Is there anything better than the gift of skiing and snowboarding? Forget for a moment that the sports are expensive, cold, and require equipment and time to master. By teaching your children to slide on snow, you’re giving them a lifelong reason to get outside in winter, be active, connect with others through shared experiences, travel, hone a skill, and appreciate nature. Plus, snowboarding and skiing are things you can do together as a family, forever. While the teaching process is sure to test your patience, back muscles, and budget, it’s worth it—just ask any family who is finally shredding the mountain together.
Timing
You can start teaching them whenever you, the parent, feel they are ready. Your child should have enough physical coordination and cognitive abilities to begin learning the basics. The consensus seems to be age three, the starting age for many ski schools. For snowboarding, some say age four is better for understanding the mechanics of standing sideways on a board. Though the experts at Burton say that if they’re old enough to stand, they’re old enough to stand sideways. Kids who grow up in mountain towns start as early as 18 months, but that’s more for a photo-op to commemorate a milestone. Consider the season and the quality of the snow—starting a toddler in late spring when temps and conditions are forgiving is preferable.
Get the Right Gear – Do You Buy New, Purchase Used, or Rent?
Growing kids need new skis and boots almost every season, so what’s the best way to update equipment without breaking the bank or limiting progression? When kids are starting out, you have choices: rent gear daily, rent for the season, buy new or buy used, or opt for a trade-in program, which allows you to purchase skis and boots, and then trade them in for new sizes the following year at a discounted rate.
Something to consider is the level of your skier. If they already ski difficult terrain and are on the slopes more than 14 days per season, they need higher-performing equipment than the average rental package, which usually includes entry-level, foam-injected skis.
“Wood-core skis function better and allow kids to progress and carve,” says Chance Longley, whose family has run the Startingate Ski Shop in Bondville, Vermont, for 42 years. Near Stratton Mountain, the shop has a long-standing reputation as a Northeast ski-racing hub.
If you decide to buy new equipment, you can often sell the gear. As many shops like The Startingate will write you a check (minus a sales commission) and sell your gear, or buy your used gear outright. Buying used equipment from a reputable shop ensures it’s safe (that there’s enough edge and base for a second owner) and uses current technology. Only buy equipment from a ski swap if you’re knowledgeable about equipment and know that it will work for your young skier.
Trade-in programs are a popular alternative to seasonal rentals and can facilitate the move to higher-performance gear at a lower cost. After an initial fee, kids swap out their equipment whenever they like for savings on a new setup.
Also, if your skier has a younger sibling, it may be worth buying—you’ll get several years out of each pair of skis, and you’ll know the gears’ history.
How do You Size Snowboard Boots
When it comes to picking out the perfect pair of snowboard boots for your child, it’s really as easy as what’s comfortable. Unlike sizing ski boots, there are no confusing sizing charts or custom molds to contend with. Just go with their standard shoe size and add a half-size to account for the thicker snowboard-specific socks they’ll be wearing. Depending on your kid’s growth pattern, you may consider sizing up a tad for a measure of future-proofing. I recommend allowing for a quarter to a half an inch of room in the toe. Have your kid try on as many pairs as they have the patience for, and the choice will become clear. Inside tip: Boots equipped with BOA closures are much easier to adjust on and off the hill, making them a must-have for kids and adults alike. — Jeff Baker / Snowboard editor and father of three
Getting the Right Ski Boots
Proper boots help kids progress much faster as skiers, giving them better control, more comfort, more time on the hill, and happier ski days. There’s nothing to complain about when your boots are comfortable, warm, and perform well.
If your child is in any sort of ski program, ask the instructor or coach what type of boot you should look for. Don’t share the info with your local boot fitter; see what they recommend. If they match, there’s a clear choice.
Go to a shop and get your child’s foot measured. If you have access to a Surefoot shop, have your child’s foot scanned to see exactly what size boot they should be in. If your child is under 13, I suggest doing it in early October—close enough to opening day, but not so close that stock starts to sell out.
Tell the shop how old your child is, what kind of skiing they like, and what other sports they do. Then I always recommend trying on two different flexes of the same-size boot to see which feels better.
Is it too big? If the cuff hits too high on the leg, they won’t have enough power. Their foot will move around and they won’t have control.
Is it too soft? A boot that’s too soft will give kids shin bang if they’re hitting their max flex point.
Is it too stiff? If the child can’t flex the boot, they won’t engage the ski properly, and they’ll be in the back seat.
Ask about the volume of the boot compared to the volume of your child’s foot and leg. If your child has skinny legs and ankles, a medium-volume boot won’t work. This is something you can check without boot-fitting knowledge.
Socks
Buy a proper, well-fitting ski sock. Keep base layers out of the boot. The sock should be the only layer inside the boot.
Buy boot heaters
They are worth every dollar, and they will work for many pairs of boots to come. Warm toes mean less complaining and more skiing. The disposable heaters take up too much room in the toe box and bunch their socks up.
Help your kids get their boots on
Try opening the upper cuff as far as you can with both hands, and use your index finger to spread the bottom cuff.
Buckle boots properly
For ease of entry, make sure boots are at room temperature. Keep them near the car heater on the way to the mountain, or invest in a heated boot bag. Always buckle the boot from the top down. Start with the upper cuff, which allows the heel to settle in and drives the foot back before putting pressure on the instep. If you’re on the last buckle on the upper cuff, take an Allen key and move the ladder over to the next hole—kids’ boots have predrilled holes—to make the cuff tighter and reduce shin bang. Don’t overbuckle—children will lose circulation and control.
Invest in orthotics
When your child’s foot is at least a size 21.5, get some custom orthotics. At Surefoot, they’re a one-time purchase: They’ll rescan kids’ feet and make free replacements until they stop growing.
Ask about your shop’s trade–in program
Surefoot’s Growing Pains program, for instance, allows kids to exchange their Surefoot boots whenever they outgrow them and get half of what they paid for the previous boot credited towards the purchase of a new boot.
Getting the Right Skis
Many junior skis come with a binding package. Make sure the binding’s DIN range is appropriate for your child’s ability and weight. Your child’s setting should land in the middle of the binding’s DIN range.
As for sizing, says Startingate’s Longley, beginner skis should come to the bottom of a child’s chin. Advanced skis should hit mid-face to head height. When in doubt, go with a smaller size.
“Smaller skis are more maneuverable and easier to learn on,” says Longley. “With a smaller ski, they will feel more confident, their shin will be in the front of the boot, and their hips will be forward. Once they’ve mastered the fundamentals, go longer, because a ski that’s too short is unstable at higher speeds.”
“Match the flex of a ski to a kid’s weight, ability, and strengths,” says Longley. “Hand the kid the ski–if they can flex it with their hands, they can usually get the ski to flex under their feet.”
No matter the age of the skier, skiing preferences matter. The shop should ask you and your child a lot of questions—where do they like to ski and what kind of terrain do they enjoy? If the child sticks to groomers and carving, the ski needs camber and lots of sidecut. If they like to catch air and spend time in the terrain park, they could use a twin tip or freeride ski.
Construction is important. “Steer away from the lower-end stuff,” says Longley. “If they’re trying to progress into being an expert skier, get them on a ski with more sidecut and a real wood core—their progression will go through the roof. More sidecut makes it so much easier to learn to carve, but in powder or variable snow conditions, something with some width and a little rocker in the tip and tail can help a kid learn to ski powder or trees better.”
Beginner skiers don’t need ski poles for a while. But if your child is ready for the transition to using poles, you may want to find a rental program that includes them. Or consider purchasing adjustable ski poles, which can be lengthened as your child grows and means one less piece of equipment you’ll need to purchase next season.
10 Things to Keep in Mind
Words of wisdom from parents, instructors, coaches, and more
Start Indoors
Learning to get comfortable on equipment indoors is a great way to ease into the sport, whether at an indoor ski facility, or in your living room, the sense of security that comes from being in a familiar space can improve retention of the basics. Teach kids how to fall using pillows and blankets. Lucky Bums Beginner Skis don’t have edges and are perfect for stomping around the house and the backyard (they come with bindings that allow for snow boots instead of ski boots) to practice sliding and duck-walking. Focus on moving, playing, and having fun without fear of losing control. It will make learning to ski more intuitive, and progression will come quicker and easier. And when they’re ready to progress to real snow, “start out by playing around the base area,” says Jeff Baker, editor of Snowboard Magazine and father of three. “Remember they don’t have to be riding the chairlift or linking turns down the slopes to have a good time. Hike up ten to 20 feet, strap them in, let gravity do its thing, and they’ll gently straight-line down the hill. This will entertain them for hours without the hassle of lift lines, and you’re always close to the lodge.”
Fuel Correctly
Eat protein at breakfast for sustained energy and stash healthy snacks along with treats in their pockets (see page 77). Skiing and riding take energy, especially for beginners, as does spending hours in the cold. You don’t want to waste the day in the lodge because the cereal calories wore off.
Make It Fun
Everything about the day should be fun–even the prep. Use games and competition to motivate young skiers and snowboarders to get their equipment ready the night before and to get dressed in the morning. As the experts at Burton say, get excited at the sight of the mountain (regardless of the conditions, parking, or crowds). Display genuine happiness about the day’s activities from the moment you leave the house to the moment you get back home. On the snow, focus on fun, not the activity. If your child has a smile on their face, you’re winning, and so are they. Remember to take time to look around, soak it all in, and be greatful for the opportunity you’ve been given with your family, in nature.
Head Games
Ask a lot of questions—before the day starts, during riding, in the lodge, on the lift, and back at home at the end of the day—and really listen to their answers. Find out what they liked and didn’t like, what was difficult or easy, and what was scary or intimidating, and incorporate their feedback in the future.
Down Time
Take breaks. Consider a four-run day a win. If you are traveling to ski, or going to a higher altitude, allow a day to adjust before hitting the hill. Hydrate, eat well, and get your gear sorted. And if you’re on an extended ski trip, schedule a day off to let the kids swim, tube, nordic ski—anything that will give them a break so they can return to the mountain refreshed. On the mountain, don’t be afraid to take lots of hot cocoa breaks to allow them to warm up or rest their bodies and recover.
Let Your Kids Be Your Guide
Be patient and let go of any agenda. As the experts at Burton say: Allow them the opportunity to figure out a few things on their own and establish a rhythm that feels good. Support your kids as they progress at their own pace. While you might be stoked to get in as many runs as possible, kids don’t measure fun the same way. Often, one or two runs is all you’ll accomplish over an entire day, and that’s OK. In fact, it’s good to keep things short and sweet so they’re eager to come back again tomorrow. Once they’re hooked, your primary role as a parent is to continue inspiring them to push themselves and provide them with the tools they need (gear, access to the mountain) to continue advancing.
Find What Motivates
Sometimes kids are motivated by their favorite sweet or snack. Keep these in your pocket, and don’t be afraid to bust them out often. To the dentist’s dismay, that might mean every lift ride. Some kids are motivated more by skiing with friends and other families. No matter what, lead by example and show them how much fun skiing and snowboarding are. If you’re stoked and having a blast, they will too.
Get a Pass
There are ample cheap and even free season-pass deals offered for little ones. Check out the article on page 108 for some of our favorites. A season pass is a great motivator to get your family to the hill more often. Plus, you won’t have to worry if you only get in one or two runs per day. It’s a mental victory not having bought a single-day ticket.
Get Organized and Empower
Create a system. Keep kids’ gear in its own place so it’s hard to forget anything. Employ individual cubbies, hooks, bins, and so forth. Label. Have kids help get everything together and load the car in the morning. Take your time getting geared up. Frustration in the morning can set the mood for the whole day.
Don’t be Afraid to Outsource
Professional snowboard and ski instructors are trained to develop the skills that form the foundation for proper technique. And while parents who have been riding for years may feel qualified to instruct their kids, learning from someone else has been proven to increase the stickiness of lesson material. One of the most important benefits of investing in a lesson for the kids is that it allows them to meet other kids who are their age and skill level. These friends can turn into riding partners during the lesson and beyond.
Ski This Way
Kevin Jordan has 30 years of experience teaching kids, and works in the children’s program in Aspen as an instructor and trainer. He is a PSIA-AASI National Alpine Team member and a father of two. Below, Jordan tells us the most important things children
need to learn when they begin skiing.
“When teaching kids, use shorter skis for yourself,” says Jordan. “You’ll be able to maneuver around much easier.” And let them lead. “Kids love being in charge,” says Jordan. “With kids, it’s better with simple directions: ‘Go from here to there.’ ‘Come to me.’” Before you start, Jordan suggests marking your kids’ skis with visual cues. “Young kids still have a hard time with left and right, so it’s easier for them if you shout out ‘green ski’ or ‘red ski.’” Beyond that, Jordan says, the following three steps are most important for your child’s progression.
Step One: Figure Out Balance and Edging
Walk around in ski boots. Add one ski, leaving the other foot free, and practice scooting, falling, and getting up. Without skis, walk like a penguin (encourages outward rotation of the legs), then walk like a pigeon (turn toes in and go down a slight incline). Do this without skis, with one ski, then with both skis. Feel some edging when skis bite into the snow. Shuffle forward with both skis.
Step Two: Stopping
Start on flat terrain with a gentle uphill that will gradually halt their momentum, and try to promote forward pressure by telling them to squish the bug between their shin and the tongue of the boot. At Aspen, we don’t teach wedging to stop. Instead, we encourage turning to stop—the wedge is for emergencies only. If they need to stop in a wedge, help them stay centered by having them turn their toes in like a pigeon. The Edgie Wedgie (page 106) keeps the tips together, but when they push their heels out, it’s easy for them to get into the back seat. Stepping around a turn teaches more of an offensive movement, whereas the wedge is defensive. When you walk around a corner, you tend to move in the direction of travel.
Step Three: First Turns
Kids will turn if there’s something in their way. We use snowmaking hoses filled with sand that look like snakes, and we have kids straddle the snake and follow it around an S shape. Parents can try drawing an S in the snow with food coloring or using cones, toys, or stuffed animals. Some parents have found success skiing backward in a wedge and having their toddler straddle one ski. The toddler’s Edgie Wedgie is pressed up against the parent’s boot or binding, and the parent is in total control of the child’s speed and direction. Have them turn their toes inward (pigeon) and spread peanut butter or jelly on toast (the snow). Spread the peanut butter with the left ski to turn to the right. To go left, spread the peanut butter with the right ski. To make it fun while practicing big S turns, play Follow the Leader, Race Car Driving, and Simon Says.
If they’re struggling to stand independently while sliding, try a harness (see page 106) or loop a Hula-Hoop around their waist and hold the back of it. You can also hold your ski pole to the side for them to grab onto. Skiing with your child between your legs will hurt your back and hinder their progress.
Carry On
Ski with a pack so you can carry plenty of water, snacks, a thermos of hot chocolate, sunscreen, extra mittens, hand and toe warmers, and an extra layer.
Ride the Chairlift the Right Way
Little kids have short legs, and they often want to sit at the edge of the seat so they can bend their knees. This is not a safe position. When you get on the lift with a small child, pull the child all the way back into the seat, or ask a lift operator to help by pulling them tight against the seat from behind. Make sure they learn to ride the lift all the way to the top that way, flush with the chair back and their legs against the seat. When they’re old enough to ride alone with other kids, but they can’t reach the bar, have them sit at the outside edge where it’s often easier to reach.