blanket or two and extra warm clothes, food, and water in a pack or bin that stays in the vehicle to help make a wait for help much less miserable and potentially lifesaving.

Driving up to the mountains in the winter doesn’t need to be a nerve-wracking experience. Plan ahead, be prepared, slow down, and take it easy on the roads this winter!

Originally published as “Planning Ahead for Safe Winter Driving” in the October-November 2019 issue.

Read How To Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter Driving.

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“It’s a great way to learn how to ski well. Most parents put their kids in this program, not to become great ski racers, but to become great all-mountain skiers. And by the time the kids are done, the parents are having a hard time keeping up,” says Dan Henry, executive director and head coach of Mt. Spokane Ski Racing Team (MSSRT), previously known as SSRA, or Spokane Ski Racing Association. 

A misconception about racing is that a kid must already be a strong skier in order to join. “That’s our job—to develop them into strong skiers,” says Henry. In fact, kids as young as 5 can join.

“As long as the kid can get on their own gear, load the chair by themselves, and get down the hill by themselves, they can join,” says Henry. “The primary goal with Youth Ski League is to become great all-mountain skiers, whether it’s moguls or powder. It’s not about fast—though they’ll naturally go faster when they’re proficient. Fast is a byproduct of skiing well.”

Within two hours of the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene metro area, there are five club members of U.S. Ski & Snowboard (formerly known as USSA), each affiliated with a home mountain that take turns hosting competitions for the Emerald Empire Youth Ski League (EEYSL)—the Eastern Zone of the Pacific Northwest Ski Association (PNSA). Race series participation is optional. 

“We have multiple programs that are designed around the commitment level of the parents, not the ability level of the kid,” he says. All the local teams offer one-day programs. Traveling for competitions is not required. Some local teams also offer Holiday Camp sessions, which provides an introduction to the sport.

“There’s not a lot of difference between what a ski school does and what we do as far as ski skills taught,” says Henry. “But we spend a lot more time on the mountain—on skis with a coach and peers—and kids progress rapidly.”

Check out these Inland NW Ski Racing Teams:

• 49° North Alpine Ski Team: Intro program (ages 5-11); youth ski league (ages 5-8); U14 (ages 12-13, elite team option); U16 (ages 14-15); Holiday Camps in December, January, & February.

• Lookout Pass Ski Race Team: League (ages 6-11, 1- or 2-day program); junior program (ages 12-16, 2-day program); and Holiday Camp in December. 

• Mt. Spokane Ski Race Team: Intro (ages 5-11); youth league, YSL Team U8-U12 (ages 6-11); U14 (ages 12-13); U16-U19 (ages 14-18); IFS Team (ages 16+); Inland NW Mid-Week Training (ages 6-18, gate training offered to all regional racers); masters (age 21+, including parents who want to try ski racing); Holiday Camp (ages 6-11).

• Silver Mountain Alpine Race Team: Silver Sliders (ages 4-8), race team (ages 5-17).

• Schweitzer Alpine Racing School: Youth league includes STARS (ages 5-6); 1-day development program or 2- or 3-day competition program (ages 7-11); junior ski racing program (ages 12-19, includes U14 Team, U16 Northwest Cup Teams, and FIS Team); junior Freeride program (ages 12+; big mountain competitions); masters (ages 21+); Holiday Camp. 

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Yet, outdoor adventures can help a family to better endure cold, snowy winter days. Spending time in nature provides positive mental health benefits, and outdoor winter sports are fun ways to exercise and maintain fitness habits year-round. “It’s something we can all do together,” says snowboarder Jami Ostby-Marsh, who lives in Colbert, Wash. “There aren’t many other sports like that, with no age restrictions.”

But which sport to choose and invest your family’s time and money? All provide outdoor adventure opportunities. Mom and Dad, and even grandparents, aren’t standing on the sidelines or sitting in bleachers—these are multi-generational sports. 

Cross-Country Skiing

Cost-efficient and easy to learn, cross-country or Nordic skiing is a great option for families just getting into winter sports. Gentler on the body than alpine skiing, one “lesson” from a friend or professional is really all it takes to learn classic XC-ski skills. A parent can ski with an infant secured in a front-chest carrier and older babies and toddlers can be carried in a sturdy, internal-frame backpack-carrier. If children can walk, they can learn to cross-country ski. Children younger than 5 years old can also be towed in a sled like the Thule Chariot.

Spokane mom Heather Easterling Ritchie grew up cross-country skiing with her parents and sister in New England. “My family didn’t have the money for downhill skiing. Nordic skiing was a fun and inexpensive way for us to enjoy winter together,” she says. Today, she skis with her husband, Gordon, and their 10-year-old daughter, Gemma—who has been cross-country skiing since age 6. (Gordon and Gemma also downhill ski, starting when she was a toddler.) With so many destinations in the Northwest, including the famed Methow Valley Trails in northcentral Washington—the largest cross-country ski trail system in North America—Easterling-Ritchie says, “We really live in a wonderland for Nordic.” And when there is enough snow outside your front door, cross-country skiing is even more convenient.

Gear: Rent or purchase from local ski gear shops, such as Fitness Fanatics, which offers rentals in-store and on-site at Mt. Spokane’s Selkirk Lodge; rent gear at the Nordic Centers at 49° North or Schweitzer Mountain Resort; and find deals at local ski swaps.

Lessons: City of Spokane Parks & Recreation; 49° Degrees North Nordic Center; Sandpoint Nordic Club; and Mt. Spokane Nordic Ski Association, which offers lessons for adults and has a Nordic Kids program for ages 5-15. 

Groomed Trails for Beginners: Mt. Spokane Nordic Ski Park; 49° North; Lookout Pass Nordic Area; Schweitzer Mountain Resort; Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes between Kellogg and Wallace; Riverside State Park; Indian Canyon Golf Course and Dwight Merkel Sports Complex in the City of Spokane (no-fee groomed trails when there’s enough snow); Methow Valley Trails.

Trail Permits: Requirements vary by location. Some type of day-pass is required for most groomed trails, whether at a mountain resort or state park. For Washington State, a one-day or seasonal Sno-Park Permit, Special-Groomed Trail Permit, and/or state park Discover Pass are required depending on location. All three are needed for Mt. Spokane State Park’s Nordic trails. For Idaho, requirements may include a Park-N-Ski Permit and/or state park pass. 

Downhill Skiing

Want summit views and thrilling speeds? “There’s more adventure with downhill skiing. You get to see more, and don’t have to work as hard because you’re going downhill. For kids, I think it’s more fun,” says Courtney Yarber, who lives in south Spokane with her husband and their two daughters. Growing up in northeast Utah, she didn’t learn to ski until she was 19 and had moved to Park City. Her husband, Chris, grew up in St. Maries, Idaho, and started skiing as a kid. Once their girls were preschool-age and in lessons, Yarber says, “I got to ski all day while my girls were in lessons. Getting them into it was getting me back into it.” The girls are now age 9 and nearly 7, and this winter will be the family’s second with season passes at Silver Mountain Resort. “To be up there in the winter is peaceful. It’s magical,” she says. 

If you feel intimidated to learn as an adult, you’re not alone. Local resort ski schools offer adult group and private lessons—there’s no shame in grown-ups snowplowing down the bunny hill. What matters is that you’re out there. You can even schedule a private group lesson for your family and receive personalized coaching altogether.

Snowboarding

Perhaps you’ve heard a variation of the adage, “Skiing is easier to learn but harder to master, while snowboarding is harder to learn but easier to master.” Don’t worry. Many snowboarders say learning how to downhill ski first provides a good skill base. It’s not until about age 7 that a child is physically ready to learn fundamental snowboarding skills. To learn how to ride requires stamina and core-body strength for proper balance and turning, according to Snowskool.com (“Skiing vs. Snowboarding for Beginners”).

After being a ski kid for 10 years, Jami Ostby-Marsh switched to snowboarding at age 16. More than 30 years later, she’s still riding, along with her husband, Jordan Marsh—who has 23 years of snowboarding experience. Their two children started ski lessons when each was 3 years old. Jordan snowboarded behind his little snow-plowing kid while holding the training reigns—a challenging feat. The Marsh kids are now 14 and 11 years old and still prefer skiing. “Snowboarding is kind of a way to life—there’s a different vibe to it. So maybe when my kids are older it will be something they do,” says Ostby-Marsh.             

Some families are the opposite—kid wants to ride, parent wants to ski. “You have to be open to whatever your kid is passionate about and find ways to support it,” says Ostby-Marsh. “We’re mostly ‘blue’ people and my husband loves trees, so we choose runs that have variety…[And] it’s nice that skiers and snowboarders can all be together in the terrain park…It’s a joy seeing my kids learn something and be proficient at it.” 

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Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area

Work continued on Phase 1 of Lookout’s long-term expansion plan over the summer, but the installation of a brand new SkyTrac quad chairlift on the frontside, replacing the two-seater Chair 1, steals the improvements show this season. “Our priority objective this year was getting the new quad up and running, which will about double the uphill capacity,” says Matt Sawyer, Lookout’s director of marketing. Sawyer says expansion project work on the two new lifts and several runs planned for Eagle Peak (which have already been approved by the Forest Service) will continue with possible completion in two years. But, Swayer notes, when exactly the first lift-assisted tracks off Eagle Peak will commence depends on project logistics and cashflow. 

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park

Summer brush cutting on areas of the 279 acres of new terrain on the backside, served by the new Northwood Chair (Chair 6), will mean better early-season riding on the 7 new runs that already prompted positive reviews from skiers and riders last season. A long-awaited return of bus service from Spokane to the mountain will also resume this year. Leave the driving to someone else and kick back in a 55-passenger shred wagon. Mt. Spokane is also kicking off a cool twist on night tubing Saturday nights from 4-8 p.m. December 28 through January. with KANtasy Tubing will feature tunes and a dazzling light display to enhance the traditional tubing experience. Those of us who spend part of powder days playing work theater will appreciate improved WiFi access in the lodges thanks to locally owned Ptera. And lastly, interior work on the latest new on-mountain development, the Mountain Sports School Learning Center, was completed over the Summer, further cementing Mt. Spokane’s reputation as a leader in investing in the future of alpine winter sports.  

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

Say goodbye to the Snowghost double chair and hello to the two new chairlifts replacing service to the North Bowl this season. A Lietner Poma detachable quad chair, Cedar Park Express, will provide more access for intermediate skiers and riders in the resort’s back bowl. Concurrently, a complementing triple chair from Skytrac, the Colburn Triple, will allow advanced and expert skiers to reach the summit of the mountain and access the steeper terrain in Lakeside Chutes more quickly. Frequent Schweitzer riders can expect shorter lift lines, as well as an additional seven new named runs. With increased demand for on-mountain ski-in/ski-out lodging, Schweitzer is also moving forward with a new 30-unit boutique hotel in the village. The development will include a 50-seat restaurant and bar with an outdoor patio. The hotel is expected to open for reservations in the fall of 2020.

49 Degrees North Mountain Resort

The big news at 49 is the purchase of the resort’s assets by an owner-affiliate of Silver Mountain Resort and the birth of a killer combo ski pass option that means passholders can chase powder at both resorts. 49 will continue to operate independently, and, notes longtime general manager John Eminger, who will continue in his leadership role at the resort, “It has been an honor over the last two decades to be part of increasing the size of the ski area. We have grown from 905 acres to nearly 2,250 acres, created a Nordic trail system with 9 miles of trails, opened a new summit to lift assisted skiing, created over 35 new trails and glades in two basins, and added new lifts.” Management expects to increase passholder benefits, remodel the lodge, add a new conveyor carpet to the beginner area, upgrade lifts, and add new grooming equipment in the near future.

Silver Mountain

With 49 Degrees North now under new ownership by a Silver Mountain affiliate, passholders have the chance to purchase a combo pass or upgrade an existing pass and ski and ride at both resorts this season for a steal. No doubt this dual-resort partnership will mean more mountain improvements and perks for Silver fans in the years to come. In the meantime, Silver staff have been hacking away in the woods this past summer glading new areas like Paymaster, Bootlegger, and Moonshine. Silver is also expanding its beginner terrain park this year and opening a new sports shop in the village that will offer ski and board tuning and boot fitting.

The post What’s New at Your Favorite Local Resort appeared first on Out There Venture.

1. Keep Them Motivated

A positive day on the mountain starts well in advance. Talk about the snow, skiing, and what they do and don’t like. Watching videos of other kid skiers or your own videos from the past season can be a great motivator. Or plan to meet up with your child’s friends or other kids on the mountain since that positive peer pressure is a better motivator than anything mom or dad will ever say. Having a reward after each run works. We dish out a few M&M’s at the top of each run. Apparently chocolate is a powerful parenting tool. Be sure to mix things up as they progress too. Try a new route down the mountain or a new skill or visit a different ski resort. And in between ski days, keep talking about the next trip and future objectives like taking off the harness or going off jumps. 

2. Deploy Strategic Mood Enhancers

Especially for emotionally fragile toddlers, not creating the right happy mood for the day can be disastrous. That may mean swapping out dad’s Nirvana CD for something more calming like Casper Baby Pants on the drive to the ski hill. Once again, chocolate, and even the promise of chocolate in the form of a hot mug of cocoa in the lodge, can make everybody’s day so much better. And by all means, make sure your newbie skier(s) get plenty of rest and healthy food before a ski day. Finally, we found that having a well-stocked cooler with familiar, time-tested lunch items to be a crucial end to a good day on the slopes.

3. Bring All the Right Clothing & Gear

Make sure you have warm layers, water-proof outerwear, and quality ski gear that fits your child. And make sure it’s in the car with you. That last part is critical. Somehow I’ve managed to forget my kid’s gloves, hat, and, one time, even his tiny socks. We have saved money by procuring some great hand-me-down winter gear items from friends, and ski swaps and Spokane’s used gear store NW Outdoors are great for deals. We also lease ski boots, bindings, and skis from Spokane Alpine Haus each season to save money and hassle. When you buy, rent, or lease your ski gear, make sure you also buy the right gear like an “Edgie Wedgie” and ski harness system. I can’t emphasize enough how important that essential equipment is for teaching your child to ski safely and successfully. And be sure to bring extra dry clothing and things like hats, socks, gloves, and scarves. 

4. Know When to Say When

On our son’s second day on the slopes, two months before his 2nd birthday, he was in tears at the end of our last run. That time it wasn’t because we pushed him too hard. No, he burst into tears when we told him that was our last chairlift ride. Since then there have been more tears, including after one difficult run because his Edgie Wedgie broke and evidently most 3-year-olds would rather flop down the mountain like a fish on ice than ski without one. That time we packed up and went home after one hour-long run rather than make an already challenging day into a lasting bad memory. Don’t wait until your kid has a major meltdown or gets so tired they fall asleep mid-sandwich on the way home. In short, know when to say when.

[Photos by Shallan Knowles]

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