A new media property created for families who like to shred. What could be better! Whether you’re a newbie learning to carve, a seasoned grom ripping the entire mountain, or a parent trying to navigate the complex world of kids’ skiing and snowboarding, Grom Guide is for you.
Grom Guide was created by the team at FREESKIER and SNOWBOARD magazines who saw the glaring need for media that speaks to this unserved segment of the market. Many of us here have fumbled our way through raising young skiers and boarders firsthand. We are mountain parents. Parents of kids ages one to 17 who have taught our kids to snowboard and ski. We know it’s not easy, but we all know it’s worth it.
And even with our unique access, experience, and expertise in the mountains, we’re still challenged by the process. We quickly learned that we’re not alone. Everyone with whom we spoke about Grom Guide wanted to get involved, because regardless of industry knowledge and connections, we’re all still challenged by raising and inspiring young skiers and snowboarders. And what could be more important than doing that, right?
That’s why so many professional athletes and experts jumped in to help, sharing their personal stories and advice in this issue of Grom Guide. Like pro skier and dad of three, Pep Fujas, who shares tips on how to ski together as a family, along with Olympian and mom Wendy Fisher, who breaks down the values of ski racing as a foundation. Pro snowboarder JJ Thomas helps kids learn how to progress in the park, and Olympic gold medalist and celebrity boarder Red Gerard shares his story about how important family is to him above all else. Even the most successful ski racer in history, Mikaela Shiffrin, helps inspire kids in this issue of Grom Guide by sharing her secrets to success. With 88 World Cup wins, two Olympic gold medals and seven World Championship titles, Mikaela is someone the kids just might want to listen to.
In these pages, parents will find valuable info, advice, and insight, like how to size kid’s skis and boots, where to find family-friendly terrain parks, and why kids should start skiing in the living room before they make their first turns on snow. Of course, beyond all the great service stories and guidance for parents, Grom Guide is chock-full of content for the groms. Like inspiring profiles of kids who give back and dream big. There are stories about chairlift candy, hot chocolate, and ski lodge lunches, and instructional tips from young pros on how to land your first 360 or drop your first cliff. There are even some interactive activity pages in the back of the issue that are perfect for the drive to the ski area.
We hope that this new media property encourages and entertains the next generation of skiers and boarders. We hope that it inspires kids to dream of possibilities and to become lifelong enthusiasts. We hope that it helps parents better navigate this exciting chapter in their families’ lives. And above all, we hope that it inspires more kids and families to get out into the mountains together, and make lifelong memories.